This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
For as brilliant as Nolan is he is also frustrating. He has shown both a mastery and an ineptitude at three key filmmaking elements across his work, those being: characters, plots and concepts. His aptitude and understanding of each element is evident throughout his filmmaking but they are largely accomplished separately (With the exception of Inception and The Prestige which combine them all brilliantly).
Considering those two movies it’s hard not to think Nolan is a genius so sitting down…
Drive is brutal. It pulls no punches and holds nothing back. Yet at the same time it’s elegantly sentimental, with Gosling and Mulligan playing off each other beautifully as the central couple. It’s largely just through expressions as the script is minimal but it’s played so well that you care about them as a couple more than you do as individuals. There’s actually not a whole lot to Mulligans character, she’s given little to say or do individually but she…
This film is a utter masterpiece. Every single element of it serves a complete purpose that feels entirely earned and never telegraphed. Nolan constructs a story that’s equally simple and complex. One that plays with conventions and themes in the same way all his films do but this time, to its benefit, it’s on a far smaller scale.
Whilst the literal magic plays out before your eyes Nolan takes the time to flesh out the characters of these great rivals.…
