‘Driveways’ Blu-Ray Review – Delicate Portrait Of Intergenerational Friendship Is Something Special

The sophomore feature Driveways from director Andrew Ahn (Spa Night) is the type of impossibly gentle feature that almost does not feel real. The conceit of an unlikely friendship between an elderly white Korean War veteran and a young Korean boy feels like a story that Clint Eastwood would trample on with all of the grace of a drunken elephant. Yet with Ahn behind the camera for this script by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, what should be too saccharine to consume is executed with such sincerity and care for the characters that you cannot help but fall in love with it. In a world overrun by darkness and cynicism, it is refreshing to be given a film that radiates kindness. The lack of earth-shattering drama throughout this narrative may make certain audience members antsy, but there is something so special about finding narrative drive in the most low-stakes situations which allows this story to maintain its authenticity. This is the type of self-assured drama that the cinematic landscape is so often missing. 

Kathy (Hong Chau, Watchmen) is a single mother who has just uprooted her eight-year-old son, Cody (Lucas Jaye, Fuller House), to travel across the country to a small upstate New York town to empty out the house of her recently-deceased older sister. The strained relationship between the siblings meant that communication had been sparse, and what had been expected to be a short trip quickly turns into a much bigger project upon discovering her sister was hoarder. While this act has some practical difficulties, especially considering the less-than-ideal financial situation the two find themselves in, the trip also allows for the possibility of Cody doing some maturing after making some new friends. Does he connect with the pugnacious grandsons of the casually racist neighborhood busybody (Christine Ebersole, The Wolf Of Wall Street)? He hilariously rejects their cries to wrestle. What about the endearingly dorky neighborhood kids newly into manga? Yes, but not at first. 

Del (Brian Dennehy, Tommy Boy) is the lonely old Korean War veteran who spends most of his time on his porch but never devolves into the “get off my lawn” archetype. Brief, friendly-enough exchanges evolve into something more once Kathy gives Del a ride to the VFW after one of his friends forgets about him. Cody is a gentle soul who is more comfortable trying to stay out of the way rather than get into any mischief. Del is more of his speed, and his porch soon becomes a place of solace for young Cody as they exchange minor stories about their lives that garner a deeper understanding of one another. Each is exactly what the other needs at this moment in their lives. Simple, understated moments of compassion from Del towards the struggling pair next door says more about their dynamic than any overwritten grand gesture ever could. There are so many tiny, beautiful moments that go towards making something grand and emotionally enveloping. 

Where the film lacks in juicy conflict it makes up for in the incredible performances that anchor this story so well. Chau is not given the most uplifting scenes, but without her this film would not be what it is. She expresses so much about both her relationship to her sister and her struggle as a mother by saying so little. When she does peel back some expository layers, you hang on her every word. Newcomer Lucas Jaye is endearing without being precocious or cutesy. This is a kid that you would imagine existing outside of a film, which is the best compliment you can give to a youth performer. It is Dennehy who impresses the most in one of his final and best performances. He is wise and sentimental; the character is also flawed, but such truths are used to make certain subtext that much richer in the end. Even those who do not fancy themselves easy cryers may find it a struggle to make it through the entire film without shedding a few tears. While Ahn may not be trafficking in new concepts, the grace and empathy with which this material is handled makes it unique. Driveways make take you to the expected destination, but it is far from the easy path once you compare it to the forced sentimentality often provided by Hollywood. 

Video Quality

Driveways comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer courtesy of MVD Entertainment that is simply lovely. The film showcase some standard suburban landscapes that really pop in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but the lush greenery leaps off the screen while other earth tones in the nieghborhood render naturally. This presentation is quite gorgeous and offers a stable image quality throughout. The visual majesty of the film translates well on disc with most shots looking stable and breathtaking. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances outside a very minor bit in the darkest sections of the roller rink. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime. I do not see how this disc could have been improved significantly. Fans of the film should not be disappointed. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 track that conjures a very gentle mood that transports you into this story. This is a very subdued film, but the track does come alive with the environmental sounds. The wonderful score from Jay Wadley is showcased beautifully here with a gently enveloping use of the surround speakers. The dialogue comes through crystal clear without ever being overpowered by the environmental effects or the score. The sound design presents with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. This is not an action-heavy film so the activity in the low end is very sparse, but the music gives a bit of a punch especially in the loud skating rink. This is a lovely sounding release that brings the movie to life perfectly.

Special Features

• Photo Gallery: A collection of images from the film is included here. 

• Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Driveways is a heartwarming and genuinely lovely film that feels innovative in the relatively low-stakes approach to the story. The filmmaking shows enough respect for these characters that audiences can become invested in something as small as whether or not people will show up for a birthday party. The direction from Andrew Ahn is assured, and the performances from the main trio of actors are magical. MVD Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring an amazing A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. If you need something with heart that does not feel saccharine, look no further than this wonderful feature. Highly Recommended 

Driveways is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.

Dillon Gonzales

Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.