A Real Hero

Things happen for a reason. Drive, a film by Nicolas Winding Refn starring Ryan Gosling, was originally set to star Hugh Jackman in the lead role in what would have likely been positioned as a summer blockbuster. Instead, Jackman dropped out and in came Gosling, who then called in Danish director Winding Refn, an arthouse wunderkind known for his violent films. It seems like a strange match. Why would Gosling get a role once held by Wolverine? And why would he go and choose this random guy from Denmark known for directing cerebral, violent films? The ultimate result is as strange as the collaboration seems, leaving us with a quiet and violent movie that manages to be a half art house, half 80's inspired crime film at the same time. All of this comes together to give us a modern classic.

Drive follows Gosling's character, a nameless man only known as Driver who is a stunt man by day and getaway driver by night. Driver has a strict set of rules that he adheres to that allow him to stay out of the criminal underworld while managing to be a getaway driver. However, things get complicated when he falls for his neighbor, Irene. Naturally, there is a catch. Irene is married, and her husband, Standard, is in jail. Soon, Standard is out of jail, but he comes out owing a debt to the mob. Driver gets involved in order to protect Irene and her son, and from there, the movie unfolds. 

The film rests heavily on the shoulders of Gosling, who hardly says a thing the whole movie. His performance is based on looks, or rather very long stares, pauses, and body language. It's an insanely understated performance that gives the audience so little to go on, yet at the same time says more about Driver than a showier and louder performance ever could and also makes the few moments that Driver gets menacing even more intense. Gosling's love interest, Irene, is played by British actress Carey Mulligan. She's great in the role as well, though she really doesn't have much to do. She's quiet just like Gosling, and the scenes between the two are fantastic, as you watch them fall for each other with barely a word said between them.

The real shining performance of this film, though, belongs to Albert Brooks, who was unjustly snubbed for an Academy Award nomination. Brooks used to be a comedian, and has written and directed some great films of his own. Here, though, he is not the best friend or the funny guy he was always typecast as for most of his career. In Drive, he plays a menacing gangster, and you can tell he relishes the opportunity. He digs into the role, and as the end draws nearer, we begin to feel a strange sort of sympathy for his character. 

Also worth noting are the performances you can't see. Winding Refn does an amazing job directing this film. The film oozes style yet somehow manages to sustain some substance thanks to a great, spare script by Hossein Amini. The cinematography is beautiful and adds to the retro colorful 80's vibe. The costumes are even fantastic, especially Gosling's, with his driving gloves and incredible jacket with a gold scorpion emblazed on the back, the latter of which has become so popular that they've started producing replicas. And you can't forget the soundtrack. On its own, the music is a work of genius. It's full of amazing 80's inspired synth-driven tunes by College, Desire and Kavvinsky, as well as a pulsating score by former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Cliff Martinez. The film the soundtrack works beautifully, adding to the ambience created by Winding Refn.

Drive is definitely worth at least a rental, but it's a divisive film, one that you simply love or hate. There are apparent reasons for this. The first half hour doesn't really have much of a plot, and the film gets bloody and brutal when violence erupts. People have also been put off by Gosling's performance and the fact that he barely talks. However, knowing this going in will likely make the film a lot easier to get into. Half the battle is letting Winding Refn lead you through this version of LA that he has created. If you can do that, you will absolutely love Drive. Pick Drive up today on DVD, and pick up the soundtrack on iTunes or Amazon.