DRIVE Movie Review
Depressing and disturbing is what makes up the darkness of “Drive”. Ryan Gosling is the star of this thriller simply known as the Driver, where he is a stunt man driver during the day and moonlights as a heist driver at night. Gosling’s character begins to soften and come out of his shell after befriending his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan). With few words we see Gosling’s character is a lost soul who has a very dark side. As Gosling is being considered as a box car driver his friend Shannon (Bryan Cranston) gets involved with a couple shady fellows who offer to fund his dream of turning Gosling into a super star.
It seems like becoming a star is far away from the “Driver’s” goal, but he is a dedicated worker and loyal friend who agrees to do whatever Shannon recommends. Even his advice about his neighbor. As he gets closer with Irene and her young son they have a bond that develops. Until Irene’s husband is getting ready to be released from prison. As hard as it is to keep his distance he leaves Irene alone and his loneliness sets back in.
When the Driver learns that Irene and her son are in danger after her husband’s release due to a debt owed for protection while in prison he quickly puts himself in harms way. Things go awry and there is a lot of guilt and anger that surfaces. Anger that we have not seen before in this quiet and demure gentlemen, who turns out to be a killing assassin. Things only go from bad to worse.
“Drive” is an awkward love story with a lot of brutality. There are many intense action moments followed by drones of long silence and parts that are pretty dull. If you mix them all together it makes for an intriguing film. Ryan Gosling is as creepy as one guy can get and proves to be able to contend very well in a dark genre. I did not care for the slow pace or the finalization of “Drive” but with Gosling’s solid performance and scenes that reminisce of “The Departed” it is worth a quick viewing if you can stand the blood & guts.
