Drive

The patient-man's Transporter.

I've never been much of a Ryan Gosling fan (probably why it took me five years to get around to watching Drive). I am a fan of virtually every other cast member in the movie, but I didn't know any of them were in it before I started watching it. Drive wasn't enough to bring me around on to the Ryan Gosling train, but I'll tell you who it definitely did put me on to: Director Nicolas Winding Refn.

The direction is truly king here in Drive. There are a couple of stylistic choices that didn't work for me, like the repetitive vocal-heavy montages, and I was not at all enamoured by Gosling's character (he seemed like kind of a dick). But overall I was impressed, and will definitely be on the look out for Refn's work in future.

Not only did Drive feature some grandly intense bursts of ultra-violence, it also gave me my first jump scare to make me actually jump in... God... Years. At least.

Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time.

Fate? Unknown...

Drive is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and adapted to screenplay by Hossein Amini from the novel of the same name written by James Sallis. It stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks and Ron Perlman. Music is by Cliff Martinez and cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel.

Driver (Gosling) has a day job, he's a Hollywood stunt man, but by night he makes the serious cash as a getaway driver for the criminal fraternity. Into his life comes married next door neighbour Irene (Mulligan) and her little boy Benicio (Kaden Leos), pitching him right into the middle of two wars; one is for his emotional worth, the other with the criminal underworld.

Real human being, and a real hero.

They cheered at Cannes, it has garnered instant cult classic status as well as gushing critical praise, Drive is arguably the biggest surprise of 2011. Some would debate that it arrived in a year that was dominated by blockbuster brain drains and pretentious parables, meaning it wouldn't take much for something like Drive to find a favourable audience. Yet Drive is a special movie, the surprise being that it delivers a different film to what the plot synopsis suggests. There would have been many disappointed that it didn't turn out to be something akin to The Fast & The Furious 19, but as its reputation grows, one likes to think that many also had their senses tingled unexpectedly by Refn's western done out in 1980s neo noir attire.

Yes, at first glance it looks like a simple story given over to style over substance leanings, where the fact that our laconic protagonist is not prone to dialogue expansion, could lend argumentative weight to those potential dissenters only skimming the surface of the picture. But the material is in excellent hands, with Refn, Sigel, Gosling and co, calmly unravelling Amini's stripped down screenplay to reveal a gritty urban fable that's laced with ethereal overtones. A picture...

One of the best films ever made in my opinion. Nothing about this felt boring like people said. Just don't go in expecting an action movie. 10/10 Masterpiece.

Ironically, a movie about getaway drivers and car chases was much too slow for me.

Lots and lots of silent staring. Drive cuts most of its dialogue, creating a mysterious and captivating main character, but its slow pacing that drags despite some fantastic car chases and gore-filled moments of action drained most of the excitement. The lack of dialogue forces actors to give incredible performances with their eyes, body language, and demeanor which the cast nails with impressive skill. The atmosphere and aesthetic of the film are beautiful and unique, enhancing the cinematography and visuals. While the film has plenty of great ideas, solid performances, and gorgeous scenes, the pacing and style kept me checking my watch and getting up to grab snacks while the movie continued in the background. I’m going to assume that this is just a case of “not my kind of movie,” but in the end, not one I can recommend.

Drive is a cinematic triumph that delivers an unforgettable ride from beginning to end. While the storyline may seem simple at first, the film's attention to detail and intricacy of world-building truly sets it apart from the rest. Every character introduced has a connection to the crime world that is slowly pieced together, creating a puzzle that's both engaging and intriguing. This aspect of the film is truly captivating and highlights the excellent writing.

What's more, the family elements of the movie really shine. Ryan Gosling delivers an outstanding performance as a protagonist forced to do bad things to survive. However, the connection he forms with the family across the hall is heartwarming, slowly evolving from a romantic interest to a bond of familiarity and care. In the meantime, Oscar Isaac also gives a remarkable performance as a character initially portrayed as off-putting and egotistical, but whose love for his family slowly emerges as the movie progresses. His character's desire to get out of the criminal life and make good on his past mistakes is admirable and heartbreaking.

As the story unfolds, the movie takes a dramatic turn, introducing graphic violence and jaw-dropping moments that are genuinely wild. It accelerates to full speed, never letting up, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The movie's unique 80s aesthetic is also a standout, even though it takes place in modern times. It is visually impressive, especially when combined with the superb cinematography.

Overall, Drive is a movie that gets so much right and turns a seemingly generic formula into a film that is truly special. Its superb storytelling, memorable characters, intense action, and unique style make it a must-watch for any cinephile.

Score: 92% 🏅 Verdict: Excellent

If you take out the staring and slow motion scenes in the movie, you're left with an hour or less. I liked it in general, but it wasn't as good as it was hyped. It could have been shot at a much faster pace with a different director. Ryan Gosling may be like this, but he looks extremely tense throughout the whole movie. If we write down the dialogues he says in an hour and a half on a piece of paper, it wouldn't even be a page, there are no facial expressions either. That's how anyone can become an actor and act. There is nothing special about the movie except the music. I watched the movie years later just because I loved the intro music so much.

If it's got wheels, then Ryan Gosling's nameless character can use it. When he is not doing triple rolls as a movie stunt-man, he is being the freelance getaway driver for criminals who need a reliable man to get them out of trouble. His friend "Shannon" (Bryan Cranston) fancies himself as a bit of a motor sport aficionado and suggests to his wealthy (and pretty crooked) pal "Bernie" (Albert Brooks) that he chip in $300k so they can start a team. Just as that's all getting on track, the driver starts to get the hots for a neighbour "Irene" (Carey Mulligan) and so engineers a meeting with her and her young son. She's not without her own baggage - but he (Oscar Isaac) is incarcerated for the moment and so their relationship burgeons. When he gets out of jail her boyfriend needs help with a petty robbery at a pawn shop. That goes pear-shaped and next he knows he has a corpse, a bag of mob money and just about everyone on his tail. He needs to keep her safe and stay on his toes for quite an exciting and action packed last half hour that sees this meticulous man fighting for survival. It's all about Gosling this film, and he owns the screen. His charismatic effort as the wheels works well throughout and as the thing stealthily gathers pace, he delivers confidently. Mulligan doesn't really feature so often to make that much of a difference, but essentially it's a one-man show and that weaves the threads of greed, corruption and romance entertainingly.