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Best opening credits scene in movie history

posted 10 years ago by milzz
50 replies | jump to latest

Drive, unexpectedly, is my favourite movie. It is the only movie that I think is completely perfect.

But this opening sequence is just something else. The backdrop of LA lit up at night with the bright pink font and Kavinsky's Nightcall playing, and Ryan driving the streets, all wrapped up by a great cinematographers eye, is just perfection.

I also think that not only should it have been nominated for the Oscar of Best Acheivement in Editing, but also cinematography. Each scene is just stunning and carefully constructed, with the placing of the actors, mixture of light and dark.... And although the violence of the film and the cars are a commonly masculine theme, I love that there is a softness, an almost femininity to the overall film.

I just love this movie so much and just love talking about it. so if this movie had a big impact on anyone else, I would love to hear your thoughts!

[–] LorneMalvo 9 years ago

Dunno how old you are but that kinda opening scene was quite common in the 80s and 90s....

Its just we've had such a horrible dearth of good movies in the last decade that it seems original.

[–] grriffin 9 years ago

Can you post some examples? The style of the opening scene did remind me of 80's movies, but I can't think of any specific examples. Thief was mentioned. I've seen it, but I'll have to watch it again. I'm not sure it had the same vibe for me.

[–] denise1234 9 years ago

LOVE this film and it's in my top ten!

"Shake your hair girl with your ponytail"

[–] surferlover 9 years ago

Agree! Makes me want to drive around at night.
But then I'd get bored and realize I'm just wasting gas.

[–] milzz 9 years ago

I actually do drive around at night and record my drives and overlay music hahaha. It's so much fun!

[–] chopperman 9 years ago

it's also not realistic to have the police helicopter disappear to another call. that's why when an air unit is involved, nobody ever gets away in an l.a. car chase, they don't leave until it's over. but i can overlook that.

Larry Gaylord: "a billion come in on a day off,and they don't flip out!"

[–] milzz 9 years ago

Yeah that does make sense, they wouldn't just give up.. But for the movies sake I will accept it haha

[–] denise1234 9 years ago

surferlover^

"...But then I'd get bored and realize I'm just wasting gas."

Oh, darling...then you wouldn't be doing it right...or with the right person



"Shake your hair girl with your ponytail"

[–] dropdeee 9 years ago

I'm glad someone else out there shares my exact thoughts on this movie. I first watched in on a flight from Australia to LA and immediately loved every aspect of it. I bought it on DVD while in the US then bought the Blu-Ray once I got back home. I could talk about this film all day and what I loved about this scene and that scene, how perfect the music selection is, how good the casting is, etc.
The intro was so tense without hardly a word being spoken, then it lets us relax back into our seat with the credits and 'Nightcall'. There was a bleak tone to the film which I really enjoyed. No glamour or glitz yet so much style.

One of the things that makes me love this movie so much, and I know it might come across as a 'wannabe' statement but I really identified with the main character. He was a loner who seemed so comfortable with his solitude yet couldn't deny his desire to want to be with a woman he fell in love with. I personally feel most comfortable when I'm alone and I often go for drives at night with a selection of usually instrumental/ambient music as a way of 'expressing' my personality in a non-verbal way, kind of like where I most get to be 'me' and act out how I feel.

Anyway, if you ever wanna talk about the film more I'd love to, it's rare to find someone who this film had a huge impact on besides myself.

[–] milzz 9 years ago

Oh wow, thank you so much for your response, I loved reading it! I'm glad it had in had an impact. You don't seem like a wanna-be for identifying with the main character, a lot of people identify to a character with polarized characteristics. Because obviously we as humans do things and feel things that contradict each other, which is shown in the film by Driver's relationship with Irene and her son, and that softness and tenderness he feels towards them is contradicted by the extreme violence that arises and his temperament in the diner where he says "..or I'll kick your teeth down your throat and shut it for you."
I actually got my drivers license yesterday and I went for a drive at night and listened to some songs from the soundtrack, it's so relaxing and calming in a strange way.. Haha. If there's anything else you want to share feel free :)

[–] dropdeee 9 years ago

Valid point you made regarding the contrast of his emotions. When he's watching tv with Benicio, getting caught up in the show's characters and discussing it with him, you could see how comfortable he was with new 'role'. Not long after and he's ready to drive a bullet into Cook's forehead for intimidating Benicio with it.

Some of my favorite moments are..

- As Driver and Irene are about to kiss in the lift, the light dims :)
- The brutal demise of Blanche. Great scene.
- When Driver sees Benicio's mask and just nods.. 'Scary'.
- The chase involving the two cars I owned at the time, Mustang and 300c.

I got into the Chromatics after this film, really liking a lot of their stuff.

Congrats on getting your license, btw. Now get out there and channel the spirit of our hero! :)

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] blindvias-071407 9 years ago

I love stylized night time scenes of LA in movies going back to Mulholland Drive, and so in that way Drive had me from the start.

Many have called Drive a masterpiece and I agree.

[–] chessnia-1 9 years ago

Drive is definitely one of my top 5 movies EVER.
I'd never heard Kavinky's nightcall before, but just like you, I felt the opening sequence was just something that transported me into a new dimension: it was just beautiful, new, artistic, genuine...
If so much creative inspiration could be achieved in an opening sequence, what else awaited me?
And what followed did not disappoint me, on the contrary.
Drive is a masterpiece. Simply out of this world...

[–] RodrigoMachadoMartins 9 years ago

Absolutely agree. Watching the opening credits scene, with that music, for the first time in the theaters, made me feel like I was in another dimension. Something magical.

And the movie today is easily in my top 30.