Conclusive proof that less is more

Rating: 10/10 (22 February 2012)

The first thing to point out about this movie is it won't be everyone's cup of tea. Some will find it ponderous, others old-fashioned, many will abhor the more violent scenes. For my part I adore this film. Languid, understated and bristling with style, there is no doubt that some scenes are disturbing but there is nothing gratuitous about this film.
The story focuses on Gosling's nameless character, an ultra cool and somewhat mysterious mechanic and stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for the city's criminal underclass. A loner by choice he winds up in all sorts of bother having got involved with Mulligan and her young son both of whom he befriends, against his own better judgement one suspects. The gentle pace of his and Mulligan's relationship crescendos when her husband and the father of her child is released from prison and Gosling's character atypically tries to help them when the father's criminal past threatens the family's safety. There's a certain tragic and harrowing inevitability about the events that then unfold as the good Samaritan bears his darker side in a denouement of almost Taxi Driver style über-violence but as with the rest of this film it is handled with an innate style and deftness of touch that stands this film aside from your run of the mill gangster flicks.
A considered soundtrack, beautiful cinematography and stand-out performances from Gosling, Mulligan, Brooks and Perlman make this movie a must-see, but be warned, it's not for the feint-hearted.