After visiting a doctor to see what was causing his constantly bad headaches, Asakura Kenichi an obsessively mild-mannered salary man is hijacked by three bank robbers while sitting in his car waiting at some traffic lights. Where they order him to chase after that of the fourth robber who took off in their getaway car with all of the stolen money. But these guys have picked the wrong car to hijack and they found out the hard way with them having a night they won't forget.
There's some offbeat, but highly original stuff making its way out of Asian cinema in the last couple of years. And I'm glad say that this one follows the same pattern. I see that the few other user comments here are talking up Sabu, and this being my first experience of his work, I must say this is not one to pass by on. 'Drive' is a more than unusually brash adventure/chase film that has no real target, or destination behind it, but to watch karma take its course in these character's lives. After a somewhat pretty sedate opening it makes way for some unexpected, wild turns with a dash of energy coming from a diverse range of personalities. The car ride throughout the film might be far from bumpy, but what eventuates when they're out of the car is a different story. The first half of the film is filled with a high level of comic relief with the constant squabbling, wry humour, a dose of irony and a pinch of slapstick, but that suddenly changes in the latter half were some dark, surreal and genuine moments creep up into the picture, before it comes to its somewhat drawn-out conclusion. The story does at times preach a bit too much as it focuses heavily on the morality of life and how we should valve our inner well being over materialistic obsession (in this case that's the stolen money). Sure, it does sag in parts, but still altogether its hugely entertaining and what keeps in going is that you don't know what's coming up next. The story and script beautifully evolves each character in helping them find their true calling and when they're given the opportunity, they seize it will both hands with there life changing for the better. Basically, the whole awkward and torrid mess they go through is fate doing its job.
The performances are very good from Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Ren Osugi, Kou Shibasaki and Masanobu Ando. The four naturally gel impeccably with their amusing interplay and throughout the story we're always learning something knew about them and that of their psyche make-up. Even when there's no dialog, we can read that of the impulsive actions and expressions to understand what they really feel, especially that of Shin'ichi Tsutsumi's placid character Asakura. These four may seem hilariously whacked out during moments, but there are some supporting roles (Asakura's aunty) that make the central ones seem more stable. The soundtrack breaths affection in its dreamlike state and the film's imagery is mesmerizing well maybe it's not overtly stylish, but from what you see, you just can't believe what's happening and also it's hard not to be interested in how it all turns out. The highlight sequence definitely goes to a fluky (or was it) death scene in a restaurant. There's such an eagerness to provide something out of the ordinary here with its spiritual honour and air of sensation that seem to push all the right buttons.
An amusingly cerebral chase film that clicks together with one pleasurable set-up after another and a real oddity of characters to equal one heart-warming experience.
There's some offbeat, but highly original stuff making its way out of Asian cinema in the last couple of years. And I'm glad say that this one follows the same pattern. I see that the few other user comments here are talking up Sabu, and this being my first experience of his work, I must say this is not one to pass by on. 'Drive' is a more than unusually brash adventure/chase film that has no real target, or destination behind it, but to watch karma take its course in these character's lives. After a somewhat pretty sedate opening it makes way for some unexpected, wild turns with a dash of energy coming from a diverse range of personalities. The car ride throughout the film might be far from bumpy, but what eventuates when they're out of the car is a different story. The first half of the film is filled with a high level of comic relief with the constant squabbling, wry humour, a dose of irony and a pinch of slapstick, but that suddenly changes in the latter half were some dark, surreal and genuine moments creep up into the picture, before it comes to its somewhat drawn-out conclusion. The story does at times preach a bit too much as it focuses heavily on the morality of life and how we should valve our inner well being over materialistic obsession (in this case that's the stolen money). Sure, it does sag in parts, but still altogether its hugely entertaining and what keeps in going is that you don't know what's coming up next. The story and script beautifully evolves each character in helping them find their true calling and when they're given the opportunity, they seize it will both hands with there life changing for the better. Basically, the whole awkward and torrid mess they go through is fate doing its job.
The performances are very good from Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Ren Osugi, Kou Shibasaki and Masanobu Ando. The four naturally gel impeccably with their amusing interplay and throughout the story we're always learning something knew about them and that of their psyche make-up. Even when there's no dialog, we can read that of the impulsive actions and expressions to understand what they really feel, especially that of Shin'ichi Tsutsumi's placid character Asakura. These four may seem hilariously whacked out during moments, but there are some supporting roles (Asakura's aunty) that make the central ones seem more stable. The soundtrack breaths affection in its dreamlike state and the film's imagery is mesmerizing well maybe it's not overtly stylish, but from what you see, you just can't believe what's happening and also it's hard not to be interested in how it all turns out. The highlight sequence definitely goes to a fluky (or was it) death scene in a restaurant. There's such an eagerness to provide something out of the ordinary here with its spiritual honour and air of sensation that seem to push all the right buttons.
An amusingly cerebral chase film that clicks together with one pleasurable set-up after another and a real oddity of characters to equal one heart-warming experience.