Give A Thumbs Up For Refn

Rating: 8/10 (25 June 2012)

Though not a high-prolific director, Denmark born Nicolas Winding Refn was a driving force behind this invigorating thriller Drive. Sure it was run on a meagre budget; Refn takes this movie with pride and does everything he could to make it all that captivating. Granted it was only until recently that I have heard about the director, let alone most of the cast (with a few exceptions). Ryan Gosling never looked so cold and calculating since his 2002 villainous performance as Richard Haywood in "Murder by Numbers". The simplistic plot is very involving for me because I am just a sucker for loner individuals being that as an Aspie I am one myself. Refn embarks his audience on a structured journey around the streets of Los Angeles as we follow our unnamed socially deprived Driver (Gosling). Mr. Driver lives a double-life, he's a stunt-player in the movie industry by day and he's a getaway driver at night. He goes by a routinely strict protocol by offering you 5 minutes of his own service, after that it's all up to you. From the opening scenes we can see our protagonist that the he has a very laid-back in his approach and seems to obey all the traffic rules and he's quite a good car mechanic as well.
The principal shortcomings of Mr. Driver are that the emotional urges come across as his perpetual liability. In his humble apartment, we get acquainted by his neighbour Irene (Carrie Mulligan) and her young son Benecio (Kaden Leos). Mr. Driver takes them under his wing after their car breaks down nearby at the shop where Dr. Driver works. Mr. Driver's boss Shannon (Bryan Cranston) assures that Irene and her kid will be driven home safely. But it isn't before long that Mr. Driver spends more time with Irene on a regular basis. As the connection between the two deepens, no sooner Irene's husband Standard (Oscar Isaacs) has come back after spending some time in prison and the tensions begin to become intense. Mr. Driver's affection towards Irene manifests to epic proportions as Standard takes a beating from the mob at the garage because he owes them protection money. This lead s to Mr. Driver to break out of his routine and rescues Irene's husband. Inadvertently, Mr. Driver becomes better acquainted with the mob lead by the stoic Bernice Rose (Albert Brooks) and his business partner Nino (Ron Perlman).
When it comes to pacing I will have to dismiss those naysayers who said that "Drive" runs at a snail's pace. In fact I thought Refn did an incredible job in exploiting the constant sense of uneasiness that runs its course throughout the film. He knows when to let intensity build up and when to slow things down when needed which makes it all look real and natural. The chemistry was pretty convincing most of the time. Okay Gosling's performance was standard, but it was all part of his character, solitary, no family or friends to turn to, and maybe a handful of antagonists. He's quite an enigma in character, but he can be very volatile when he's protecting Irene. He's actually very fun to watch. The supporting cast also turns in very compelling performances as well. Brooks and Perlman were unmerciful as the diabolical mobsters. The car chases are executed quite nicely as well as the sounds and colours remain splendidly subliminal and the violent scenes come in at the right time and the cars are so astonishing and good looking.
The musical background by Chris Martinez was treating to the ears as it pays homage to the techno sounds of the 1980's. It represents the emotional instability of Gosling's character. The sounds of the synthesizer throughout the movie gives you a true glance adds the right texture to this stylized and well substantial film.