Review of Drive (2011) by Danny R — 25 Jul 2015

A ravishing slam-bang moody action-thriller with terrific direction by the Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding who won Best Director at this year Cannes Film Festival for this gem of a film, there is a hypnotic star performance by Ryan Gosling who plays a nameless Hollywood stunt driver by day and at night he moonlights as a getaway wheelman know only as "Driver," a loner who's isolated life is changed when he becomes involved with a beautiful neighbor named Irene, well-played by the lovely Carey Mulligan a vulnerable mother with a young son, Driver's new found tranquility is about to be broken when her violent loser husband, played superbly by Oscar Isaac is release from prison.

Shannon, played by Bryan Cranston in a solid turn is Driver's boss and only friend, he owns a legitmate garage and manages Driver's stunt career by day and his crime gigs at night, Shannon agrees to accept backing from a ruthless crime boss named Bernie Rose, played brilliantly by Albert Brooks in a truly memorable Oscar worthy performance for his stock car design, but Rose and his thuggish partner played wonderfully by character actor Ron Perlman are both untrustworthy and murderous, they also have a connection to Driver's love interest Irene which is unknown to everyone.

Intense and realistic dialogue thanks to the incisive screenplay by Hossein Amini which is based on the novella by James Sallis, the adrenaline-fuel car chases are nothing short of breathtaking, there is plenty of blood-letting, shoot-outs and brutal violence, the highly stylized cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel is absolutely stunning and there is a amazing techno score by Johnny Jewel that is very effective.

A pulse-pounding thrill-ride of a motion picture that is one this year's finest films! Highly Recommended.