Drive

 

Drive 2011

• Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
• Based on the book by James Sallis
• Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, Kaden Leos
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Ryan Gosling – First Man, Blade Runner 2049, La La Land, Crazy Stupid Love, Lars and the Real Girl, Fracture, Half Nelson, The United States of Leland
• Carey Mulligan – Suffragette, Far from the Madding Crowd, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Public Enemies, An Education, Doctor Who
• Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad, Total Recall, Contagion, Little Miss Sunshine, Third Rock from the Sun, Saving Private Ryan, I Know My First Name Is Steven
• Oscar Isaac – Suburbicon, Dune, Star Wars, Annihilation, X-Men Apocalypse, Ex Machina, Inside Llewin Davis, Robin Hood
• Christina Hendricks – Mad Men, God’s Pocket, Ginger & Rosa
• Ron Perlman – many, I’m sure.
• Why? Ryan Gosling and reviews
• Seen: 11 February 2023      

       Ryan Gosling is a mysterious unnamed Driver who works for Shannon (Cranston) as a mechanic, a stuntman and a car racer. He works for himself as a getaway driver.  We learn nothing about him but his expertise behind the wheel. He’s taciturn but helpful, gentle but violent. He falls for his neighbour Irene (Mulligan) and her little son Benicio (Leos) and befriends her husband Standard (Isaac) when he’s released from prison.

       And that’s when things get complicated. It’s an action film, yes, with criminals and car chases and violence, but it is so much better than the average actions film. The characters have depth, and it is unpredictable. It’s beautifully filmed, and often low-key with such moments of explosive intensity that my heart is at times actually pounding.

       The cast is good. Gosling is brilliant. 

4* of 5