Notes on Drive

The City (Setting)

• Unrealistic representation of a city (LA) - empty, very few cars, no other (unnecessary/background) people
• Empty city - reflection of main characters loneliness - hyperreal representation
• Birds eye view shots match/reflect similar style shots from the game 'Grand Theft Auto' - intertextual reference
• Opening getaway scene - hiding in plain sight - 'most popular car in the state of california' - no evidence of this as there are only a few other cars within the scene

Dialogue

• Lack of dialogue throughout film - story presented mainly through action/violence etc
• Lack of dialogue from main character in particular - reserved - sense that there may be something he's hiding - a past/something he wishes to forget - some idea that this may have happened to him before
• Intertextual reference to Clint Eastwood films - Spaghetti Westerns - less dialogue, more action and suspense

Music

• Nino's death scene - 1970's Italian pop ballad - unusual choice of song for circumstance
• Romantic music in lift scene - matches slow motion elements - changes in lighting (brighter) - reflects content of scene - only kiss between main character and Irene - lighting change is unnatural - reminder that it is not real - self reflexive
• Song played twice in film - 'real human being and a real hero' (A Real Hero - College & Electric Youth)
• 80's pop synth tracks - heavy beats - unusual - contrasts film - stands out - loud - almost annoying at times

Fairytale

• Theme intended by director
• Key elements of fairytale genre are featured - conventional elements - save the girl (hero) - conventional characters - hero, villain, 'princess' - girl saved) 
• Modern day idea of a 'Grimm' fairytale - more pulpy/violent - not child friendly
• Fantasy appearance elements - empty setting only involving characters - self reflexive - lighting - unrealistic elements
• Some challenges of fairytale conventions and contradicting ideas to conventional fairytale ideas - brutal violence - ending - the 'hero' doesn't get the girl

Hero

• Main character appears to be heroic - saves the girl - risks his own life for hers - however - is denied the typical and conventional 'living happily ever after' ending of a fairytale
• Some elements of the mood character's representation and features of his character make him appear as an 'anti-hero' - brutal and violent - not always with the best intentions - engages in criminal activity - makes a living from criminal activity
• Although brutal - his violent actions are largely justified - especially those which define the character as dead - e.g. the audience is not made certain of whether Nino's driver survives or not - his death is not necessary
• Non of the violence is nobel - brutal and gruesome - lift scene
• Doesn't wish to be in this situation - 'bad luck' that he ends up involved 
• 'there's no good sharks?' foreshadows events within the film, all criminals are criminals and he will be a bad guy

Violence

• Sudden violence - initially shocking as it appears out of character for 'the kid' - we learn this is his nature and that it has most likely happened before - his calm approach to violence, with no signs of regret etc, show him in a psychotic light
• Lift scene is murderous and brutal with determination to not just kill but completely destroy the enemy - kicks the man to death and crushes his face in - shows 'the kid' to be a psychopath - key scene in film - first time we truly see this side to him - shocking - shows their is more to the character - secrets - something hidden (a past? regrets?) - he has revealed himself - change in the way the audience perceives the character - some realisation for the audience that there may not be a typical 'happy ending' for this character - he might not get the girl as he is not good for her - dangerous - monstrous - psychotic side to the character out ways his generosity towards the girl and her son
• Kills 2 hit men, man in lift, Nino (and possibly his driver), and martin ('the boss') - total of 5/6 deaths - also hurts others - e.g. smashes Cook's hand with a hammer and makes him swallow a bullet
• Other killings - not by 'the kid' - are also brutal - e.g. killing of shannon by Martin ('the boss') with a razor blade - left to bleed to death

Ending

• Ending is open to interpretation - no clear or defined reason - leaves audience with questions - wanting answers - elements of uncertainty within scene - intended by director
• Assumed that the driver will go on to a new place, a new city and continue his life else where - he will find new adventures - hints within the film lead the audience to assume this has all happened to him before and will likely happen again somewhere else
• Clue to repeated life story - ends where he started - lonely - without the girl - lucky to be alive