Review: “Drive”

Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling stars in “Drive” as an introverted young man known only as Driver. Driver works as a stunt driver for motion pictures and moonlights as a getaway driver. After a failed robbery, a bounty is placed on Driver’s head, leaving him with no option but to fight back against those who want him dead.

The film is very much styled like a film from the 1980’s, utilizing music that evokes that decade and showing a lot of influence from gritty European thrillers also from that period. Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn manages to capture that feeling in a modern American movie incredibly well. Refn creates stillness throughout each scene with an artsy approach.

The cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel captures the dark film noir tone with many European cinematic sensibilities in such a way that enables the film to easily be mistaken for a European noir, despite being Refn’s first American production. Each shot is a careful build-up to the next; the duo of Sigel and Refn manage to bring the audience in with artful delicacy that intensifies throughout the film.

Ryan Gosling portrayal of the mysterious Driver is perfect, as he finds the right balance among calm, intense and compassionate that is just right for this production. Taking a turn from his usual comedic roles, Albert Brooks gives a very dark performance as Bernie Rose, a shady character who goes into business with Driver early on in the movie. Brooks successfully makes a complete 180 degree turn from his usual roles with his menacing role as Rose.

“Drive” is a film with very ambitious goals that succeeds in every way, making it the most highly-inventive retro “throwback” movie in years. It falls right on the line between art and entertainment.

Film: “Drive”
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Released: Sept. 16, 2011
Rating: ★★★★ & 1/2 out of ★★★★★