Drive

Gosling Becomes A Badass

Director: Nicholas Winding Refn
Release Date: 2011
Rating: 18
Running Time: 96 mins
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Actors: Ryan Gosling, Cary Mulligan, Bryan Cranston

Part time stunt driver and car mechanic by day, get away driver by night, it's fair to say that 'Drive' is a film that just oozes coolness from the word go. I suppose in  a way this film could be refered to as a sort of modern day 'Taxi Driver' with intense car chases, heists and brutal violence. Plus the performances from Ryan Gosling and Bryan Cranston are so well done, it's hard to find anything about this film that I didn't like. I think it's fair to argue that 'Drive can be seen as a real boys film about cars, guns and violence, but it's underpinned by quite a poignant love story as well, making it a much more layered film than first thought, and one that could actually appeal to quite a range of audiences.

I think one of the reasons for this is that there's something about Ryan Gosling that makes him so universally likeable to everyone, almost like a modern day Jimmy Stewart. It is fair to say though that 'Drive' shows him in a completely different light to some of his other well known films such as 'The Notebook' or 'Crazy Stupid Love'. Bryan Cranston offers a once again superb performance in the supporting role and again shows his versatility as an actor, seeming once again completely different to other roles he's played.

In a way I'd argue that because the  shots are so carefully constructed and  well put together the cinematography almost beats the story in this film. Straight away it's given a very dark feel and one that makes us unsure of whether to even like Ryan Goslings character, but as soon as you see him behind the wheel, it's hard not to. 'Drive' definitely a film that will shock you but also amaze you, probably not a film for everyone but definitely one that stands out as a fantastic thriller worth watching.

8/10