A Breathtaking Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2012)

This is a rare piece of cinema. Often hypnotic, occasionally brutal and always beautiful, Drive is a huge accomplishment and a master class at achieving thrills on the cheap as apposed to cheap thrills. Drive's estimated budget was $15,000,000 which suggested that Nicolas Winding Refn was always going to have to rely on solid storytelling and fine acting. The film follows a Hollywood stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who at night, occasionally works as a getaway driver for the mob. As the film progresses, we are shown exactly what our protagonist is capable of doing when the ones he cares about are threatened. The results are harrowing, with some of the most horrific violence ever shown in a film. Ryan Gosling is superb as a modern day 'man with no name' who is surrounded in mystery. His past is never mentioned, his motives are never mentioned and we as an audience can only guess what his character has witnessed/been through too arrive at this point. He's cool, calm and collective and he only speaks when necessary but despite this rough exterior we are shown a softer side too Gosling when he falls for the 'girl next door' who is expertly played by Carey Mulligan. The car chases are explosive and put The French Connection too shame. The soundtrack is pumping (Kavinsky's Nightcall being a real stand out). If you are looking for a film with huge explosions, gun fights and over the top protagonists then look away. This is the thinking mans action film, with an absorbing story, told through the eyes of the perfect anti-hero. Refn truly has created a masterpiece and whilst it may not have grossed as much as the 'summer blockbusters' of 2011 it sure as hell deserved too!