Saw Drive last night. It’s been billed as an action movie – I experienced it more as a stylized love story about violence, if that makes any sense. I recommend it in any case. The director, Nicolas Winding Refn, has created a fantastic movie in many regards – the performances, casting, and arc all worked great for me. But it’s the editing and the soundtrack (particularly heavy on the dark wave and synth pop) that pack an unexpectedly powerful punch. The opening sequence was what hooked me – it’s visually arresting, and it’s hard to take your eyes off Gosling, but it was Refn’s excellent choice of Kravinsky’s “Nightcall” that really got me in the  mood to really appreciate the film. (And, frankly, appreciating the film is largely a matter of being in the right mood.) It’s a critical track.

Nightcall (feat. Lovefoxxx) by Kavinsky

In terms of emotional oomph, College’s “A Real Hero” was the most powerful track in the film for me by far. Refn uses it to great effect – once, during the LA River car ride sequence, then at the end, where the lyrics “real hero” make an unexpected sort of sense. Here’s the clip of the first time it’s used – the song comes in around 1:30. This scene was probably my favorite in the movie.

College feat. Electric Youth – A Real Hero by College