Drive Reviews (original) (raw)
Summary Drive is the story of a Hollywood stunt driver by day, 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 neighbor, Irene. When the job goes dangerously awry, the only way he c...
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Summary Drive is the story of a Hollywood stunt driver by day, 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 neighbor, Irene. When the job goes dangerously awry, the only way he c...
Drive works as a great demonstration of how, when there's true talent behind the camera, entertainment and art are not enemies but allies.
Drive not only met my hopes; it charged way over the speed limit, partly because it's an unapologetically commercial picture that defies all the current trends in mainstream action filmmaking.
Drive is an electrifying cinematic experience that ensnares with its relentless intensity and haunting elegance. Nicolas Winding Refn’s direction forges a neon-lit world where every shot throbs with both beauty and menace. Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of the Driver is nothing short of mesmerizing; his performance, marked by a profound emotional depth and icy detachment, makes his search for redemption both riveting and heartbreakingly real. Carey Mulligan’s Irene offers a poignant, fragile hope that deepens the film’s emotional core. The supporting cast—Bryan Cranston’s empathetic Shannon, Christina Hendricks’s unpredictable Blanche, and Albert Brooks’s chilling Bernie Rose—each deliver performances that elevate the narrative. The film’s exploration of isolation and identity is powerfully underscored by the brutal curb-stomp elevator scene, which viscerally captures the raw violence and internal turmoil of the Driver’s existence. This scene, along with the film’s evocative soundtrack and striking cinematography, combines to create an immersive, gripping experience, making Drive a profound and unforgettable meditation on the human condition.
I drive I drive I drive I drive I drive I drive I drive I drive I drive I I drive
From the beginning, it's clear this is not a standard-order action film. It takes its characters as seriously as its chases, shootouts, and fights.
Though both highly stylized and highly stylish, Drive isn't hurting for substance. It has rich, complex characters and a storyline that's both emotionally engaging and almost sickeningly suspenseful.
Mainstream audiences will probably be confounded by Drive, while lovers of gritty filmmaking will defend every exaggerated shotgun wound as art. Know which camp you're in before you enter the theater.
Refn's mix of grindhouse horror with sweetie-pie sentiment is a recipe mastered by Takeshi Kitano (and, in his own way, David Lynch), but this director's brew is simpler, more direct, less cerebral and less heartfelt. To invest oneself emotionally in the central relationship, or the movie itself, would be akin to investing oneself emotionally in one's car. But when the car looks this good and drives this fast, why not?
Every bit as dumb as August's "Conan the Barbarian" but awash in neon-lit nightscapes and existential dread, with killings so graphic that you can't entirely believe what you're gagging at.
This film aged like a fine wine, still one of my all time favorites. The style, cinematography, and storytelling are timeless and unique.
Severely let down and mislead by the premise of Drive, let me explain, firstly "A mysterious Hollywood stuntman" is far from the truth, Goslings unnamed character doesn't appear "mysterious" in the slightest my exact thoughts whilst watching were "wow this guy is slow". Secondly how does goslings unnamed character have so much time on his hands to be a get away driver, a mechanic, test drive, hangout with the neighbours kid and karate lesson, like seriously we're expected to believe that this guy just knows how to fight and overpower those who are clearly bigger than him? I really wanted to like Drive and I had high expectations but after the opening scene I was just waiting for the film to entertain me again.
_________ War gar nicht so schlecht hätte aber noch besser sein können.... > 6/10
Very, very slow paced movie and overall very boring to watch. A few good scenes here and there are not enough to save this movie from being tedious to watch.
Hyper stylized can be done well with real purpose. Unfortunately, in regards to Drive, it can be done so wrong that it becomes laughable. I was unconvinced by the characters motives and feelings and honestly didn't care about any of them. The plot had a good structure, but was really blown to bits by the director's ego. The cinematography was wonderful though so at least it had something going for it.
Production Company FilmDistrict, Bold Films, Madison Wells, Marc Platt Productions, Motel Movies, Drive Film Holdings, OddLot Entertainment
Release Date Sep 16, 2011
Duration 1 h 40 m
Rating TV-14
Tagline Some Heroes Are Real
Golden Schmoes Awards
• 6 Wins & 16 Nominations