On the films visuals

So, plot aside, I'd like to focus on the visuals of this film and why I think they receive a little too much credit. I haven't seen Drive, but even that movie is more..skillfully shot IMO.

I think my biggest issue with this film is that while it is visually pleasing, there's very little shooting with purpose.As a director, every decision you make should be done with reason, and good reason at that. The lighting/colours and setting often accomplish this fairly well, but the camera is so carelessly placed it upsets me a little. Centre framed shot, long dollys, and lines of perspective almost just for the sake of it. I think it detracts from the films experience.

Early on, the first few scenes seem to be heavily channeling Kubrick's 2001 in many ways; again though, too much. People walking around agonizingly slow to establish a mood, I guess. There would've been better ways to do it though.

I'm not hating on this movie. I actually really like some bits, and aside from a lot of the cringey plot moments, it does some stuff really well, but I think this film is a case where Refn's ego got the better of him, and you can see it.

Also, I think this film would've done a bit better if he used different lenses, or cut between them more often. Up until the halfway point, I often got the feeling that the visuals were almost plain despite the composition and lighting. That might just be because I like my stylized movies though (and I'm getting spoilt by them)