1. Film Opening analysis By Kain Stones

2. In the opening scene we see the driver (Ryan Gosling)
talking on the phone discussing how his job as a
getaway driver works. We see him wearing a satin
racing jacket with a golden scorpion on the back. This is
a connotation of the lethal potential the driver has. It is
typical that a character in action films has an item of
clothing that would be remembered and for the driver
it is his scorpion jacket.
The lighting in the majority of the opening scenes are
quite low key with lots of shadows cast across the
driver’s face. There is little to no dialogue that the
driver has after his phone call. These are the
connotations of a dark, brooding character that we
expect to see throughout the film. There is no make up
on any character in this opening as the characters are
all male and it is not typical that men would wear it.

3. Although the film is primarily of the action
genre it is an art and character film at heart. In
the opening scene we are drawn to the driver
and the enigma that surrounds him. Whilst in
most Hollywood action films we would be
captured by the cliché conventions of action
this film has the conventions as a foundry for
a much bigger story on top.

4. We see the driver meet his only friend
Shanon at a garage. Shannon is very
talkative unlike the driver. The most notable
prop is the car. A silver Chevrolet Impala. It
is not an expensive or luxurious car and it is
said that it is the most popular car in the
state of California. It is amongst the rest of
the muscle cars in Shannon's workshop and
it makes us think why he didn’t pick one of
those. The idea is to be discreet, draw no
attention to yourself. This is a challenge to
the conventions of action and their prop
choices.

5. Once the Driver has dropped off his
clients to the robbery he waits
patiently in his car for their return.
Upon their return the police begin a
search for the Impala. The pursuit
begins but it is not exaggerated in a
typical Hollywood manner. The
majority of shots are from within the
car so that the audience experiences
the chase with the Driver rather than
just witness the action that would
take place in other action films.

6. The pace of the shots are quite slow but this is
primarily because it is an art film. The symbolism
behind it is to create dramatic tension as we then
slowly build up the chase. In the background we
hear the commentary of a basketball game on the
radio. The tension of the game builds up in sync with
the chase scene. As the game comes to an end so
does the chase. The commentator counts down,
3,2,1 and as the driver pulls into the stadium they
were playing in. For the first time the lighting is
bright. The driver leaves the car takes off his jacket
and dons a baseball cap. We see now that this is
who the driver is in the public eye and what he is
like at night. The driver challenges conventions of
typical hero's as he is a criminal. We also see him
gain nothing from any of his actions.

7. We then cut to the Driver in
his car, driving through the
city listening to synthpop as
the title rolls. The music is
very relatable to the film as
it sets the tone for the film
and the enigma around the
driver. There is an eighties
vibe throughout the film
and the idea that the Driver
is living a movie through his
behaviour and attire. This
introduces us to him, a
normal guy who moonlights
as a getaway driver. The
enigma is set for the film for
us to discover who the
Driver is, why he does what
he does and where his
nightlife will take him.