Drive 2011 Movie Review
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 4:11PM
Denmark's Nicolas Winding Refn (Pusher Trilogy and Bronson) directs this Hossein Amini screenplay based on James Sallis's book "Drive." "Drive" follows a Hollywood stuntman/Mechanic by day, criminal getaway driver by night, played by Ryan Gosling (The Notebook and Lars and the Real Girls). Gosling's character is a quiet tough guy that tends to keep to himself until he meets his neighbor, played by Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go and An Education), and finds himself caring deeply about her families well being. "Drive" world premiered at Cannes 2011 to rave reviews followed by it's North American premiere at TIFF 2011 a few days before it's wide release.
"Drive" is excellent! From start to finish I was unable to guess what direction the story was going, which sadly doesn't occur very often. It's unpredictability made this the freshest most original film I've seen this year. The music has a 1980's sound meets current club fusion that feels unusual but perfectly fitting at the same time. The supporting cast includes Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ron Perlman (Hellboy and Sons of Anarchy), and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men). Cranston and Hendricks are great, but Ron Perlman feels so unnatural in this role. While the rest of the cast is acting it feels like he is reading a script. Perlman plays a mob boss like something out of "Dick Tracy" and in my eyes is the only flaw in this movie.
After gushing about how great this film is I think it should be pointed out that "Drive" isn't for everyone. The overall tone of the film is very dark and almost never feels good. The film also contains infrequent instances of extreme graphic bloody beatings, shootings, and stabbings. It's gore is not for the squeamish but it is a very affective use of violence, shocking the typically unshockable. If "Drive" appeals to you and overwhelming grittiness isn't a turn off, then stop reading this review and immediately "Drive" to the theater.
Rating: 9.1/10
Bryan Cranston, Drive, Film, Movies, Nicolas Winding Refn, Ryan Gosling in Film 
Reader Comments (1)
"Perlman plays a mob boss like something out of "Dick Tracy" and in my eyes is the only flaw in this movie." I could not agree more. Great review!