Combining Story and Style: The Colors of Drive

[@TylerMowery]

Get Practical Tools to Write Your Great Screenplay: www.practicalscreenwriting.com

[@NTJordan]

Watching video essays like this make me appreciate film so much more. It's always interesting to see what details another person notices the most.

[@TylerMowery]

+N.T. Jordan thanks. That's the goal. To further people's appreciation.

[@jatingupta9769]

hands down, the best analysis of Drive.

[@TylerMowery]

thank you!

[@21rasko]

Good analysis without going overboard with ten dollar words.

[@TylerMowery]

+21rasko thank you!

[@apachecry8015]

I'm just a regular person that likes watching movies & just in aww of how you've explained this so poignantly! I really do appreciate it. Never thought of films applying color theory like this, but now it makes too much sense.

[@HealthyAndrew]

this is genius. I am at a loss for words

[@TylerMowery]

+AndrewJ26 thank you!

[@ngkindig]

good god man Drive is hands down one of my top favorite movies. I have seen it so many times and not once did I ever look at it the way you explained. I always felt the emotion but never the way the colors play a roll into the movie. Have you ever seen the movie, "The Raid-Redemtion"?

[@TylerMowery]

+SUNdown I have not. It's on my watchlist though!

[@ecks8214]

This. This is exactly the type of cinematography breakdown I'm looking for when I go to KZbin. Awesome work and thank you for sharing!

[@viiking01]

@Tyler Mowery A little late to the party, but a few other observations for the sake of fun conversation. The direction, the slow burn of the Driver's character and scenes, and the art style of this movie literally blew me away when I first watched this movie. Never had I seen a movie that pulled off what Refn achieved here. It certainly does appear that Refn specifically relied upon the use of colors as internal dialogue and explanation of actions and thoughts for the audience throughout many of these scenes that I will touch further upon. In doing so, many people I'm sure felt that something special about the "feel" of the movie with a much more nuanced and subtle approach to character development and the overall story without the need for heavy direct exposition. 2:32 Driver is slightly bathed in a light yellow light. His environment is light blue. This would lead me to believe that while the driver is sitting there he is either contemplating his life choices or the scene is just simply displaying him being torn by a yellow internal desire to want to leave this life of crime but still finds himself surrounded by the blue crime world. 2:51 even the green lights are blue-tinted. The right turn pavement is lit blue. The other three, are yellow/orange. Multiple pathways. some good, some bad. 2:55 Shannon's garage. Also torn between wanting to be a good person, have good intentions, but still, he engages with Bernie and the crime world. 3:30 Driver is wearing his blue denim jacket but is viewing the world through burnt orange aviator glasses. Maybe as the saying goes, "Rose-colored glasses" This would also sync up with the later dialogue with the son Benicio in that Driver "sees" himself as the good guy/hero and believes his good intentions are enough to keep him from being the bad guy/ "shark" even though he is still a criminal/shark. 3:30 Shannon has a thin orange/red line on his blue jacket. Possibly signifying Shannon's attempt to walk a thin line same as the driver in keeping his work more legitimate while still working with Bernie and even introducing and further embroiling the driver into the seedy underbelly of the crime world. 3:40 (this may be stretching it a bit) The yellow fruit has a very noticeable deep blue material in the bowl so while the fruit may have been purchased with and is an item of good intentions for a healthy life, the means by which they were purchased and are now "wrapped in blue" possibly by criminal/illegal money that Standard had left her with when he went to jail and her knowing that even her innocent viewpoint on life is not so innocent. 4:03 again Irene's personal belongings (here we a "blue" dress) were likely purchased with money obtained through Standard's means of illegal income/crime. 4:21 Here we see Benecio with an "orange" pumpkin mask being surrounded by the "blue" criminal environment of Standard, as Irene moves closer to him, she knows and probably fears that the criminal life of Standard is something that Benecio is sure to notice more and more as he gets older if Standard continues his criminal ways of life her innocent "orange" mask son may turn blue. The orange mask may also be a symbol to signify the innate innocence of children hidden from many of the sad truths of life just the same way a mask allows one's self to hide. 5:26 Here we see the blue environment now with again a thin orange line similar to Shannon's jacket at the race track. He is also bathed in orange light. Torn between realities.

[@puregarbagefilms]

Hi am studying filmmaking and this helps me... a lot. thank you.

[@TylerMowery]

I'm glad I could be of help!

[@puregarbagefilms]

I have a question, what film would you recommend if i want to study Actor/Camera Blocking?

[@Hustler9g]

The first time i watched drive I geeked over the use of colors so much that i didnt pay any attention to the dialogue of the film yet i still understood the story. Amazing visuals with a good story. Drive was a master peice

[@DoctorHerbstein]

That was an amazing analysis! Your videos make me see movies in a new light (hah), even more so than Every Frame A Painting and Nerdwriter.

[@TylerMowery]

+Herbstein wow! Thank you for such kind words!

[@PatilHarshavardhan-u5p]

Never thought of the movie like this but man you are tooo damn good at deriving things from movies

[@thejasonrk]

great job, I have been trying to explain this to people for years but most people I meet just don't get Drive or have never seen it, I consider it the best film of this decade.

[@thomask5038]

Holy sh*t. Your attention to detail--like here with the colors in Drive--is outstanding. Freaking awesome work, man.

[@DannyDisease]

Drive looks so much like a David Fincher movie.

[@maximus20081983]

ONE OF THE BEST VIDEOS I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS IN KZbin...IN ALL THESE YEARS...HANDS DOWN!!!...Please do keep this up...

[@josiahcarroll8576]

Drive and tron are two of my favorite movies, with drive being my favorite film of all time. Beautiful but very deep story wise

[@bechkrisalah6416]

Brilliant analysis! You just added one more reason for me to love this movie.

[@farhanimator]

why tf this didn't have a million views yet!! so well explained i loved the movie but didn't knew there was so much work behind color placements.. it's amazing

[@treygibson5292]

I did notice these things, plus he switches from his choices of jackets. Blue at work, but then Gold, black, and later on he only wears the white side of the same jacket with a black collar, and a gold scorpion in the back center. I have some ideas but they are not complete yet.

[@loganwelty7094]

Just watched Drive for the first time last night. Brilliant analysis mate!

[@rawtaa8591]

This is one of my fav films. Seen it like 10 times yet I just discovered something new about it. Thank you!

[@andrewtheblonde]

My mind is rekt. You deserve more subscribers.

[@TylerMowery]

+ANDY FX thank you!

[@andrewtheblonde]

Tyler Mowery if you ever come to Chicago I'd love to collaborate.

[@officaldlz]

I drive (I’m literally Ryan Gosling And The Driver From Drive 2011)

[@BlenderDumbass]

Now I understand why Nikola Refn Movies are so colorfully weird

[@PatilHarshavardhan-u5p]

Thank you far making this video. Your interpretation is something that i could've never understood if not for this video

[@krypticunlimited6925]

Man I couldnt have noticed this stuff if i tried. Very well done!

[@terroncarey4891]

Jesus christ that was an amazing video essay

[@Liquid_Faith]

Wow, I absolutely love Drive and have known the undertones you are talking about. But through my understanding of the actions, but I've never notice the colors, amazing. Almost like subliminal reinforcement of the story. Thank you the insight.

[@JohnnyFiction]

Beautifully crafted, my friend. Keep up the great work.

[@christianspanggaard]

Winding Refn is such an amazing instructor, he is great at creating a movie seemingly without much storyline but when you think about the symbolism, a whole new world opens. My favourite movie of his is Drive but Neon Demon comes close. I feel very uncomfortable when he plays with the colors in that movie but i like it. Ryan Gosling's Lost River does the same thing with the colors. It's easy to see that he was inspired by Winding. And The Guest by Adam Wingard - astonishing scenes. Now knowing that i like these sort of movies, do you have any suggestions for other movies like them? I would appreciate some suggestions :)

[@TylerMowery]

Off the top of my head, no films come to mind immediately. If you find some that fit what your looking for, comment back here so I can take a look at them! Thanks!

[@Games4Dummies]

amazing analysis for an amazing movie! great work on this video, you deserve a lot more attention! this is one of my favorite movies with one of my favorite actors, visually stunning, memorable and with great songs

[@vocalathletics]

This explains quite a bit - thank you! :)

[@Albanez39]

For as long as movies will be about entertainment, Hollywood will keep sucking. Film is a powerful medium that should make you feel something unique, teach you something unheard, hit you like a hurricane and cause all sorts of crazy overwhelming emotions.

[@gee355Art]

This was great - I think I was aware that the colours held significance when I was watching it but just didn't know how or what. This has enriched an already fascinating movie for me, thank you! 👍🏼

[@tobeannounced...8995]

The tron legacy rant is purely opinion based i loved tron legacy

[@quietspark8703]

Drive is a masterpiece in minimalist storytelling.

[@lucaskalebef]

What an amazing reading, I love this way more after this video

[@xj975]

Thank you for explaining this, it gives perspective on things to study in order to make good works of art.

[@asliv11]

Your videos are great mate! We gotta get you some more attention.

[@TylerMowery]

+Timm Reinefeld thanks! Haha yea I'd love that.

[@SoundOfTheMachine]

you got a sub for this. I absolutely adore this movie and you put it into a different perspective for me

[@mikestarkey5516]

Amazing video, this is one of my favorite movies. New subscriber

[@theSuperviLLain_est]

Great video Did you see the end tho? He was alive

[@suryakantpatre4812]

That was fantastic 👌. Hands down. What an explanation!

[@billygerter5568]

Nice job on this one

[@TylerMowery]

+Billy Gerter thank you!

[@hello2jello4mellow34]

Yet another great insight!

[@skeet39]

Great analysis!

[@BitesizedChris]

Great work on this mate,

[@TylerMowery]

+Chris Frost thanks man!

[@rafaeljtsilva]

Am I pleased to discover your channel? This is actually really good. Well thought and passed on. Let me watch the others too! Keep it up

[@PatilHarshavardhan-u5p]

Drive is my favourite

[@BanielDrown]

Damn, hadn't consciously noticed this.. Gives me more appreciation for the film. Because when I recently re-watched it, it was pointed out to me how terrible the sounds of the car motor is at multiple points in the film - like really terrible.. :(

[@hello2jello4mellow34]

Everything in Drive is meant to be how it is given to us (the audience).

[@LordHollow]

Videos like this make me want to watch the movie again with new eyes.

[@nnefariousjack]

Only edit I have is that fact that the driver doesn't die.

[@AndreaPatruno]

I love your videos! Keep up mate, you're damn good

[@TylerMowery]

+Andrea Patruno (pastrunho) thank you!

[@aryanjawade6315]

Great job really loved the video!

[@tbuelna]

I love Drive even more now!! Nice video!!

[@moravianlion3108]

Well, the plot of Tron itself is bullsh*t, so you can't save it by "better story" :D Great video! Thank you for that!

[@vijaywarriyar1000]

Zack Snyder's works are terribly misunderstood and very underrated. I'm pretty fuckin' sure, Time will prove that he's a Godsend.

[@bus7343]

Zack Snyder’s work is always catching strays LOL .. his movies will age like fine wine. No doubt about it.

[@billygoatideas]

I think I'll save this vid until I watch the movie. Also, should the title say 'combining'?

[@TylerMowery]

+billygoatideas you're a life saver.

[@HealthyAndrew]

I noticed the color change when I saw the movie but I didn’t know that I did if that makes sense

[@sywingf.2598]

I have seen it 5 times and I have not noticed once the orange and blue part........ fuck i am blind

[@orangewarm1]

but the elevator is warm and orange. it should have been cold and blue.

[@jayfolk]

his color blindness only lets him see contrasts, the brighter the colors, the higher the contrast, hence his films have many bright colors.

[@andyhervouet6600]

Brillant

[@cnaude]

What are your views on Only God Forgives?

[@TylerMowery]

+Charl Naude I watched like 30 minutes and was bored and turned it off. I should rewatch it but that's all I can say on it now. I respect Refn's choices on making stuff he likes instead of following mainstream ideas.

[@harryom3497]

Perfect

[@swapnilkadam557]

❤

[@dtrwithkendallandmadison4925]

STOPPPPPP this is crazy

[@fanofbama14]

Do a video on Zootopia!

[@TylerMowery]

+fanofbama14 thanks for the suggestion!

[@bus7343]

I think Zack Snyder exceeds in both style and substance