very good but just not great

Rating: 6/10 (28 July 2013)

I love Ryan Gosling since watching The Notebook and was highly recommended to see this movie by 2 women friends.
Gosling plays a dark mystery guy in this movie who speaks as much by silence as by words. He is a stunt driver by day and getaway driver by night for local thugs.
There is a kind of ethereal mystery quality throughout and the soundtrack helps in parts and over plays it in others in my opinion. Some of the city nights and lights overhead camera shots remind me of the movie Heat and there are many other movies that spring to mind at various points.
Gosling gets drawn into an ever decreasing circle of violence after trying to help his neighbour Carey Mulligan whom he likes and her ex-con husband -the violence is graphic and intense at times so be warned Mel Gibson Payback springs to mind.
There are a few other characters all playing stereotyped roles in this movie and all do a good if not great job.
Overall the movie is haunting bleak and dreamlike but no real warmth or love of the characters develops and at the end I am left feeling a bit empty and unfulfilled but it is moving at the same time.
I have not watched many movies recently so this is my first review in a while.
This movie made a big impression on me if not a great one -
Definitely worth seeing as it is a bit different although reminds me of other movies at various times. Was good but could have been great I feel.