"A Real Hero"

Rating: 10/10 (20 September 2011)

Driver is about a stuntman driver (Gosling), who literally does what the title suggests. He drives. The opening is a heist and car chase that is just perfect with an engaging soundtrack in the background. Later he meets his neighbor and her son. Then the love story portion of the film sets in. This is mostly to get to know the characters so when they die or are in danger later on you feel for them. When the neighbors husband comes home from prison it sets off a chain of events that make the last hour of the film a roller coaster of an experience.
This movie is a modern tragedy done right. The acting and directing is top-notch. I was literally walking out of the theater emulating Ryan Goslings performance in the movie. That's how good he is as an actor, and he barely speaks throughout the entire movie. He deserves to WIN the academy award for best actor this year.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 was my favorite movie this year prior to this. However, 'Drive' has punched that film aside as the best movie of 2011, and possibly the decade. It is officially my favorite movie of all time right now. I don't say that to just any movie.
This is like an Art House Action Drama-thriller(at times it has horror elements) film that was released into the Mainstream. Many people in the theater I watched it at were making impatient sounds throughout the movie because of some of the longer drawn out scenes. They are obviously the people who assumed this was a 'Fast and Furious' type film. This is not just a mindless action movie(though the blood and guts spew out like a horror movie in some scenes). Another man behind me was whimpering during the ending stab scene because they didn't show it up close? The directing of the said scene was masterful and a good example of 'less is more', leaving the stab scene to our imagination. This scene is also effective when its your very first time watching the movie because it makes you wonder which person survived, Driver or Bernie? Oh and this movie is also the only movie to make me jump multiple times to the sound of gunshots (which I knew were coming). The gunshots and bashing effects are the most realistic I've heard in any film.
Most of Goslings acting is in his eyes, and let me tell you, this is one good looking man. I am a straight guy and would never go gay, but Gosling is just a man's man in this film. He is now one of my favorite actors. People (Mainly wannabe macho men who can't score chicks) knock him down for being in 'The Notebook'.
Did I mention the soundtrack? It was dreamlike and fit into every scene. The song 'A Real Hero' must garner a nomination for best song at the Academy.
Seriously, in a shitty year for movies, this film makes up for it all.
Imagine Taxi Driver (De Nero), the final 10 minutes of 'The Departed', Car chases similar to Fast and Furious, and a silent hero protagonist that just kicks ass. Now put all of these elements in one film with an original story and great music to back it up.
I promise anyone that whether you love this movie (who wouldn't?) or hate it (mindless people that want nonstop action with no plot), you will walk out of the theater in a dreamlike state.
The way the director presents L.A is as if it was some fairy tale world gone bad. This is a good thing.
I really can't think straight right now to make any further coherent remarks about this amazing movie. It's just that good.
Just know that if this isn't at least nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Gosling), Best supporting actor (Brooks), and Best Original Song or Score.... Then the Academy is officially run by idiots.
*I am revisiting this review in light of the recent Oscar nominations for movies of 2011 having been released. I am very disappointed that the only nomination this gem of a movie was for sound editing. This doesn't change my opinion about the movie, but it drastically makes me loathe the people in charge of the Academy Awards.*