An Action/Heist Movie with the Heart of an Indie Drama

Rating: 8/10 (17 September 2011)

Drive is an action movie with the soul of an indie, art house production. Its beautiful cinematography combined with a minimalist, neo-noir approach to both action and dialog make Drive a winner in my book. We cared about Driver, who speaks so little but says so much. He reminds me of Jef Costello from "Le Samourai" and other nameless, silent heroes. The film shows you much more than it tells you. The pace is slow, reminiscent of films like "A History of Violence," but more polished. The soundtrack's dark, ethereal electronic and often 80s-inspired tone sets the mood and matches the pace. With great performances all around, shockingly realistic violence and mesmorizing driving scenes, Drive succeeds in giving us a film that isn't dumbed down for the typical Hollywood action audience. The trailer may be somewhat misleading, so don't expect non-stop explosions, lame one liners and thousands of bullets. This isn't the Fast and the Furious. It's "Drive" and it's refreshing.