How ‘Drive My Car’ crashed the Oscars — with the help of film critics
Times critic Justin Chang named “Drive My Car” the best movie of 2021 and calls the film — which tracks the winding roads of two individuals, a rider and a chauffeur — “a haunting masterpiece of art and life.”
He’s not alone. The three-hour Japanese drama has been a favorite of critics (including best of the year prizes from the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics), and even made former President Obama’s list of the year’s best movies, since its Cannes Film Festival debut last year. Evidence of its unique international appeal came by way of the four Oscar nominations it received (best picture, directing, international feature film and adapted screenplay).
Director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi recognized himself in his protagonist, a man finding escape from unresolved tragedy through his work. All the buzz buoyed the movie to a steady run in arthouse theaters and even landed it an unusual deal to make its streaming debut on HBO Max.
- 1
Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s ‘Memoria’ and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s ‘Drive My Car’ are among the year’s strongest Cannes Film Festival titles.
- 2
This emotionally overwhelming adaptation of a Haruki Murakami short story confirms Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s standing as one of the most exciting filmmakers working today.
- 3
As ‘best movie of the year’ prizes pile up, including a shout out from former President Obama, director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi explains ‘Drive My Car.’
- 4
Japanese auteur Ryûsuke Hamaguchi took a winding road through three Haruki Murakami short stories, one Chekhov classic and a handful of languages to arrive at the Oscar-nominated ‘Drive My Car.’
- 5
Working with director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi was a new experience, the actor says, especially when he rode in the trunk of the car.
- 6
The Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. spread the wealth with awards for Jane Campion, Simon Rex, Penélope Cruz and more outstanding work from 2021.
- 7
After sweeping awards from the nation’s top critics’ groups, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s masterpiece deserves more than just an international feature prize.
- 8
Unconventional storytelling unites a diverse crop of international films.
- 9
Los Angeles Times film critic Justin Chang’s best movies of 2021 include ‘Drive My Car,’ ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘The Green Knight.’
