Driving Lessons starring Rupert Grint and Julie Walters was an extraordinary and inspirational movie about the coming of age of a very shy and timid boy named Ben. Jeremy Brock did a marvelous job in expressing the development of each character, and left viewers with a strong message about morals and lessons.
The movie starts with Ben, a 17 year old boy, who is strongly dominated by his controlling mother. He is very shy and awkward, but has a strong love for poetry. Not many people understand his personality, until he has to work for a retired actress named Evie Walton. As he spends more time with Evie, he learns to speak his mind and stand up for himself. His true character is gradually shown throughout the movie, giving it a more realistic impact. I would strongly recommend watching this movie, not only because it had some laughable and comedic scenes, but also because through Ben, we are taught the importance of being true to ourselves. Jeremy Brock did an amazing job choosing the actors to portray his characters, making the plot even more interesting. I think that Rupert Grint was the perfect choice for Ben because he was able to demonstrate that quirky and timid personality that is not so easy to portray.
Many people complain that the ending of the movie seemed rushed, however I think that was Jeremy Brock's personal intention. It showed the viewers how life can just fly by in a matter of seconds, and how our lives can change in a blink of an eye. That's certainly what happened to Ben. In a matter of minutes, he managed to turn his life around, and in a positive way. He started to speak out and make himself known in the world.
Throughout the entire movie, there were many themes and symbols added, especially in the songs and soundtrack that was chosen. A very obvious song that left a huge impact on the ending was "Auld Lang Syne" for various reasons. Because of this, the tone and whole essence of the movie left me feeling content with the ending. Lastly, I liked how Jeremy Brock titled his movie. It may not seem relevant to the movie at first, but I think Jeremy Brock intended for his viewers to make their own interpretations and meanings regarding the title.
