MovieChat Forums > The Driver (1978) Discussion > The Driver (1978) or Drive (2011)?

The Driver (1978) or Drive (2011)?

posted 13 years ago by ravenking81
123 replies | jump to latest

Which do you prefer and why?
Walter Hill´s The Driver or Nicolas Windig Refn´s Drive?

I find it interesting that so few realise the similarities between these two films. James Sallis was clearly inspired by Walter Hill's The Driver when he wrote the book and then it was turned into a movie, so you could almost say, that Drive is an unofficial remake of The Driver.

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[–] MetalWorks 10 years ago

Drive, for me, was the evolution of the neo noir
The only thing The Driver has that Drive lacks, its humour; Drive its a little bit too serious at times

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Robbmonster 9 years ago

I prefer The Driver, but I generally prefer older-style films anyway, especially those of the 70's.

Drive simply failed to grab me. It's entirely possible I didn't understand it. It's equally as possible I was looking for meaning where there was really none to be found.

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[–] johncg25 9 years ago

I would say they are about even. Driver feels like a Micheal Mann film (my favorite director) so I like that, whereas Drive has moments of greatness but also is a little slower feeling at times, has those long dialogue moments with the girl, and feels ..more like an art-house Refn film (who I also like a lot). Two slightly different styles on probably the same original base.

Both are good in their own ways and I can't really pick one over the other actually. (Would have liked to have seen more of "Pusher" in Drive as that is what Driver is more like...more pulsating and suspenseful. That was lacking in parts of Drive, but it was still good and of course a modern version with better music is very good too.

[–] looper007 (1158) 6 years ago

I think Drive is a better film, with better performances. The 2011 film is one of those era defining works.

Both films have one or two things in common, mostly the way the car scenes go and Ryan Gosling and Ryan O'Neal's character's both been called the Driver, both been ultra cool professionals who's past you don't know, both cold blooded killer's if need be. That both films are slim on plot and more on atmosphere. Besides that, that's as far as it goes really.

I liked The Driver a lot, I'm a big Walter Hill fan. It's a shame Ryan O'Neal didn't do more of these kind of roles, he's excellent in this. Bruce Dern steals the film as the Detective who won't stop at nothing to get his man. Isabelle Adjani brings a ice cool vibe to the film that suit's the film down to the ground (shame she didn't do a lot of English speaking roles). She would have only been 23 when she did this and she's beautiful.