Drive is an action/crime/drama that seems to be hearkening back to crime thrillers of the 1980s, with a little of Martin Scorsese‘s Taxi Driver thrown in for good measure.
The film stars Ryan Gosling as a nameless stunt driver/mechanic, who moonlights as a getaway driver for robberies. He takes one such job to help out the husband of his neighbour Irene (Carey Mulligan), who he befriended (and possibly gained feelings for) in the early half of the film. The job turns sour and film becomes a gritty revenge thriller as the Driver goes out to get the thugs that crossed him.
The film is interesting for its slow burn that starts off as almost a romance between the Driver and Irene. The film darkens significantly in the second half, with some extreme scenes of graphic violence that may be shocking to those not expecting it.
Like Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, the Driver already seemed to have some screws loose and the botched job was probably just an excuse for him to let loose. Despite this, he still remains a somewhat likable character.
I should also point out the excellent retro-sounding soundtrack, which really added to the atmosphere of the film. It ended up being one of my favourite things about the film.
Overall, Drive was gripping film from beginning to end and will definitely end up being one of my favourite films of the year.
9/10