DRIVE

Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan,

Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks

"There are No Clean Getaways"

Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stuntman who also moonlights as a driver for getaway cars used in heists.  A man of few words with little facial expressions, he is only addressed as "the Driver".  A loner who doesn't have much going on in his life but it is quite evident he comes from a murky past which we aren't privy to. 

It is only when he makes the acquaintance of his neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her son, Benicio that he seems to break out of his shell. But those rare moments are short lived as he finds himself in deep trouble after he gets involved in a botched heist c/o of Standard (Oscar Isaac).   The ex convict husband of Irene who owes some debt to his 'sponsor' in the penitentiary.

Soon enough, the driver becomes the target of a very ruthless gangster (Albert Brooks) and his henchmen.  Suddenly, the story turns dark and violent with a very suspenseful tone that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  I was thinking it was about time, the film heated up.   But boy, did I get my wish. 

It develops into a chaotic thriller with visceral and very brutal scenes.  Yet at the same time, the expression of the Driver remains stoic as ever.   The film is quite minimalist in nature yet very effective in projecting a character that knows how to dominate every situation he finds himself in.

Most if not all of the credits goes to Ryan Gosling. His screen presence is quite powerful even without much dialogue.  He is a simmering intense character that knows how to think quickly and he is fully capable of defending himself in precarious incidents.

I contend that "Drive" might not appeal to most female viewers for its brutal scenes yet I do recommend it for one reason only -  Ryan Gosling in an iconic role he was born to portray.