West-side Taxi Driver

Rating: 9/10 (11 October 2011)

I'll get it out of the way quick: Drive is the best movie of the year. And while the new decade is young, it definitely belongs on the "Best of Decade" list too. Drive mixes quality filmmaking and modern flair, which reflect off each other perfectly. Drive has it all: action, drama, romance, suspense, and charisma.
Drive follows a man who lives around cars. He works in a garage, does stunts, and is the getaway driver for criminals. We never learn his name. Ryan Gosling is the Driver, and he's great. Driver is quiet, and content to be quiet. A true professional, thinking only of his work. For the most part, Gosling is subtle. His getaways are done plain-faced, and he doesn't show emotion when meeting new people. But we see a more emotional side of him with Benicio, and every so often a violent side, but more on that later. Down the road, one could see this as Gosling breakout role/performance.
The plot is fairly conventional: crime gone wrong. In the middle there is a bit of noir, with too much information exposed. But everything wraps up well- it doesn't close off his story completely and we can make up our own minds about what happens after.
This film has many parallels to Taxi Driver, and originally I wanted to expand on that, but it would contain spoilers so I decided against it.
If you expect an action film, turn around. Drive is a drama with action scenes. As other reviews have said, action happens when the story calls for it, not because the story needs action. There aren't many chases or killings, but the chases are heart- pounding. And the violence is brutal. Like the Godfather (always a comparison you want a film to relate to) the violence is sparse, but when it comes it comes BIG. Two scenes in particular are jaw dropping, and *minor spoilers* the elevator scenes will become known as "that scene in Drive", in my opinion the highlight of the film, with juxtaposition of the two extremes in the film, love and hate *end spoilers*.
Speaking of love, Gosling and Carey Mulligan share a nice romance. They speak with small movements, and barely speak. Body language is the name of the game here. Add in Benicio, the son, and you have a family here that is tender to see.
Drive is backed by several great supporting characters. Bryan Cranston, a favourite of mine, is the good- hearted but cash-hungry Shannon, the Driver's friend and partner. Ron Perlman is the hilarious Jewish Italian gangster wannabe, whose description of a nice car is unbelievably funny. And Oscar Isaac is great as the ex-con who actually isn't a caricature.
Include a few sweet synth songs and great cinematography, Drive is a fantastic modern film that is necessary viewing. I hope it receives some Academy love, it deserves it. You'll probably love it. 8.8/10