Review of The Driver (1978) by Stephen E — 04 Jan 2012

Veteran badass Walter Hill creates another incredibly enjoyable and delightfully dated crime thriller. Ryan O'Neal is fantastic as the mild-mannered getaway driver and his counterpart Bruce Dern is equally enjoyable as the morally ambivalent and devilishly persistent cop.

Hill's Los Angeles is dark, gritty, and replete with swanky bars and dimly-lit parking garages. Yet, perhaps the best parts of the film are the chase scenes. The fluid editing and Hill's ability to capture seemingly every conceivable angle of the chase, makes for quite an enthralling experience.

However, the movie is not without its problems. The acting, while minimal, isn't the smoothest from the supporting cast. Also, due to the opening scene and the ice cool demeanor of the protagonist, Refn's Drive no longer feels so original.

But in the end, one cannot help but love the ride that Hill's Driver takes us on.