99¢ Review: Drive

I watch a lot of movies (Check out my list of movies seen in 2011), but I don’t always have the time to write up a full review. Instead, I thought I would start up a new column where I give you the discount version of the review. What’s good, what’s bad, if it’s worth your time.

The Movie: Drive

The Good: The look, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Gosling’s jacket, the cuteness of Carey Mulligan, Clint Mansel’s soundtrack (mostly), the cars, the driving.

The Bad: Not much. It can catch you off guard with its gore.

From the opening scene, Drive grabs you and never lets you go. The style and atmosphere practically ooze off the screen. You can feel the heat of a hot L.A. night as Gosling’s character (who is unnamed, referred to as ‘the kid’) drives for the opening heist. It’s a slick little number that relies on realism and patience in the face of danger rather than wild driving through packed city streets. The tension comes from the calm demeanor of Gosling, the silence of the characters, the heartbeat-simulating undercurrents of Clint Mansel’s score thumping in the background. It's awesome.

The kid is a part-time mechanic, part-time getaway driver. He gets mixed up with his neighbor, her young son, and her husband on a heist that goes wrong. He’s put into a position to right the wrongs of betrayal. Try as he might, he winds up in a deadly spiral of violence that involves loan sharks, the mob, old friends and new double crosses. It’s exciting and polished and it features one of the greatest jackets in cinema. Seriously, I want Gosling’s scorpion jacket in my closet right now.

I know of director Nicolas Winding Refn’s previous works, The Pusher trilogy, Bronson, and Valhalla Rising. After watching Drive, I’m going back to see those films. He has a unique style that is a wonder to watch. Drive is a slow burn film. It takes its time to establish the characters and set up the action. Once the fuse is lit on the powder keg, there’s an amazing explosion on screen. It has compassionate scenes punctuated by bouts of extreme and bloody violence. It is a very good film and will undoubtedly make many ‘Best of 2011’ lists.

4.5 out of 5