Director - Nicholas Winding Refn
Cast - Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks, Oscar Issac, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Kaden Leos
Genre - Crime/Action/Thriller
Streaming On - Netflix
"I know a lot of guys who mess around with married women, but you're the only one I know who robs a place to pay back the husband."
Drive is a 2011 American action drama film directed by Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. The screenplay, written by Hossein Amini, is based on James Sallis's 2005 novel with the same name. The film stars Ryan Gosling as an unnamed Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver. As he moves to a new neighbourhood, he falls in love with his neighbour, who is married to a criminal. In a bid to save the husband from a group of gangsters, this unnamed driver must take part in a mission which is planned to fail.
The movie has a staggering start, which really ups your hope for this action flick. The story and character build up of this film has been beautifully executed and the casting fits right into place for this arthouse action film. With amazingly directed fast track sequences and a mind blowing soundtrack, Drive turns out to be much better than expected. It is not a usual romance film nor is it a film just for the motorheads, its a film which is a perfect mix of both! Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan pull of their roles in such a subtle manner that its hardly shocking that this film got a standing ovation at Cannes. Oscar Issac and Bryan Cranston both ace their cameo like roles, giving the thriller just what it needs!
Although a film which keeps you glued to your seats, it has a storyline which is quite hard to believe and a plot which leaves you unsettled and dissatisfied. The film has an amazing starting, but midway becomes a bit ultra voilent and loses its shine. The movie would have had done so much better without the mindless and relentless action. But even with its fair share of drawbacks, Drive still turns out to be an unmissable action bender which is gut-wrenching to the core!
JRating: 8/10
JRev: A lesser known and underrated action flik, which turns out to be much better than the likes of most films in the accomplished Fast & Furious movie series!
