Drive (2011)
Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan star in this crime thriller about a movie stuntman who also works as a getaway driver for the mafia. Nominated for the Palme d'Or and winner of Best Director at Cannes 2011. From director Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson), adapted from the James Sallis novel.
When a planned heist goes wrong, Gosling's unnamed getaway driver is blamed. LA's most dangerous criminal (Albert Brooks) puts out a contract on his life and he goes on the run through the streets of Los Angeles, while protecting his love interest (Mulligan) and her son.
- Director:
- Nicolas Winding Refn ('Valhalla Rising', 'Bronson', The 'Pusher' Trilogy)
- Writer:
- Hossein Amini
- Cast:
- Ryan GoslingCarey MulliganRon PerlmanBryan CranstonChristina HendricksOscar IsaacAlbert BrooksTina Huang
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksCharming, in the sense that it is absolutely ridiculous
Part of me is very tempted to call this a "Taxi Driver" set in the 21st century and a different American city. I mean, there's good reason for that, since both are bloated with ultra-violence (but "Drive" gets away with a lot more blood and guts). But stylistically, the two are very different, not to mention I couldn't take "Drive" half as seriously as I...
Drive
Drive is flawless. This isn't you're standard action movie, Drive is a blood-pumping thrill-ride, stylishly directed and beautifully acted, blended with surreal, ultra violence. Drive starts with Ryan Gosling in a hotel room, talking on the phone about what he does and his rules as a getaway driver. "If I drive for you, you give me a time and a place, I...
Smoky, Saccharine Neo-Noir
In the hands of another Director this film could easily have been yet another standard action movie. Yet Nicolas Winding Refn skilfully guides the audience at his own pace through this story resulting in a smoky, saccharine 80's style neo-noir with a phenomenal soundtrack. The outbursts of violence are blunt and vicious, but stylish and lyrical. Ryan...
Brilliant performances by Gosling & Mulligan
Judging by the other reviews this film is highly divisive - you'll either love it or hate it, and if you go in expecting a high-octane Jason-Statham-esque action flick, you'll probably fall into the latter camp. Drive is definitely an arthouse movie, and the performances by Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan are masterful. Both actors are able to speak volumes...
Different!
The joy of this type of film is in what it leaves out, rather than puts in, so this was top notch, achieving exactly what it set out to do. Drawing us into the outstanding Ryan Gosling's surrealistically-seeming calm life, which was anything but, and never letting go, I was in turn lulled by the slow pace then shocked by the violence, quite a ride. Sparse,...
Drive it home
Wow, this was nailing bitingly good. I loved the slow pace of the film, taking me back to the 80's. Like Steve McQueen, 'Mad Max', Randle Reigns ('Gone in 60 Seconds'), and 'Bad Leutenant' all in one. Ryan did a fantastic job of bringing this character to a dramatic, hardly speaking, fist clenchingly good. Not as much car racing as I imagined from the...
Fast cars, troubled souls, and extreme violence.
Well DRIVE is pretty much the best film of the year for me. That director likes 80s Michael Mann movies as much as I do. And fast cars. And troubled souls. Don't go if you can't handle some moments of EXTREME violence though. Oof. Brutal. But the tone and clarity of vision are razor sharp. Ryan Gosling is an ice-cool cypher and around him are some of the...
Variety
pressWhereas most muscle-car action pics are visually and narratively flat, Drive displays stunning style.
Total Film
pressAn action crime movie that’s as cerebral and surreal as it is red-blooded.
Roger Ebert
pressDrive looks like one kind of movie in the ads, and it is that kind of movie. It is also a rebuke to most of the movies it looks like.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIt’s a fun, if not exhilarating, ride, one sped along with the help of a wonderfully assembled cast.
Entertainment Weekly
pressA visually and aurally edgy Euro-influenced American genre movie...
Empire Magazine
pressAbout as much shamelessly disreputable, stylish, ultra-violent fun you’re going to have at the movies this year.
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksVariety
pressWhereas most muscle-car action pics are visually and narratively flat, Drive displays stunning style.
Total Film
pressAn action crime movie that’s as cerebral and surreal as it is red-blooded.
Roger Ebert
pressDrive looks like one kind of movie in the ads, and it is that kind of movie. It is also a rebuke to most of the movies it looks like.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIt’s a fun, if not exhilarating, ride, one sped along with the help of a wonderfully assembled cast.
Entertainment Weekly
pressA visually and aurally edgy Euro-influenced American genre movie...
Empire Magazine
pressAbout as much shamelessly disreputable, stylish, ultra-violent fun you’re going to have at the movies this year.
Charming, in the sense that it is absolutely ridiculous
Part of me is very tempted to call this a "Taxi Driver" set in the 21st century and a different American city. I mean, there's good reason for that, since both are bloated with ultra-violence (but "Drive" gets away with a lot more blood and guts). But stylistically, the two are very different, not to mention I couldn't take "Drive" half as seriously as I...
Drive
Drive is flawless. This isn't you're standard action movie, Drive is a blood-pumping thrill-ride, stylishly directed and beautifully acted, blended with surreal, ultra violence. Drive starts with Ryan Gosling in a hotel room, talking on the phone about what he does and his rules as a getaway driver. "If I drive for you, you give me a time and a place, I...
Smoky, Saccharine Neo-Noir
In the hands of another Director this film could easily have been yet another standard action movie. Yet Nicolas Winding Refn skilfully guides the audience at his own pace through this story resulting in a smoky, saccharine 80's style neo-noir with a phenomenal soundtrack. The outbursts of violence are blunt and vicious, but stylish and lyrical. Ryan...
Brilliant performances by Gosling & Mulligan
Judging by the other reviews this film is highly divisive - you'll either love it or hate it, and if you go in expecting a high-octane Jason-Statham-esque action flick, you'll probably fall into the latter camp. Drive is definitely an arthouse movie, and the performances by Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan are masterful. Both actors are able to speak...
Different!
The joy of this type of film is in what it leaves out, rather than puts in, so this was top notch, achieving exactly what it set out to do. Drawing us into the outstanding Ryan Gosling's surrealistically-seeming calm life, which was anything but, and never letting go, I was in turn lulled by the slow pace then shocked by the violence, quite a ride....
Drive it home
Wow, this was nailing bitingly good. I loved the slow pace of the film, taking me back to the 80's. Like Steve McQueen, 'Mad Max', Randle Reigns ('Gone in 60 Seconds'), and 'Bad Leutenant' all in one. Ryan did a fantastic job of bringing this character to a dramatic, hardly speaking, fist clenchingly good. Not as much car racing as I imagined from the...
Fast cars, troubled souls, and extreme violence.
Well DRIVE is pretty much the best film of the year for me. That director likes 80s Michael Mann movies as much as I do. And fast cars. And troubled souls. Don't go if you can't handle some moments of EXTREME violence though. Oof. Brutal. But the tone and clarity of vision are razor sharp. Ryan Gosling is an ice-cool cypher and around him are some of the...
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