Capsule Film Review: Drive (2011)

2011 action drama Drive belongs to rare breed among contemporary films. It is an stylish arthouse project that usually wins snobbish critics - as well as Cannes jury, that had awarded Best Direction award for Nicolas Winding Refn – while at the same time works like a genre piece not that different from Hollywood blockbusters. Ryan Gosling stars as nameless protagonist, Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights by providing getaways for bank robbers and other L.A. criminals. He is a cold professional until the chance meeting with young neighbour and single mother Irene (played by Carey Mulligan) sparks some long-suppressed feelings. Before he can act on them, Irene's husband (played by Oscar Isaac) returns from prison and recruits our protagonist for another job, which would turn out to be extremely complicated and bloody. Refn has based his film on action and similar genre classics, including Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns and famous car chase scene from Bullitt. Gosling provides complex role of quiet action hero, which could be described as an effective combination of Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen. The sights and sounds of the film, on the other hand, belong to 1980s, especially very impressive soundtrack. Scriptwriter Hossein Amini, on the other hand, brings somewhat different touch in the second part of the film, where Drive ceases to be macho fairytale and becomes very dark crime drama, with certain scenes featuring shockingly graphic violence. Although Drive might be unpleasant experience for more sensitive audience, it nevertheless deserves recommendation as one of the most interesting films of early 2010s.

RATING: 8/10