Drive Movie Review

Drive is an Action/Drama film released a couple weeks ago starring Ryan Gosling and Albert Brooks. It was originally released at the Cannes Film Festival where Nicolas Winding Refn won a best director award. The film tells the story of a nameless and quiet protagonist (Ryan Gosling), known only as "Driver", who works as a Hollywood stunt driver and mechanic but moonlights as a getaway driver. Driver finds himself falling in love with his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), but she's put in danger when her ex-convict husband Standard (Oscar Issac) gets out of prison. Standard is reformed, but a group of men threaten to hurt his family if he doesn't pull off a heist for them. Driver decides to assist in the heist, but things go terribly wrong.

Emmy Award Winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) also stars as Driver's mechanic boss Shannon who also helps him set up heists. Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman star as mobsters who go after Driver following the heist gone wrong. Christina Hendricks plays a woman assisting in the heist.

Drive is the best film of 2011 so far, but don't expect your typical action film. There's not much action for the first 30 minutes, but once it kicks in it's very exciting. It comes in short bursts and it's REALLY violent so if you have a weak stomach, be warned.

That said, Ryan Gosling, despite not having many lines, deserves an Oscar nomination for his performance. He gives an excellent prescence on screen making a very quiet character fascinating and complex. A cold and calculating man, yet clearly lonely and looking for something better. Albert Brooks should be nominated too as Mobster Bernie Rose. Brooks plays against his typical comedic roles and he's 100% convincing.

This film is directed beautifully from start to finish. It has an excellent noir look from start to finish and has the style of an arthouse action film. The score is great too. It gives a nostalgic 80s film feel.


It's hard to really explain what made Drive so great to me, but the experience felt unforgettable. The movie is hypnotic. My eyes were glued to the screen from start to finish even when people are getting stomped to death. The Cinematography, the music, the acting all top notch. It takes a seemingly basic story and makes it into a complex journey. I left the film thinking "That was pretty good." But the more I think about it, the more I like it.

If you're expecting The Fast and the Furious, do yourself a favor and watch The Fast and The Furious. If you're hoping for an intelligent and unique arthouse film, watch Drive.

My Rating: 5/5