Drive
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Rating: 5/5
Ryan Gosling has been a busy boy of late and he leaves behind the lightheartedness of Crazy, Stupid, Love for the slightly more gritty Drive.
And from start to finish this actor is totally superb - it's amazing how, with very little dialogue, Gosling has created a character that was so totally compelling.
Drive follows a Hollywood stunt driver by day (Gosling), a loner by nature, who moonlights as a top-notch getaway driver-for-hire in the criminal underworld.
He finds himself a target for some of LA’s most dangerous men after agreeing to aid the husband of his beautiful neighbour, Irene (Mulligan).
When the job goes dangerously awry, the only way he can keep Irene and her son alive is to do what he does best... Drive!
If you will forgive the pun Gosling really is the driving force in this movie as he gives a really captivating performance as a man who says very little - but give plenty away with just a look.
Driver is a man of many layers a seeming straight laced stunt man who enjoys the thrill of breaking the law before turning on the violence to protect Irene and her young son.
Carey Mulligan is also superb as Irene another character who says so much in her silences. Their relationship is intriguing and all consuming and there is so much power in what they do not say to one another.
Director Nicolas Winding Refn really does have to be applauded as in a time where the big budget blockbuster rules with it's CGI laden action set pieces he has shown that less really is so much more.
He mixes beautifully steely, almost haunting, silences with these explosions of graphic violence - they really are in your face and break the peace and quiet of the movie.
Refn slowly racks up the tension throughout the movie with a feel that danger could be lurking around every corner, the elevator scene being the perfect example.
Drive is a compelling movie from start to finish it's well thought out and is beautifully crafted. Refn's unhurried style of story telling it gripping and it will hook you from the very beginning.
But it's Gosling who really does stand out as he oozes this sexy charm that is reminiscent of Steve McQueen in his hayday.
This is a wonderfully made movie with some super performances - one of the best movies of 2011!
Drive is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Ryan Gosling