DRIVE

DRIVE your way to a review of the film, Drive, with Ryan Gosling and Carrey Mulligan (who is somewhat wasted as the love interest to be protected). Talk a little bit about the controlled nature of Gosling's performance. He's set up a number of contrasts within his character. What are they and are they effective? Once he let's go, do you believe him and can you see him as an integrated, multifaceted, yet contradictory character? How might you play the character differently (hard question)? Finally, where did he come from and where is he going? What about the theme song, A Real Human Being, A Real Hero. Yes, obvious, but is it effective and does the film succeed in creating one? Clearly, his heroism is more than just violence in defense of the woman and child. Wherein does his heroism really lie?

SUBMARINE

This is obviously a quirky 'coming of age' teen movie that charts the living hell some young folk have to endure in UK schools. In point of fact, the film/story takes place in Wales, which, of course, is very much part of the 'United Kingdom,' (not to be confused with Whales), but perhaps not so much a part of British/London school culture. You Brits out there can illuminate this for us.

Topic Question: What did you get out of this film? What's it's point (IF ANY)? How does it differ from traditional Hollywood 'coming of age' flicks. What part does bullying play in the story. Why does the female protagonist so dislike physical expressions of affection? What do you really think about the use of the word 'gay' to express anything lame, stupid, dumb, ugly...and sentimental. 

Give me a rambling, intelligent, insightful commentary on the film and its effect on your quivering, vulnerable, searching young minds. NO NOT TELL ME THE PLOT, because - guess what - I KNOW THAT ALREADY.

PICTURE BELOW of two wrestlers in the class, one British, one Jewish/Russian. (Rizzo: WHO?)