First off, I want to say I have never seen a movie like Drive. I heard great things from my friends and the critics before I found an opportunity to see this film. I hyped this movie up almost to an irresponsible level, essentially it was going to have to blow my mind, and that's exactly what it did. Tons of movies fall victim to the curse of the hype. Sometimes not given the amount of credit they deserve because of preconceived notions, but Drive surpassed my expectations.
Starting with Ryan Gosling, I don't really like him. I'm not even sure why. His role choices aren't a problem. I liked Blue Valentine and loved Half Nelson. It may just be that he looks like another stupid hollywood hunk, but looking over his filmography, it's not really the case. He chooses mostly indie roles, and thankfully has never played a superhero.
His character in Drive is a Hollywood stuntman, with some 'for hire' getaway driving on the side. His name is not mentioned, he is only referenced as The Driver or The Kid. His character is similar to the one he plays in Half Nelson. In both roles, he doesn't speak to a large extent. Most of what he portrays comes from his expressions and his body language. In Drive, he meets the girl in the apartment next to him (Carey Mulligan), and begins spending time with her and her son. There exchanges in the movie are brief, mostly just trading smiles back and forth. You get a feel that his character doesn't really have a personality. I spent most of the movie looking for the peephole into his head, but the turning point for his character comes one night sitting alone in a diner. He is approached by a former associate he once drove for a job, the man jokes and harasses him, eventually re-asking for his services as a getaway driver. The Kid is upset, and threatens to kick this man's teeth down his throat. I immediately thought to myself, "Ok, now we're getting somewhere."
It is also important to point out the look and score of the film. The cinematography is grainy which gives the city a rough and gritty feel. It takes place in Hollywood, but you wouldn't know it from what they show us. You don't see any celebrities or tourists shopping around town. The events that take place are secluded and rarely escape the crime polluted side of the city.
The score has everything to do with the pacing of the film. The soundtrack is made up of electro 80's pop songs, but really only a few songs are played. The first act of Drive is mostly silent, sort of letting the characters and the story grow organically. There's a lot of downtime, grocery shopping, car garage, lots of driving. Sitting on shots longer than most people would like, but it gives the film it's art house feel.
The speed of the film jump starts when Mulligan's ex-convict baby daddy comes back into the picture. Without giving a lot away, the next forty five minutes involved me readjusting in my chair and frequently rubbing my face. The build up with the score is intense, I felt very uncomfortable, this is probably the most intense movie I have ever seen. It's also significant to mention by the end of the second act the movie comes to a eery halt, all the tension building up to the climax disappears. I'm sure this was not an accident. The director Nicholas Winding Refn is giving us time to comprehend what's been lost, and time to figure out what the driver must do next. This launches us into The Driver's last stand and the conclusion of the film.
Refn chooses to do the violence in a very B movie way. It reminded me of a Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino 'esque' over the top formula for killing. The most memorable slaying award has to go to the scene in the elevator. Gosling brings down a man who has come to his apartment to kill him, afterwards, for good measure he repeatedly kicks his face in. After about the 7th or 8th kick, I'm confident I heard this man's skull cracking, it sounded like Gosling was stepping on a plastic container. It actually reminded me of how they mutilated Hitler's face in Inglorious Basterds. Between that murder and a copious amount of other stabs and gunshots. It was apparent to me, Refn was not trying to hide the blood. Some of it even travels on Gosling's jacket from scene to scene.
Drive is easily one of the best movies this year, if not the best. Gosling is not extraordinary, but he does nothing to ruin the film. And if you don't wanna see this movie because Ryan Gosling's in it. Go see it for Bryan Cranston, or Ron Perlman, or Carey Mulligan, or Al Brooks (out of nowhere), or the bodacious Christina Hendricks from Mad Men. If you haven't already seen this movie, go see it. If you don't wanna see it, go see it anyway because you are making a bad decision.
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