Nicolas Winding Refn already premiered his Ryan Gosling-starrer Drive on the other side of the world last month, in which he picked up the coveted Best Director award. We reviewed it straight from Cannes and were able to sit down to have a chat with the duo. But how did the city it is set in like it? The thriller also starring Carey Mulligan, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks, and Oscar Issac had its premiere at Los Angeles Film Festival last night and we’ve rounded up some impressions for your enjoyment.
Before we get to that, there is some speculation to take care of. Before he re-teams with his Drive star Gosling for a Logan’s Run remake, Refn will direct the neo-western Only God Forgives. We reported Kristin Scott-Thomas and Luke Evans will star, but there is another huge lead that may be interested.
Pop Sugar tells us that none other than Transformers: Dark of the Moon star Shia LaBeouf was spotted (pictured right) checking out Refn’s script. This could, of course, mean nothing, but I would have to think Refn letting LaBeouf take a look at his script means the Danish director is at least exploring the possibility. We posted an official synopsis of the film recently, but it looks like it has been updated, giving us a better hint of where another actor may fit in.
Julian lives in exile in Bangkok where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family’s drugs smuggling operation. When Julian’s brother Billy is killed their mother, Jenna, arrives in the city. She wants revenge and forces Julian to find the killer. Julian’s contacts in the criminal underworld lead him directly to The Angel of Vengeance, a retired police officer who knows everything and who is both Judge and Punisher. Jenna demands that Julian kill The Angel of Vengeance, an act that will cost him dearly.
Refn intends for Julian to be a British gangster (I assume Evans) and for retired cop to be Thai, so it is puzzling at first look where LaBeouf may fit in. With this new synopsis, it looks like another actor could take the role of Billy. After leaving the Transformers franchise, LaBeouf seems to be taking on more arthouse films (like John Hillcoat‘s The Wettest County in the World), and with his schedule completely clear, it could be a possibility. The plan is to begin shooting this summer for a release later in 2012 and I assume we’ll know more info soon, especially as Refn begins his press tour for Drive in the fall.
Speaking of the film, check out those impressions below from Los Angeles Film Festival’s premiere last night. First is an excerpt from Cinema Blend, which had the first full review up.
See Drive in big screens as many times as you can and only in the best theaters you can find. While every element of the movie stands up, it’s a film that demands to be on a big screen with the greatest speakers imaginable. As for me, I plan on asking for vacation days the week after the film is released and buying a whole new stereo system when it comes out on home video. It’s worth every penny.
Row Three (4 out of 5 stars) :
Drive both is and isn’t something familiar, weaving brutally realistic violence in with lyrical beauty, switching back and forth with rapid unexpectedness.
Even though the film really only has about eight people in it, the cast manages to walk that line between individuals and archetypes quite well, lending an epic quality to what is a relatively simple double-crossing story. I’m guessing the blending of tones won’t work for everyone, but in a summer of event-driven comic book movies, Drive‘s slow-burn approach and attention to detail is more than welcome.
@LittleNgoc
Ryan Gosling is the definition of INTENSE. Just saw #DRIVE #LAFF premiere & it’s the antithesis of The Notebook, but just as paralyzing.
@allisonloring
DRIVE: everything I wanted & nothing I expected. Simply a great f**king ride. #LAFF
@Lulamaybelle
#DRIVE was so fucking fantastic! I don’t know where to begin but look for my review tomorrowish. Ryan Gosling FTW. #LAFF
@Darol214
Just saw Drive at #LAFF and so good! I may have been more excited to see Albert Brooks there than Ryan Gosling. #ilovealbertbrooks
@JordanCronk
DRIVE (#LAFF): To call this Refn’s best film would be a huge understatement. Tough, precision filmmaking– first hour is nearly impeccable.
@CarrieSpecht
Drive @LAFF has a slow 1st half, but blasts off in the 2nd. Man, Albert Brooks like you’ve never seen.
@ale808
DRIVE is a LA noir version of SHANE. Badass. #LAFF
@screenjunkies
Just saw DRIVE at #LAFF. Amazing. Everyone must see it when it comes out in Sept.
@JackattheMovies
Learned 2 things 2night: 1) DRIVE may be the best film of the year. 2) Christina Hendricks is just as beautiful in person. #LAFF @LAFilmFest
@matthew_lingo
DRIVE (Refn, 2011): Lean, mean pulp fiction that slyly sneaks into complete fucking greatness. #LAFF
@mfrushmore
Waited for three hours in the rush line to see Drive. Having seen it, I would’ve waited three more. #laff #myhandsarealittledirty #soaremine
@colliderfrosty
saw Nicolas Winding Refn’s DRIVE at #LAFF. If I could watch it again right now I would. If I could buy the soundtrack right now I would.
@willisco
I’m pretty inclined to proclaim “Drive” my favorite movie of the year. It was fantastic anyway. So jealous I didn’t make it. #LAFF
@mkung
I really dug ‘Drive.’ Moody and evocative. Gosling isn’t too hard on the eyes either, even when covered in blood.
@falsemirror
DRIVE was fucking fantastic. Great performances all around, incredible cinematography and direction and DRIVE has one of the year’s best soundtracks, andwith Ryan Gosling as a badass motherfucker who also is a GQ motherfucker – come on.
@clairebidwell
Still trying to regain composure after seeing the amazing Drive with Ryan Gosling (both in person & on screen) the LA film fest.
@Greg_Boose
At the LA Film Festival and just checked out Ryan Gosling’s ‘Drive.’ Fucking hell was it thrilling.
Drive hits theaters September 16th, 2011 via FilmDistrict. Check out the first, simply amazing clip below.
Is Drive one of your most-anticipated films of the year? Could you picture Shia in a Refn film?