Drive (2011)

[Thieves Dont]

Thats the thing though, you don't know 100 percent.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Thieves Dont

Did Ram live or die?

I don't think the point is whether Ram lived or died in The Wrestler - it's that he didn't care, as the cost of his 'art' to him equaled his life. Hopefully this is not a spoiler.

In somewhat the same way, sans the art notion, I don't really think it matters whether Driver lives or dies at the end. Much like Taxi Driver, Drive's ending 'works' whether you subscribe to one theory or the other: they both evoke different timbres of the story.

[Show spoiler]And as is the case with that film, the director has stated that he believes Travis lives at the end, though there is ample evidence in the film to support the notion that he didn't. Either one works.

[anomynous]

The book's sequel wasn't announced until well after the movie was made, so that's irrelevant to the movie's ending.

[Murkurial]

Originally Posted by anomynous

The book's sequel wasn't announced until well after the movie was made, so that's irrelevant to the movie's ending.

Yup.

It's getting a little ridiculous in here right now. This was marketed as a commercial film that could become a franchise of some sort, but it isn't. Not saying that indie films can't have sequels, but this doesn't need one.

Driver wants to be with Irene, but because his sticking around may put them in further danger (per Bernie's words), he has to go. They want to be together, but fate won't allow it. Driver...drives off into the night to start anew somewhere else.

[Seymour]

Originally Posted by Thieves Dont

Thats the thing though, you don't know 100 percent.

Isn't it pretty much implied that he died--since he was told if he wrestled anymore that he would die? I think it's pretty clear--he died doing what he loved.

[Phoenix Theory]

I don't understand why people would think Driver

[Show spoiler]died

.I mean he's

[Show spoiler]driving at the End of the moive

.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by xphoenix23

I don't understand why people would think Driver

[Show spoiler]died

.I mean he's

[Show spoiler]driving at the End of the moive

.

Because the characters in the film are synonomous with "The Scorpion and the Frog" fable from the 3rd century -That means he

[Show spoiler]dies

.

The Scorpion and the Frog is a fable about a scorpion asking a frog to carry him across a river.

The frog is afraid of being stung during the trip, but the scorpion argues that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown.

The frog agrees and begins carrying the scorpion, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both.

When asked why, the scorpion points out that this is its nature.

Driver

[Show spoiler]dies

at the end

[djgeneral]

I hope there is a sequel. All those involved already said they wouldn't just do it to make another, if it all works out and they are able to do it, I would love for one. It is a passion project, not something for money. The film does not need a sequel, but I know if one was coming, it'd be worth seeing due to the people involved and how dedicated they would be to creating something as good/better than the first.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by djgeneral

I hope there is a sequel. All those involved already said they wouldn't just do it to make another, if it all works out and they are able to do it, I would love for one. It is a passion project, not something for money. The film does not need a sequel, but I know if one was coming, it'd be worth seeing due to the people involved and how dedicated they would be to creating something as good/better than the first.

Well, it would be difficult to have a sequel if

[Show spoiler]Driver is dead

.

He's not wearing the scorpion jacket for no reason.

The story is a parallel to "The Scorpion and the Frog" fable from the 3rd century - Driver even mentions it on the phone. That means Driver dies .

The scorpion asks a frog to carry him across a river.
The frog is afraid of being stung during the trip.
The scorpion argues that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown, too.
The frog agrees, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both.
When asked why, the scorpion points out that this is its nature.

Driver

[Show spoiler]dies

at the end

[himynameisdanny]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Well, it would be difficult to have a sequel if

[Show spoiler]Driver is dead

.

He's not wearing the scorpion jacket for no reason.

The story is a parallel to "The Scorpion and the Frog" fable from the 3rd century - Driver even mentions it on the phone. That means Driver dies .

The scorpion asks a frog to carry him across a river.
The frog is afraid of being stung during the trip.
The scorpion argues that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown, too.
The frog agrees, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both.
When asked why, the scorpion points out that this is its nature.

Driver

[Show spoiler]dies

at the end

The Driver is NOT dead. Did you not notice him blink at the end of the movie and driving away? Just because he mentions the scorpion and frog story doesn't mean he has to exactly follow the same fate as the characters in that story.

Plus, the nail in the coffin. Nicholas Refn himself said Driver lives. Refn is the one who created this whole thing, so he's the most reliable source when it comes to whether or not the Driver is dead.

When we last see Driver – bleeding out while behind the wheel of his car, before pulling himself together and speeding off into the night – there is a certain amount of lingering doubt about the literalness vs. figurativeness of what we are seeing. When I asked Refn first-hand what the ending of Drive was all about, I expected the typically coy filmmaker to hand me an equally coy answer. However, he was surprisingly straight forward in his response:

Well all my films always have open endings. All of them. Because I believe art is always best when…you talk about it and think about it, so forth. Maybe once in awhile I’ve gone too far, but I always believe in finding the right balance. And in ‘Drive’ he lives on for more and new adventures.

So there you have it – if you were wondering whether or not the ending of the film was to be taken literally, or was some metaphoric death scene, you at least now know how the director sees it.

Source: http://screenrant.com/drive-movie-ending-kofi-132077/

[Batmon77]

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Well, it would be difficult to have a sequel if

[Show spoiler]Driver is dead

.

He's not wearing the scorpion jacket for no reason.

The story is a parallel to "The Scorpion and the Frog" fable from the 3rd century - Driver even mentions it on the phone. That means Driver dies .

The scorpion asks a frog to carry him across a river.
The frog is afraid of being stung during the trip.
The scorpion argues that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown, too.
The frog agrees, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both.
When asked why, the scorpion points out that this is its nature.

Driver

[Show spoiler]dies

at the end

Just because he told that story in the film does not MEAN that he died. It simply meant he was WILLING TO DIE.

As it has been pointed out already, (about 100 times if not more in this thread), DRIVER DID NOT

[Show spoiler]DIE.

I don't know how much clearer they could have made the fact that he lived. He blinked, and then drove off in the car.

Even Refn himself has stated that in interviews, and clearly if anyone would KNOW, he would.

[djgeneral]

I don't understand what people are going off about in here?

1.) It is already CONFIRMED there is a SEQUEL coming out with DRIVER in it. (Book)

2.) It was CONFIRMED by THOSE INVOLVED IN THE FILM including the DIRECTOR that DRIVER does NOT DIE.

There is no need to discuss or debate this. Maybe you WANT him to die, doesn't matter...he didn't and there is a sequel coming in book form with a possible movie. The end.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by himynameisdanny

The Driver is NOT dead. Did you not notice him blink at the end of the movie and driving away? Just because he mentions the scorpion and frog story doesn't mean he has to exactly follow the same fate as the characters in that story.

Plus, the nail in the coffin. Nicholas Refn himself said Driver lives. Refn is the one who created this whole thing, so he's the most reliable source when it comes to whether or not the Driver is dead.

When we last see Driver – bleeding out while behind the wheel of his car, before pulling himself together and speeding off into the night – there is a certain amount of lingering doubt about the literalness vs. figurativeness of what we are seeing. When I asked Refn first-hand what the ending of Drive was all about, I expected the typically coy filmmaker to hand me an equally coy answer. However, he was surprisingly straight forward in his response:

Well all my films always have open endings. All of them. Because I believe art is always best when…you talk about it and think about it, so forth. Maybe once in awhile I’ve gone too far, but I always believe in finding the right balance. And in ‘Drive’ he lives on for more and new adventures.

So there you have it – if you were wondering whether or not the ending of the film was to be taken literally, or was some metaphoric death scene, you at least now know how the director sees it.

Source: http://screenrant.com/drive-movie-ending-kofi-132077/

I'm aware of what Refn said after the fact.
I'm just going by the facts IN the movie.
The facts we're shown.
The hints dropped.
The parellels portrayed.
All the metaphors.
Why the metaphors if Refn is just going to ignore them?

Scorpion and the Frog = Driver dies.
Stomach puncture = One lives for six hours. If not sought medical attantion, one dies.

Driver gets stabbed, comes back from shock, gains his bearings, and drives off to enjoy what he loves before slipping away due to bleeding out.
Or that "blick" we see is him AFTER he died. That's the point he died. His soul is letting him "drive" in his after life. His passion.

I dont care what Refn said AFTER what he's shown us all.

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Stomach puncture = One lives for six hours. If not sought medical attantion, one dies.

Driver gets stabbed, comes back from shock, gains his bearings, and drives off to enjoy what he loves before slipping away due to bleeding out.

First of all. This is a movie.

Second of all. You have absolutely no idea how bad the wound was, or if it even actually punctured his stomach.

And finally, maybe he was driving to the hospital when he blinked and drove off. You don't know that he was just 'going for a drive' before he bled out.

[K i r a]

Pretty sure everyone still arguing he

[Show spoiler]died

is pretty much

[Show spoiler]

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Or that "blick" we see is him AFTER he died. That's the point he died. His soul is letting him "drive" in his after life. His passion.

Are you friggin' kidding me?!

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Adrock

Are you friggin' kidding me?!

That's what's cool about this film. The first time I watched it, he lived at the end. The second time, he died at the end.

Either are plausible.

Just as plausible as not needing a million dollars because he has a cool scorpion jacket.

"I dont need a million bucks because I got a cool scorpion jacket"

Stop taking it so serious. I'm not in here bashing the movie. It's awesome. Save the mockery for the haters, ok?

[MEB]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

I'm aware of what Refn said after the fact.
I'm just going by the facts IN the movie.
The facts we're shown.
The hints dropped.
The parellels portrayed.
All the metaphors.
Why the metaphors if Refn is just going to ignore them?

Scorpion and the Frog = Driver dies.
Stomach puncture = One lives for six hours. If not sought medical attantion, one dies.

Driver gets stabbed, comes back from shock, gains his bearings, and drives off to enjoy what he loves before slipping away due to bleeding out.
Or that "blick" we see is him AFTER he died. That's the point he died. His soul is letting him "drive" in his after life. His passion.

I dont care what Refn said AFTER what he's shown us all.

That's some strong stuff you're smoking! Please don't come back until you have enough to share with everyone!

Mark

[MikeScott]

A sequel would be ridiculous. This is a great stand-alone film. Though of course I'd see another.