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Cuts Straight To The Heart (Review: DRIVEWAYS)

  • Writer: Sammi Leigh Melville
    Sammi Leigh Melville
  • Apr 28, 2020
  • 2 min read

A lulling, poignant soundtrack follows a mother and son on a roadtrip, neither speaking as the night beats them to their location. Kathy (Hong Chau) drives silently, while Cody (Lucas Jaye) plays games on his tablet in the passenger's seat. When they finally reach their destination - Kathy's sister's house - we realize why their trip has been so solemn: Kathy's estranged, reclusive sister has died, and they are to clean out the home (horrifyingly stocked with hoarded items) to put it up for sale. So begins director Andrew Ahn's newest feature, DRIVEWAYS.


Cody, whose shy, reserved nature has been an obstacle in making friends, nevertheless stumbles upon an unexpected ally in this new and unfamiliar place: the next door neighbor, Del (Brian Dennehy), a veteran retiree whose main pastime is going to the VFW to play bingo with the boys. As Cody, anxious and sensitive to loud noise, goes through the struggle of making friends his own age in the neighborhood, Del reveals the more graduated struggle of holding onto the friends and family he has as he ages. Kathy, in the meantime, struggles to go through her late sister's entire belongings by herself, trying not to put any extra weight on her son or the surrounding neighbors.


The film unwinds slowly, allowing the relationships to breathe and the characters to really come into focus in their own quiet ways. The script, written by Hannah Boz and Paul Thureen, is beautifully laid out, and Ahn deftly brings it to life. Jaye is an adorable and perfect choice for the protagonist, bringing a lot of emotion to the screen with limited dialogue and subtle reactions, and Chau and Dennehy add a depth to the world that many will be able to connect with.


DRIVEWAYS is gorgeous and cuts straight to the heart. Check the film out on MC On Demand! It is well worth the watch.

 
 
 

28 Comments


jennysilva3.2.3.12
2 days ago

mb66 dạo này thấy nhiều người nhắc nên mình cũng ghé thử cho biết, kiểu tò mò xem trang trông ra sao thôi chứ không ngồi nghiên cứu kỹ. Vừa vào là thấy họ chia nội dung theo từng khối khá rõ, kéo xuống không bị rối mắt. Mình để ý có đoạn nhắc chuyện cẩn thận link giả mạo với kiểu “miễn trừ trách nhiệm” gì đó, đọc lướt cũng thấy họ ghi khá thẳng. Mấy tiêu đề bài viết nhìn nổi, dạng trang chủ tổng hợp nên ai chỉ muốn xem nhanh cũng dễ nắm. Nói chung cảm giác lướt ổn, không bị nhồi chữ hay pop-up khó chịu. Cái mình thích nhất là cách họ đặt các…

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Daniel Brooks
Daniel Brooks
4 days ago

Film App Diseño Funcional combina simplicidad y modernidad para brindar una experiencia agradable en Android. Su interfaz intuitiva permite acceder fácilmente a las herramientas disponibles, mejorando la interacción general. Gracias a sus optimizaciones constantes, la aplicación proporciona estabilidad y un funcionamiento eficiente en una amplia variedad de dispositivos.

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eagle sky
May 20

This review piqued my curiosity about DRIVEWAYS, especially how the show explores subtle emotions that resonate deeply with viewers. Cody, Kathy, and Del all carry their own burdens, and it's this simplicity that makes the story feel so much more authentic. I also wanted to share my thoughts on the game Block Blast, a great option for a quick game in my free time.

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Albert John
Albert John
May 13

Insightful review that captured the emotional depth and atmosphere of the film very well. I appreciated how the article focused on the quieter details and character moments rather than only summarizing the plot. The writing style made it easy to understand why the movie connects with audiences on a deeper level. While browsing https://usvacuums.com/ recently, I noticed how thoughtful reviews often stand out because of their balanced perspective, just like this one. This was an engaging and carefully written analysis from start to finish.

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Albert John
Albert John
May 13

Engaging review that captured the emotional depth and subtle storytelling of the film very effectively. The observations felt thoughtful and balanced, helping readers understand the atmosphere of the movie without revealing too much. I recently noticed https://www.floridaprobatelawgroup.com/ mentioned during a broader conversation about storytelling and audience connection, which related well to some points raised here. The writing style made the review enjoyable even for someone who has not yet seen the film. Thank you for sharing such a well considered perspective that encourages appreciation for quieter cinematic experiences.

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