Minimalistic, slow, and with flashes of graphic violence 'Drive' reminds me of the 'Man With No Name' films of Sergio Leone. The (un-named) central character is a man of few words who helps a neighbour in a bungled robbery, then on his death protects the widow and child. It's a stylish film noir, slow starting then building to a series of violent acts (head explodes in shotgun blast, skull crushed by stomping, artery slitting with razor, attack with hammer etc). There is certainly action in the form of three car chases + violence, but it is not really an action film, nor are any of the characters explored in any depth. The Driver himself remains an enigma, although the frog/scorpion allusion suggests that violence is in his nature and merely suppressed for the 'quiet' sections of the film. However, it has more than a tinge of exploitation about it so I can only give it 3/5 stars.
FILM & REWATCH Rein’s masterpiece - i’d almost forgotten what phenomenal film making this is. Everything about it is just perfect - the whole cast - Mulligan , Brooks, Perlman , Isaacs and Cranston’s with Gosling taking the less is more to it’s logical extreme. It’s beautifully shot - only Michael Mann can make L.A. look this cinematic and Cliff Martinez’s synth wave score is incredible. Most movies would have the backstory or flashback scenes but this dispenses with all that - we learn absolutely nothing about the driver. He is a blank canvass into which the audience can project anything they want. Love how he will create an almost Zen like stillness just before the outbreak of appalling violence making it all the more visceral…….just a shame nothing he has done since comes even close……stunning 5/5
This film has many pluses including the joy of seeing Carey Mulligan and Ryan Gosling acting together, the driving chases, classy camera work and overall good casting. I would have rated it 4 stars but dropped to 3 stars due to the excessive violence in the second part of the film, which was a real negative for me. Well worth a watch though for all the other good things about this film.
Danish Director Nicolas Winding Refn enters the realm of Hollywood with ‘Drive’, a neo-noir set in the streets of Los Angeles, with a hero in the enigmatic blond The Driver aka Ryan Gosling. Refn won Best Director at the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival, and for good measure. ‘Drive’ is not your typical action film. If its title in posters is in pink cursive, you know you’re getting something out of the ordinary. ‘Drive’ knows its market and you’re in for a thrilling ride.
‘Drive’ is nothing without its leading man, actor Ryan Gosling. As its loner Driver, he is stoic, all-knowing, and a real action man. A stunt driver in Hollywood sets who moonlights as a hired getaway driver for criminals and robbers alike, the Driver is one mean, good looking, driving machine, and he’s about to quit and go legit; this time taking on the wheel as a professional race car driver.
But a lovely neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan), a young mother with a little boy has crime troubles. Her ex-husband (Oscar Isaac) needs to do a job or else his family gets it, and in comes Driver to save the day. Even if the Driver drives for a living, doesn’t mean he doesn’t want some love.
With an assembly of fine actors from Bryan Cranston (currently of TV’s ‘Breaking Bad’), Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, and veteran actor Albert Brooks as the big bad villain –an inspired choice—‘Drive’ is both style and substance, can be dubbed an art or action film, acclimated to your every mood and fancy. The sleek treatment, from car chases to the Driver’s juiced-up Chevy and his satin jacket with a big Scorpion appliqué on its back, does give you a sense of camp but of the good kind.
When Ryan Gosling grips on that wheel, steers, and brings on the pain on his enemies, it becomes a thriller with full-on frightening violence. Sure, Gosling is cute, but you wouldn’t want to call him that when he starts clocking you in the face.