Cannes 2013 - Only God Forgives: 8 Ways It Could Live Up To Drive

1. Grander Emotional Stakes

Only God Forgives Drive was a vague, airy film that didn't lay all of its emotions out to the viewer; we were instead tasked with figuring it out for ourselves, which was a pleasant surprise. The main emotional thrust was Driver trying to protect Irene and her family, not really seeming to care all that much about his own well-being in the process. The spare nature of the film, though, with a sociopathic protagonist, meant that it wasn't as emotional as it could have been, something Refn seems to be remedying in Only God Forgives. Though this film is also likely to be dark and scant with emotion, the mere nature of the plot sounds a lot more visceral and gratifying; after all, is it not easier to connect with a guy avenging his brother's death than trying to save a woman whose pants he (initially) wants to get into? Alright, there's more to Drive than that, but my expectation - perhaps foolishly - is that Only God Forgives will build on the fascinating foundation Refn built for himself last time. What are you expecting from Only God Forgives? Let us know in the comments below.
Editor-in-chief
Editor-in-chief

Matt Holmes is the co-founder of What Culture, formerly known as Obsessed With Film. He has been blogging about pop culture and entertainment since 2006 and has written over 10,000 articles.