My Selected Film Double Bill
Drive (2011) Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn
The Place Beyond The Pines (2012) Dir. Derek Cianfrance
These films work very well together, personally i think TPBTP acts as a spiritual successor to Drive. Both films feature Ryan Gosling as a morally ambiguous character that risks everything for love including himself. Also both characters are very talented when it come to their respective vehicles. 'Drive' is centered around 'The Driver' a movie stunt-driver and part time getaway driver, similarly 'TPBTP' centers 'Luke Glanton' professional circus motorcycle stuntman turned bank robber.
Both films fit nicely into the Neo-Noir style, using similar colour palettes for example both films use a lot of low lighting scenes accompanied with moody neon style lighting. Both of Goslings characters share distinctive personality, speaking few words and guided by explosive emotion that shapes the way their lifes pan out.
Also despite the main theme of crime, both films share a core theme of family throughout, exploring how important it can be and how it defines a person. In 'Drive', The driver essentially throws his life away to protect the makeshift family that has formed as a result of his romance with Carey Mulligans character. Similarly in 'TPBTP' after learning of the existence of his child, Luke risks everything to provide for it and its mother.
Both films also have distinctively different settings this almost creates the idea that both films provide a what if? scenario where both Luke & The Driver are the same character in different worlds/environment. 'Drive' takes place in downtown Los Angeles, featuring large scale settings compared to 'TPBTP' which takes place somewhere in the American Midwest, both films are defined by their locations and their characters provide very accurate representations of life in them.
