A suspenseful romantic thriller a la film Noir

Rating: 10/10 (10 June 2013)

The movie "Drive", starring Ryan Gosling in the leading role and written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, tells the story of a stunt show-driver, who earns himself some extra money by helping criminals to escape from their robberies. The main character is visibly loathed to keep on his criminal activity, but also requires the financial advantages of it. One day, he gets to know his female neighbor and decides to do his last job. But not before he the neighbor's fiancÃ© returns home after a long imprisonment...
Nicolas Winding Refn did a terrific job directing "Drive". Asthetically, cinematically and effectively, he chose the best possible visual style and directed his actors. He did a truly amazing direction without exceptions. He manages to create a great harmony between the atmosphere of the visual aspects and the story's characteristics.
The acting is conspicuously great. Ryan Gosling's minimalistic performance of the tough but deep stuntman, who is fed up with criminality and in a kind of experimental love with the girl next door, blew my mind, so did Carrey Mulligan's sensitive interpretation of the young lovely mother.
The car chases are the best ones in movie history.
The movie's problem is that it failingly tries to convey a general criticism of materialism, which is transported, but not at all convincing and also absolutely displaced in the story. Being indeed stylistically well and authentically made, it does not meet its requirements of successfully criticizing materialistic values.