Two films feature gritty and uncompromising protagonists this week at the GI. Both are larger-than-life archetypes unleashed and wreaking havoc in fits of inspired insanity. One: a comics legend with a beard to be feared (a total badass), the other: a rom-com legend now blood-spattered and a full-on man figure in his own right (another total badass). I’m of course talking about Warren Ellis and Ryan Gosling, two figures I’m equating in a way that could amount to one of the most interesting and exciting one-two GI punches we’ve swung in a while.
The Warren Ellis film is a documentary, not a “RED” sequel. Thank goodness. It comes to you from the man who brought us the Grant Morrison documentary just about a year ago. I’ll be interested to see what figure he cranks one out on next. Garth Ennis shows up a bit in this film, perhaps he’s next? Neil Gaiman? Not Alan Moore, he wouldn’t be bothered and there is already an interesting doc on him. Anyway, I’ve already read almost every comic that I know Ellis has published (except for random Marvel stuff), so I didn’t find this film as inspiring to run out and read his stuff as I did the Morrison doc (and I’m glad I gave Morrison another chance!), but he is just so great to watch and listen to (more so than Morrison, Ellis is one of the best on-camera comics authors).
Speaking as a be-bearded man (redundant, I know, but fun), that's a damn fine beard
And of course I gotta throw some love to “Drive.” I gotta. One of the best opening sequences of the past year (after “Melancholia” of course), it grips you and pulls you in. One of the best soundtracks of the year for sure, even better than “The Muppets” (I love you Bret!). “Drive” may make you think its a nice, safe movie. But then all of a sudden, ultra-violence! Ryan Gosling kicks ass in this film, though I gotta say his performance in “Ides of March” put nearly everyone else in the movie to shame, as Hoffman, Giamatti, and even Clooney seemed like they were just phoning in their performances in their unchallenging, uninspired roles (why it has so many noms this year, I don’t know, “Descendants” is up there!) So yeah “Drive” is snubbed in awards season, but we at the GI still think it was one of the best films of 2011. See it to believe it!
–dan, the filmic man
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.