A beautifully visualised film which explores human nature's rawest form

Rating: Null/10 (5 November 2011)

This crime drama movie is as straightforward as it can get. With an undemanding title like "Drive", you can expect the film to be centered on someone who, well, drives. The protagonist is a nameless driver who is a Hollywood stunt performer by day, and a getaway driver at night. While there are a tad too many movies out there which are trying too hard to be smart, this Nicolas Winding Refn gets points for being unpretentious – the result is a fine character study of an individual who lives with a purpose.
After showing off his "photoshopped abs" in Crazy, Stupid, Love, Ryan Gosling shows the world he is one capable actor by taking on the role of a loner who works as a mechanic, stunt driver and getaway driver. After a heist gone wrong, he discovers that a contract has been put on him, causing him to take some very extreme actions for survival.
What's a story without some angst laden love? Here, Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) plays a neighbour whom our hero falls in love with. Enter some tough thugs and ruthless gangsters to the mix and you'll get a highly stylised action movie which earned Refn a Best Director award at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Based on the 2005 novel "Drive" by James Sallis, this 100 minute production is a reminder of how character development is essential to a good story. Academy Award nominated writer Hossein Amini (The Wings of the Dove) has translated the simple yet poignant tale from print to screen. The protagonist here is a loyal, lonely and somewhat suppressed individual who rises to the occasion when circumstances in life take a wrong turn. Through stark presentations of violence which grabs your attention, the filmmakers have successfully created a central character which speaks to its audience.
Through cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel's (The Conspirator, Valkyrie) tragically gorgeous frames, the movie has a hard edged beauty which will appeal to fans of noir films. The use of exaggerated violence and very stylish art direction further adds to the viewing experience, and how the protagonist is living a spiraling world of visceral realism. Composer Cliff Martinez's (Contagion, The Lincoln Lawyer) tensely overwrought score is also an apt element of the highly recommended film.
Points also go to Gosling and Mulligan for portraying characters which seem unspectacular on paper, but heartrendingly real on screen. Though the two photogenic actors do not have many lines (in fact, they do not share much screen time together), the chemistry is affectingly tender. The two up and coming stars also have a wonderful supporting cast to work with. Bryan Cranston's (Larry Crowne) wily garage owner, Albert Brooks (Finding Nemo) and Ron Perlman's (Conan the Barbrian) cold blooded mobsters, as well as Oscar Isaacs' (Sucker Punch) loving father complement the film with understated but consequential characterizations.
The reason why this film works is because of the fundamental exploration of human nature in its rawest form. Couple that with visually striking sequences and you'd get a reflective tale of how we can be driven to extremes to pursue our desires.

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