MovieChat Forums > Nicolas Winding Refn Discussion > This guy is having a midlife crisis

This guy is having a midlife crisis


In recent interviews he's trying to commit patricide by claiming Von Trier and Lynch to be old men now. He's 46 years himself and he thinks he's "punk rock". In Cannes he said that he somehow inherited Iggy Pop's legacy or some nonsense like that, like he's some twenty year old rebel.

He's clearly having a midlife crisis that we can witness in public. He's a talented director, but so very angry at his cinematic fathers, and by far much great filmmakers, Lynch and Von Trier under whose shadow he's forever trapped. Fear X was the first of his cheap Lynch imitations and the recent couple films have been trying to tap that same vein.

Drive was a great film, but that's because he didn't write it himself. His bad boy antics at Cannes are like he's trying to out-Trier Von Trier. But he tries so hard it's like he's constipated and angry for not being able to deliver. He should stick to genre films. Pusher and Drive are good films because they don't try to be Art. Clearly he's more talented making those kind of films than those Lynch imitations that he's delivering recently.

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I disagree, he's a sh*tty director.

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Drive is overrated(especially cheesy as hell soundtrack) and he will never be on the same level of Lynch and Trier,writing is the main problem in his movies.

also can someone explain why he and actresses of "Neon Demon" are standing like they are bad ass boxing players LOL like in this photo for example http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1974419/mediaviewer/rm1580078592 this is *beep* lame, are they advertising an action movie?

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His direction gets in the way of Drive's interesting story. He thinks he's some pseudo-intellectual director but his films are mostly all ass and get critically shat on.

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His direction gets in the way of Drive's interesting story.



What interesting story ?

"Drive" was a remix of Melville's "Le Samourai", Walter Hill's "Driver" and Mann's "Thief".

The direction was interesting, but didn't deserve awards.


I totally agree with the OP.

Refn really thinks he's hot sh*t now and here to stay.

He's only the flavor of the week.


He'll never reach Lynch or Von Trier's masterpieces,

because he's only interested in style.


Refn doesn't understand, that the only reason why Cannes pushed him so hard was,

that they had to fill the 'crazy Dane' slot, after Von Trier got banned from the festival.

He's the less talented substitute.

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I was engaged in the story. But his unnecessary artsy fartsy direction kept getting in the way. Never said it was original. Nice try though.

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imdb.com/list/ls031254554
Last seen: The Jungle Book

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I think the directing is what made Drive so special. The story was just an ok crime/noir story. Stylized directing and basic story equals greatness in this case. It's when Refn tries to make the story artful too (Only God Forgives) he falters.

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I would agree if we were talking about the first half of the film, but it gets repetitive. There are only so many shots of the back of his jacket I can take.

~RANKING 2016 FILMS~
imdb.com/list/ls031254554
Last seen: The Jungle Book

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what are you talking about cannes pushed him so hard?? he was already in the festival with von trier in 2011, and if you didn't already know, his dad works with von trier all the time.

maybe cannes just likes his films and thinks he's an interesting director?? which is why he won directing for drive and cliff martinez just won for the music in neon demon.


don't get me wrong, Lynch and Von Trier are two of my favorites and Refns films are nowhere near theres. I just don't understand why everyone is so quick to hate as soon as someone brings up the fact that they might be similar to Refn.

For the record only god forgives was great and neon demon was excellent. I prefer those films over Drive.


Agreed there is a lot of issues with his writing, or lack there of, but for me its not about that. know what you are getting into. It seems clear to me Refn is more interested in 80s themed music and neon visuals atm. which is completely fine with me.

The ending to neon demon was great.

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