Gritty and Violent

Rating: Null/10 (18 September 2011)

I'll give you 5 minutes. If anything happens within that five minutes, I'll stick with you no matter what. If something happens on either side of that five minutes – you are on your own.
Ryan Gosling is a quiet unassuming loner in LA working days in a garage and as a stunt driver – at night a high paid "wheel man".
The opening police hunt for the late model silver Impala and Gosling's expertise at avoiding capture is done very well and is very suspenseful. The film, opening on this high note, for the most part continues running on all cylinders.
Shannon (Bryan Cranston) owns the garage where Gosling works and helps out with Ryan's stunt work. His dream is to get a race car and have Ryan drive. He approaches Bernie (Albert Brooks) to invest in his dream. Bernie, who partners with Nino (Ron Perlman) are a couple of unsavory characters who would just as soon shoot you as say hello. In the mean time, Gosling meets and begins falling for his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan). Irene appears to be a single mother, however, she is really married. Her husband, Standard (Oscar Isaac), is in prison. Standard get released and has a debt he must pay. Gosling agrees to help him out and between the involvement with Bernie and Nino and a botched Pawn Store heist.things begin going terribly wrong.
I liked this movie – but I feel it is a movie you are either going to really like or not like at all. Not much in betweenthe film is gritty and violent – not much happiness is portrayed during its 100 minute run time. The film is rated R and is definitely not for younger viewers. I recommend this one.