Guilty pleasure of the best kind

Rating: 9/10 (16 October 2011)

No one make movies like that these days and even if you can only see mildly entertaining car chases created on computer screens. The times of making car-chases as they were in such classics as "Bullit" or "French Connection" wont come back, but tributes to those car-chase action movies happens from time to time. DRIVE is an example. However Nicolas Winding Refnsur's masterpiece surpasses all his predecessors (even Quentines Death Proof although he went in a little bit different direction). The title sequences written in Pink cursive is a such obvious reference (and some TV watchers dare to criticize). Cameras point of view mostly comes from inside the car like in mentioned titles. Plot is about mechanic/stunt driver who in free time takes part in heist with random fellows. We don't know much about him because the film isn't about him, its about what's important to him. He has to make some tough choices after work gone wrong. Good feeling of voyeurism was achieved by shoots from low level angled sharply upward. The tension built by slightly longer takes with slowly zooming camera ( while heist is being in progress)are great and while watching it had goosebumps. I love all car-chases but I remembered particularly one scene. I'm talking about certain Chrysler's crush seen from rear window AMAZING. Retro Soundtrack just melt me away (personally I think music built an atmosphere of alienation) . In conclusion not everyone will get this film but those who will are going to be amazed. Visual style and night shots of the city are very climatic. There's no pretty violence and that's why it should be shown as realistic as possible. In an nutshell great action film for all those who love cars and 60's-70's action film genre. The rest of you might not get it but even so should be satisfied with this little kind of a pinky gem