Nicolas Winding Refn, director of "Bronson", "Valhalla Rising", and also the "Pusher" trilogy just delivered perhaps the year's best film so far. A film which displayed a "Gone in 60 Seconds" type appearance in it's preview, couldn't be further from. This film revealed just how valuable it is to have a great performance. I have felt for a long time that a performance can carry a film with a bad story, but a great story cannot carry a film with a bad performance. Ryan Gosling is proving this fact over and over. The roles he decides to take are not going to launch him into DiCaprio type stardom, but he surely deserves nearly all the success for each film he played in. There hasn't quite been a 'big time' film for him, after starring in chick flicks and small independent projects.
In "Drive", Ryan Gosling has shown me that after each film, he is consistently getting better and better. He plays "Driver" and sometimes "Kid" in the film, subtly never giving up his name. The character is a well mannered, well groomed, hardworking stunt driver by day... and a well disciplined driver for hire by night. The Driver decides to fall in-love with a neighbor, who's husband gets out of jail, makes a couple bad decisions, and bam... the Driver finds himself invested in a situation that grows bigger and bigger, and one he may not be able to drive out of.
The film is a beautiful one. Each scene is well thought out, and consistent scene after scene, never giving me an 'out of place' feeling. The movie has many slow moments, but it is valuable time for the viewer to be the Driver... in thought. Each slow moment allows the viewer to think the thoughts of the character himself. The thoughts and feelings are obvious but each character reaction is a real time reaction allowing understanding to take place. The facial expressions of the actors in the film are good, but great from Ryan Gosling. He can seemingly read lines with his facial expressions. His dramatic moments and moments of suspense all come so naturally and also so surprising one thrill after the other.
This is an thrill ride for everyone. From people who don't normally do action flicks, to those who relish in them. When the action happens, it happens with perfection. Cinematography is remarkable. You could have a good idea about what could possibly take place in the next couple scenes, but simple camera angles, and lighting trickery meant all the difference.
The dialog is scarce and meaningful. The Driver doesn't employ or show any interest in small talk, instead decides to observe and be observed. The Driver doesn't share with the audience any kind of back story. We get no information about the character's history prior to the film's beginning. Everything we know about him, we see.
The score of the film fits everything the film did, event he pink font for the title and credits pleased me. The rest of the cast includes... Carey Mulligan (Jenny, "An Education"), Bryan Cranston (Walt, "Breaking Bad"), and Ron Perlman ("Hellboy"). They all accomplish the assumed goals, but none of them bite the heels of Ryan Gosling.
While Quentin Tarantino is successful with great raw action sequences, he also creates some of the best dialog in all the world of film. Nicolas Winding Refn isn't concerned with quotability. He simply places his interest in good film, which I intend on owning the day the DVD is released. This is a must-see film for everyone. So far the year's best. This is an action movie for film savvy intellectuals... not necessarily just for the fans who limit themselves to more recent flicks pumped out by Hollywood's new boyfriend Michael Bay.
"Drive"
9 / 10
