A masterpiece of perpetual tension

Rating: 10/10 (18 April 2019)

Drive is directed by Nicholas Winding Refn and stars Ryan Gosling as a mechanic and part time Hollywood stuntdriver who moonlights as a getaway driver for various heists. The driver has his own specific set of rules and is able to maintain a life independent from the crime world, until a heist goes terribly wrong and he is forced to deal with the fallout.
Much has been said about Drive's marketing, which is perhaps the only goof related to this production. On the surface, it seems like this is going to be another Fast and Furious type action thriller. Many reviews have been negative likely because of these high expectations. The fault here lies mainly on the advertising but also on those who enter with tunnel vision.
We didn't get another Fast and Furious. Instead, we got a deeply layered work of art that by all standards should be considered one of the best films of the last decade. Instead of loud explosions and epic CGI chase scenes, we get a deeply intimate look into the story of a man trying to find which side of the fence he belongs on. Drive is a pure cinematic masterpiece.
Ryan Gosling gives the performance of a lifetime here. I mean I'm not sure I can find the right words to do it justice. The fact that he is a man of (very) few words will frustrate some, but it becomes clear that this characteristic is central to who he has become through his experiences. Additionally, a lack of words does not necessarily mean lack of characterization. The way that Gosling is able to communicate his thoughts and feelings in a given situation solely through facial expression is sensational.
While there are no explicit flashbacks to show for it, it is implied that the character of "Driver" (we never get his name) has been through some traumatic and life changing experiences. Whatever has happened to him has led him to his dark, seemingly emotionless persona that fits in with the criminal underworld he operates in. This all begins to change when he meets his neighbor Irene and her young son Benicio. The three develop an immediate connection and for a short time and we can see how Driver's persona and outlook on life begins to soften a bit. Unfortunately, it is short lived when the news hits that Irene's husband Standard is returning home from prison. Upon Driver's introduction to Standard, a series of events happens that lands him in hot water and ultimately he begins his descent back into darkness.
Driver is desperate to live a normal life again, and the situation he finds himself in makes it impossible for that to happen. However, by the end he is able to find his own kind of redemption by killing those who are after him and leaving the money he stole behind. He becomes the kind of hero he wants to be and is able to get another chance to start over. Needless to say, I haven't done the characterization of Driver any justice by this description, but it truly is brilliant. It is something you have to see for yourself.
From a pure directional standpoint, this is one of the most well-crafted films I have ever seen. Nicholas Winding Refn's work here is truly phenomenal. Not a single minute detail in the movie is left to chance. From the euphoric soundtrack (seriously one of the best I think I've ever heard for a film), to specific character decisions, all the way down to the types of clothing the characters wear and how they wear it. Everything serves a purpose. It blows my mind how much attention is given to small details. There is nothing that slips through the cracks of Refn's control. Where this shines most is in the ability to maintain a haunting tension nearly the entire time. The cinematography is also great and helps bolster the tension as well. There are some painful, yet gorgeous shots throughout.
For the die hard fans of Fast and Furious and all of its thrilling cousins, there probably won't be much to love here. I urge viewers to come with an open mind and try to view the film in a different light. It won't have you on the edge of your seat or perhaps even entertained the entire time, but with the appreciation it deserves, it will have you captivated. Drive is a masterpiece in characterization, storytelling, and perpetuating tension. It is the kind of film that belongs in classrooms where the art of direction is taught, because on that end, it rarely gets better than this.
10/10