How GOOD is Drive My Car?! | Movie Review

[@yoshitomosaito8879]

Just watched it at a theater in Denver. So good I loved it. This cinematic experience has taking me for a certain duration of time to let itself sink into my psychology. Your thoughtful review is helpful in the process. Thank you. You're using inside of your car for the presentation of this KZbin as a place to reveal your deep thinking and accompanied unsettling feelings is appropriate in the light of the theme of the movie. I also realize my car is a part pragmatic and part sacred. It's a small discovery yet important one to notice.

[@excalipoor]

Damn. Just watched it. The opening credits didn’t start until 40 mins in. Knowing a good amount of japan geography plus knowing a few languages helped to add more and understand more of the scenes helped.

[@cameron6081]

You guys are my kind of people! unapologetically in love with Cinema! :)

[@franklindistelzweig3728]

Just saw this last night and it’s definitely top 3 of last year for me now

[@expressyourself2591]

You are right in the beginning is feeding you in and then it drags you in

[@samlyf101]

did y'all know Janus Films are not only distributing it in the US, but handling its awards campaign? Kudos to them! Looking forward to the Criterion release which would prob come by the end of this year/early 2023!!!

[@toki37611]

Drive My Car was without a question my favorite movie of 2021! I also enjoyed Edward Yang’s Yi Yi and A Bright Summer’s Day. You might be interested to check out Hamaguchi’s earlier movie, Happy Hour, which is another slow burn (5 hours!) yet a delicate and meditative piece.

[@davidsheriff9274]

I just ordered "Happy Hour" I guess I will have to break up the five hours, but I'm looking forward to it.

[@toki37611]

@@davidsheriff9274 Great! “Happy Hour” is a super slow burn, so be warned! Nonetheless, I do think the investment is worthwhile, and you might very well enjoy it. Looking forward to hearing what you think of the movie.

[@davidsheriff9274]

@@toki37611I just watched the whole thing on a plane, I loved it. I was riveted from start to finish. Whenever I see Hamaguchi, he looks like a normal relatively young guy, you would never think that he was such a creative genius. When people talk about someone having an old soul, that is a perfect way to describe him. Do you think everything was scripted or was it improved? I am going to watch wheel of fortune and fantasy next.

[@DarkAngelEU]

Wheel of Fortune is another wonderful movie of Hamaguchi.

[@toki37611]

@@davidsheriff9274 Glad you like the movie! Re: how much of it was scripted vs. improv-ed, great question! My guess is that it was probably mostly scripted, although the acting was so natural that it really made one wonder… 🤔

[@cinemalights2625]

What separates this from a lot of other three-hour movies is that it’s entirely character-driven in a way that’s similar to binge-watching your favorite TV show. Every single supporting character exists in the movie for a reason. They all influence Kafuku’s perspective on life, grief, his marriage to his wife, and most importantly, his craft. I would have honestly made space for Nishijima in the Best Actor category. He gave one of the best performances of the year. Also, fun fact: I actually saw Drive My Car at the New York Film Festival last fall, before anyone here in the states caught onto it, and I got Ryusuke Hamaguchi to sign my program as he was crossing the street!

[@jdesert5036]

What irritated me at the end was how every character sounded the same, much too insightful and profound.

[@naylynnthant]

@@jdesert5036 i think you’re idea of profound is highly exaggerated LOL. I’d be irritated by that

[@jdesert5036]

@@naylynnthant Profound in relation to how those characters had been portrayed/represented up to that point. It's an issue some writers/directors have, speaking in their own voice through the characters instead of having a broad range of voices.

[@tarekmahmud4804]

The most powerful movie of the year. Your review is also good.

[@greatestd4ne]

saw this a couple weeks ago and thought it was great ! not my favorite of the year but would probably be in my top 20. I also love how sparingly they used the score, really stuck out the few times they used it.

[@chrisbrandt6245]

This makes me want to see this movie even more. Man I can’t wait. Thank you guys

[@thebicycleman8062]

I literally use this movie to put me to sleep. It's basically like a moving desktop wallpaper of nice Japan highway roads. That's it. Its a wallpaper movie 3 hours long

[@silobandnj3967]

Just got out of theaters seeing this. Absolutely loved it. And it was so moving. Also the score is fantastic

[@GutsTheGhost]

When the title card drops 40 mins in you know you're watching some good shit

[@kenminlau]

Why?

[@BirdofKino]

Having the masculine urge to be homosexual for Erick

[@MrWafflez26]

uwu

[@BirdofKino]

@@MrWafflez26 😘😘😘

[@DonJoeBob]

I love hearing different perspectives on films and this film is a perfect example for me personally of walking away with a totally different feeling. I found it terribly boring and bloated, with almost no discernible acting throughout. Long scenes of that blasted tape playing over and over with not real reason to do so, the reactions never change and it doesn't develop anything really. So many long scenes that should've been trimmed out since they serve no purpose other than to force us to sit in this dour world even longer. I almost hated this movie but it delivers on it's purpose even if it wasn't something I could enjoy. I'm not sharing this to belittle your takes on it, I'm glad you loved it, but I just thought I'd share the other end of the spectrum. Not all films are for all people. I do appreciate slow cinema like Jeanne Dielman, Memoria, Bela Tarr films or like you mentioned Yi Yi but I need to feel something or be pulled into the cinematic world created. I wish I like Drive My Car, I looked forward to it but both me and my wife were just left feeling cold and disconnected from it. Moreover, as fan of film, when I see my fellow film fans praise something that I don't connect with, it makes me feel left out or like I missed something. But all too often, I love a film that I don't find others praising like I would, so I understand both perspectives. I'll defend The Stupids forever. Thanks guys!

[@annielee6358]

I agree with your opinion. This is the most boring movie I've ever watched! I disliked it from the very beginning till the end (skipping through). I normally enjoy slow movie with substances, deep meaning, and perhaps good sound track and scenery which I found none of that in this movie. I'd recommend a Korean movie named Burning instead (100 times better).

[@inkajoo]

Film was good until the ending, the speech during the hug scene hammering in the moral of the tale was real bad. The screenplay could have used some editing. Everyone is too insightful, too overtly philosophical and specific in what they want you to think.

[@boxingmonkey2450]

Watched this few days ago . . . Excruciating. . . Way Way Way too long

[@tomislavcehajic9642]

Very good movie very good, prolog 45 min

[@mudstyle5288]

Too long

[@naylynnthant]

That’s what your mum said when i doggied her

[@jdesert5036]

Something I didn't like was how everyone with a speaking part ended up having the same voice, a clear lack of distinction between characters. Everyone was too profound and insightful, even someone using sign language. Another example (without spoiling) is the young actor that plays Uncle Vanya in the play giving an out-of-character 2-3 minute monologue in the last 30 mins of the film. It took me out of the movie.