Highly stylized but enjoyable nonetheless

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2014)

Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" concerns an unnamed Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver for robbers. When a job goes wrong he finds himself stuck with a bag full of money whose owners are bent on retrieving by any means necessary.
While this brief synopsis suggests plenty of action, that's not exactly what the movie delivers. There is indeed a fair amount of that but, early on, Refn moves the story along at a very deliberate pace. Ryan Gosling's unnamed character rarely speaks or even betrays any sort of emotion. This is probably enough to turn off many viewers expecting something else.
When the movie eventually gets going it presents an intriguing story, though one that is somewhat simplistic and vaguely reminiscent of past classics like "Bullitt" and "Point Blank". Stylistically, though, the movie actually echoes the 80's moreso than the 60's. This is mostly due to the film's look and its synth-pop soundtrack.
The cast is well stocked with talented actors. While I'm not a big fan of Gosling's near robotic performance there is good work here from others. Albert Brooks is perhaps the most memorable in his against-type role as a ruthless mobster. Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Carey Mulligan & Oscar Isaac also deserve special mention.
Refn's direction is skillfully done as he presents a story that is at times intensely stylized while at other times decidedly raw. There is a certain European sensibility (as suggested by one of the characters) that gives this well-worn material new life. Musically, all I can say is that I wasn't a fan of the distinctive pop soundtrack but your mileage may vary.
In the end, the eccentricities of "Drive" are unlikely to be to everyone's taste. It's stylish almost to a fault but, luckily, it tells a story whose outward simplicity is mixed with a certain air of mystery and an aura of cool. I'll admit that the first time I saw it I was frankly disappointed but a second viewing has convinced me that the film does indeed have merit.