Drive Opening Sequence Analysis

• Wide est. shot sets scene - downtown in an american city
• Internal car shots are close ups - building intimacy
• Very shallow DOF on man - gives idea of nothing else being important
• Pink writing and soundtrack set scene: 80s
• Rapidly changing lighting - warm then cool
• Aerial shot of spaghetti junction shows that it is very easy to get lost in this city - shows city as more of an evil
• Warmth of elevator (where other people are) vs. cool of parking lot & apartment (where other people aren't)
• Girl in red (later a main character) is introduced in passing here - she comes from the warm elevator while he comes from the cool outside. 
• Closed framing of girl as elevator door closes helps to emphasise her important role
• Closed framing in apartment helps to show how alone he is
• Cool tones emphasise this
• Shadow on the wall - shows how his lifestyle follows him around
• After the apartment we are in the car again