I love interviewing directors. While it’s fun to talk to actors and actresses about their latest roles, there’s a tendency for them to give you somewhat rehearsed answers, and for the most part keep what they say pretty safe. Directors almost always feel more laid back, and in many cases can produce rather interesting and revealing responses to even the most simplistic questions. There’s no denying that Denmark-born Nicolas Winding Refn is one of the most admired and visually gifted directors currently working in Hollywood. His PUSHER trilogy and BRONSON pretty much speak for themselves in terms of dark brilliance. His newest film is the Ryan Gosling vehicle DRIVE, and it easily (in this critic’s opinion) one of the best films of the year. I was invited to interview Refn during his recent Dallas press tour to promote the film, and in a strange case of irony I got into a bit of a fender bender rushing to the interview… see DRIVE and tell me you aren’t tempted to speed a bit. Nicolas was kind enough to wait, and even asked the publicity coordinator if I was okay. Thankfully I made it and caught him just before he had to rush off. In the video interview below I speak to Nic about some classic film influences, collaborating with his talented cast and more. It’s not as long as I’d hoped to have with him, but considering my circumstances I’m lucky we got to talk at all. I can only hope people make an effort to take in DRIVE this weekend and appreciate its greatness. Look for more from Refn too, like ONLY GOD FORGIVES (a Bangkok police lieutenant and a gangster settle their differences in a Thai-boxing match) and a remake of LOGAN’S RUN – both re-teaming him with Ryan Gosling. If anyone can remake LOGAN’S RUN and make it cool, it’s this guy.
Apologies for the quality of the video and audio – because of my fender bender, by the time I got there the professional camera crew had already left, so I had to film this with my little handheld HD camera. The lighting wasn’t ideal either, but hey, we do what we can.
DRIVE is now playing everywhere
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
