The strong silent type.

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2012)

This is quite special, If Hugh Jackman and The Descent's director Neil Marshall had been involved then we would have had a much different film, in fact much less of a film. Not to say that Hugh and Neil can't do their jobs but the team of Ryan Gosling and Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn threw the idea of a Fast and furious clone out the car window in favor of a something very special and the most enjoyable film I have watched since Eastern promises.
Refn fresh with moderate success with The Tom Hardy venture Bronson sat in a car driving through LA with Ryan Gosling. Ryan, passionate about the screenplay from Hossein Amini based on the book written by James Sallis wanted a different take on the popular 'Driving' genre and had seen Bronson and knew that he wanted Refn on board. Refn thought about it and before he was dropped at his rented Townhouse he said yes to Ryan Gosling.
Driver, his name is a stunt artist for the Hollywood community under careful management from Shannon, Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston. He makes a little money but by night Shannon organizes Drivers talented career into a get away driver for any and all who are prepared to pay. It is all fine but as Shannon seems uncomfortable about exactly how much money he makes he asks Mob partner Bernie Rose (This years Oscar recipient for best supporting actor Albert Brooks) for a cash advance on a stock car that Driver will take through the local shows and Shannon will probably be able to retire.
Everything is fine until Driver meets his neighbors Irene and her young son Bonicio,a family with their husband and father in prison. Driver falls for her but more so the family environment and of course by the time Standard ( an excellent Oscar Issac)finally gets out, then the dynamic changes and we are set for a much different second half. Standard has bought his demons from prison.
A simple story but in the hands of all the players especially the director and cinematographer we are thrown into a world that glistens in pink neon noir with a soundtrack mixed with electro-pop. THe streets mold and contort as does the leads...Ryan Gosling plays all the soft sides of Brando and does one of the his bravest performances yet, the same can be said for Carey Mulligan a young mother trying to hold it together. These two were born to play opposite each other. Even the minor actors leave a mark as this wonderful journey leads to a harrowing nightmare.
For me it is Refn, He is a genius in pace, visuals and lighting and what he gave us last year brings hope for other young Directors wanted to break an established formula. Drive bombed on its opening weekend as it went up against crowd favorite The Lion King 3D...It has now made four times it initial investment of twelve million making it an artistic success thanks to word of mouth from a all of us.
As I said, not a film really but an experience and an emotion and something that gives faith to the fact that A Hero can be a real human being too, amazing stuff.