A highly crafted, unusual but absolutely compelling film.

Rating: 10/10 (21 October 2014)

I will debut by saying this. I had only coincidentally approached this film after hearing Kavinsy's 'Nightfall', which is present in the film's supreme lush 1980's inspired soundtrack. As a fan of rich electronic instrumentals, I knew I was instantly in for an absolute beast of a 21st century movie.
The reason I say '21st century' is this- I could be seen as a 'peculiar' man, in that I live in the past. I get a huge sense of nostalgia from masterpieces such as 'Drive'. I yearn for certain arts, music and style that just easy to come across anymore. I desire beautiful music- as all GREAT films have brilliant soundtracks which immerse the viewer into the story and the film's events. This soundtrack compiled by Cliff Martinez (who I had previously not heard) of various synthesiser driven tunes and instrumentals, does this film great justice. Up there with the best, without even employing the 'biggest' names. The cinematography of this masterpiece,directed by the Dane Nicolas Winding Refn is also something that is excellently executed and should be applauded. It has a certain subtlety to it. Never doing too many rapid cuts or transitions or containing overly dense situations and CGI- despite this film having its dark moments. It simply doesn't need to.
Having said that, this film is rather tense, at most times. This resolves around the star character of Driver's (Ryan Gosling)struggle to be somebody, stuck between being a mechanic, a stunt driver and a getaway driver, assisted with his mentor Shannon (played by Bryan Cranston). It seems that Driver does not want to be stuck in the same ordinary and slightly miserable world that the naturally innocent, compassionate, but helpless Shannon is.
Driver encounters a window of opportunity when he meets his new neighbour, Irene (Carey Mulligan), a mother and the wife of a soon returning convict-Standard (Oscar Isaac), whom he falls in love with. However, this relationship would prove to be hazardous to Driver as he becomes embroiled in a serious of treacherous events, including the complexities of the connection between the two mechanics of Shannon and Driver and the Jewish mobsters of Bernie (played superbly by Albert Brooks), who is compassionate, melancholic yet to the point and Nino (Ron Perlman)- who is quite the same but much more vulgar.
The film presents us with a barrage of issues to consider and includes wonderful, but also fragmented character development which works well. There is a stark contrast of characters and their ideals. All however, are looking for a way out. The film presents itself as a near perfect work of art: the setting conveying a showcase of 'glitz and glamour' (the beautiful night lights of L.A., a city waiting to be explored, or so we thought) the small-time appartments of ordinary citizens overlooking palm paradises and small oasis' (namely Driver), and the classic food outlets where different people congregrate to talk business.
Gosling's role demands very little, yet he creates a lot from his sense of melancholy and insularity and forces us to empathise with his situation and, actually, makes us question the other individuals' roles and pursuits at the same time- even if they aren't helping Driver's cause.
Finally, this emotional, slow-moving neo-noir art-house action crime thriller really is a must see for anybody looking for a perfectly balanced film of art and should be applauded as the crowning film of 2011, along with the French film The Intouchables. You will be left stunned. If only there would be a thought-out sequel!