Drive Movie Review: Race to See It!
Ryan Gosling commands the camera the second Drive begins. Although he says very little in the film’s first 20 minutes, Gosling’s impact is immense.
Gosling is Driver, a movie stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for anyone who will hire him. The film commences with a scene featuring Gosling as the latter as he patiently awaits two people he is charged with driving away from a robbery of some sort. The clock ticks, the police sirens get ever closer and yet Gosling never flinches. Sure as the first man arrives out of the building, he sits in the backseat and becomes increasingly more anxious as seconds go by looking for his partner to emerge. It is clear in this first of the film’s many outstanding moments that Gosling not only commands this film, he owns it.
That fact is not a surprise since -- as Gosling told Movie Fanatic in our interview -- the actor was integral in the film’s development. With director Nicolas Winding Refn on board, the duo crafted a moment in cinema for 2011 that is one of the best. It crackles with excitement, but what makes Drive so delicious is how its quieter moments only enhance the action.
Gosling’s Driver lives in an apartment down the hall from Irene (Carey Mulligan). They run into each other in the building a few times, but it is underplayed and the pair don’t truly meet until Irene’s car needs work which lands her at the mechanic shop where Gosling works. His boss, played with usual panache by Bryan Cranston, offers his employee's services in driving Irene home since it’s clear the two know each other. The spark of romance is hinted at, but immediately hindered by the fact that Irene has a husband, and he will be out of jail soon.
What happens next is a barrage of emotional power, sizzling action sequences and acting performances that blew us away. Cranston is fabulous, but stealing scenes left and right is funny man Albert Brooks. His gangster is so frightening that audiences suddenly feel threatened merely by the sight of the actor in any scene. Also up for the fight is the always awesome Ron Perlman.
As Refn weaves his tale, the crescendo of the film comes through an impending triangle of confrontation with Gosling, Perlman and Brooks -- where the result will leave audiences breathless.
Drive is unlike anything audiences have seen in a very long time. In many ways, it feels like a 1980s film with its title treatment and score. Yet it is also timeless in its ability to create a story that is compelling in its own right, regardless of the date stamp. The film is powerful and yes, violent. But the violence on screen perpetrated by the film’s characters is ingrained in their DNA and therefore, never over the top given who these characters are.
What also rocked in Drive was how the filmmakers made the city of Los Angeles a character. It is established early that Gosling’s character knows the over 100,000 streets of the city -- something priceless in a getaway driver. Some may think that Drive is another Transporter type film. It is not even in the same field of vision.
Drive is driven by character, cinematography and yes, drive that makes it so much more than a movie centered on a man who must always drive away. In fact, viewers are drawn into Gosling’s world and held there by a well edited, astoundingly acted and impressively put together piece of enduring cinema.
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February 13th, 2012 8:35 PM
Anna and J.G., we are talking about the movie "Drive". Albert Brooks was the best thing in the movie and I cant stand that guy in comedy. Never thought his brand of humor was funny. Anyway the movie was slow and agonizing to watch. Never seen a movie this bad in my life!
January 12th, 2012 8:23 PM
Worse movie ever!! I love Ryan but I guess he should stick to romance instead of action. Only one scene of action and the romance pieces were ridiculous! Awful movie. Waste of my life. I hate having my life wasted. I saw it for free and feel bad for those who paid to see this piece of shit! Wat a disgrace! I hope this film doesn't ruin Ryan Gosling movie career!
December 28th, 2011 7:05 AM
I liked the end, where the credits started rolling. FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT MOVIE
October 7th, 2011 3:47 AM
I didnt like this movie I rate it as 1 (1 to 5)
Dead scenes with no talk, scenes with no sense at all, storyline is just a messup, how can 4 people be murdered (3 of them by gunfshot) in one place like the building where he lives, and no police shows up.
A total waste of my time...this movies isnt even worth the download.
October 4th, 2011 12:00 PM
This movie had me glued to the screen. It was so intense, and gorgeous. I saw it without knowing anything about it, which I find is always the best way to see a movie. You have no expectations, and everything is truly a surprise. For instance, when the movie suddenly got violent, everyone was so surprised in the theater that there was a bubbling of gasps, laughing, energy and excitement. If you know to expect that from watching the trailer and reading reviews, you won't be able to enjoy that reaction. The movie is a fairy tale basically. It's not for everyone. But calling it the "worst movie ever" is moronic. If you have trouble connecting with characters or paying attention when you aren't spoon fed action and sex in every scene, then you should skip it.
September 29th, 2011 12:30 AM
The movie was so-so but the storyline left a lot to be desired. Ryan is willing to crush a guy's face but he won't take his gun? Really? Same thing with the previous scene when he killed the two guys who had a shotgun and pistol in the motel. He obviously doesn't mind violence. Just take some of these guns and use them. The whole "I don't do guns" thing belongs in a light-hearted prime time TV PG fluff series. For this type of movie its just annoying. The scene where he pushes the car to the side of the road and then t-bones it over the edge of a same hill was pretty stupid. He then has to go and drown him all the time wearing the film prop mask. What was the point of the mask? When they showed him getting it I thought it would actually play a role in the movie. He killed the guy so there was no point. Also the end of the story with the big boss was not explained well. Was he really going to give the money to him and trust that the girl would be left alone? I guess maybe his supposed
September 27th, 2011 5:06 AM
I watched this because I've read good reviews. I did not know that all those reviews are BOGUS. Worst movie ever. It was my first time that I wanted to walked out the cinema. Worst movie ever.
September 26th, 2011 1:37 PM
Drive is easily the movie of the year so far. Breathtaking pacing, flawless acting, interesting writing, and a kickass soundtrack. I was not expecting one of the finest films I have ever seen when I entered the theater but Drive delivered in every way. Drive also seems to have a broad appeal to people who like specific types of movies ; every friend I showed the film to loved it. Last time I even brought along someone who mainly watches romantic comedies and she was left in tears by the end of the movie it moved her so much.
The people who left bad reviews below are idiots. You hate a movie because it's slow? Really? You should dislike a movie because it has bad direction, bad acting, bad writing, bad pacing, bad music, etc, not because you have the patience of a 5 year old with bad ADHD and like bad art.
September 25th, 2011 9:30 AM
Few movies are made this well. If you are looking for a 'Fast and Furious' you will be disappointed. If you are looking for something as refreshing to movie making as 'Pulp Fiction', 'Fight Club', 'True Romance'; this is the movie for you.
September 19th, 2011 11:20 AM
Worst movie ever!!! Couldn't believe I wasted my money on that!!! Very little talking and very little action.