Classy style over substance

Rating: 8/10 (2 January 2014)

I really wanted to like 'Drive'. Really. It has almost all the aspects i appreciate in a film. Good art direction, contemporary, and mostly in the night, with a great soundtrack based on electro-music with a retro touch on it. There is some kind of nostalgic feeling, in fact, in the soundtrack of drive. Looks like something made in the 80s despite being very actual and pursuing actual electro beats. I would say its sorta annoying in the first watch, but then, trust me, with a re-watch, it gets a lot better.
But the plot is very straight to face. There is no subtly or depth to the characters. It don't makes people think. Is like a generic hero fairy tail, which in fact, i despise. And once is over, you don't need to return there, not for the story at least.
Also, the characters are way one-dimensional, there is the good, the bad, the girl, all painted in black and white. Apart from the driver, which is obviously supposed to be a very ambiguous character, the rest are the classic 'sympathize or despise' kind of characters.
I wouldn't say its predictable or something. And though i liked the fact it somewhat contrasts the peaceful scenes with the voracious and violent scenes, i thought the violence was very very harsh and excessive. Unless if that was the director main intention, so he could 'show the violence like it really is, ugly and shocking', so i say bravo, but i'm afraid he just likes to use the gore for 'fetishist' purposes. Pity, unfortunately.
In the end, it is worth check it out, but there is nothing so special about it. 7.8/10