Drive: What "The American" should have been.

Rating: 8/10 (25 September 2011)

Last year, there was a film called "The American", that was distributed by Focus Features, and had George Clooney in the role of a hit-man who had lost his way, and was hiding out in a gorgeous Italian landscape, waiting to go on one last mission. This was something of an art film. It meant to be subtle, and emotional, and beautiful, and at the same time, somewhat surprising.
It did none of these things. I tend to be the occasional film snob, enjoying the kind of film that relies on subtlety, rather than either laughs or violence, or something like that, that the average audience is more likely to enjoy. However, I hated "The American". Nothing happened in it. It was dull and boring, and too snooty for even me to enjoy.
I mention all of this, because "Drive", a film I saw yesterday, was fantastic. It displayed exactly what "The American" was going for, but missed completely. This is a fully realized version of that movie. One reason why "The American" failed, is because I am completely tired of George Clooney. He's had his time in the spotlight, and that was one of his weakest performances.
However, Ryan Gosling is the heartbeat of "Drive". He's charismatic, charming, sexy, and one hell of an actor. You never know where his character is going to go, and that's what this movie wants of its audience. His charm isn't something easily accomplished, he becomes his character, like only the best actors do.
"Drive" follows an unnamed man, who is a stuntman for Hollywood movies. On the side, he moonlights as a getaway driver. He never works for the same person twice, and works anonymously. He falls in love with a woman (Carey Mulligan) who lives in his apartment building, whose husband (Oscar Isaac) is in prison. Somewhere in the film, Jewish mobsters (Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman) become involved in the story, threatening the lives of everyone.
The story is a slow-burner, taking awhile to set into affect. However, that's the way it should be. Unlike "The American", the story eventually does go somewhere, and it has an ending that packs a huge punch. Unlike many action films that I've recently seen, it has undeniable style. It has a Tarantino-esque feel, and a look that separates it from a lot of other similar films.
It has a somber, and melancholic feel, and yet has many "gasp" moments. Its final act is unforgettable. Story lines overlap, and crash together in an almost classical way. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, though, as quiet moments in the film are broken by moments of brutal violence. However, that's one of the things that makes this film so good.
However, there are a few moments that lag the pacing, somewhat. A few things could have easily been cut out, because they don't bring the story along at all. But that doesn't hurt the overall product. Once you see how it ends, it more than makes up for its flaws.
Grade: B+