FILM OF THE WEEK (16/06/2013): Drive (2011, Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn, USA) (Cert: 18/R) **** Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston A daring driver of various heists (Gosling) works in the criminal underground along with his ‘legitimate’ job of being a Hollywood stunt driver. Whilst his neighbour (Mulligan) has a husband (Oscar Isaac) in jail, he develops a deep bond with her, whilst the pressures of his underground activities begin to mount. Perhaps the most surprising breakthrough of 2011 in film was this independent, yet glossy, film that merged personal drama with the trappings of an action-thriller. Although the film has antecedents, its look and feel are its own; managing to lie somewhere between a contemporary environment but taking a synth-heavy soundtrack and pieces of set-dressing more akin to something out of the video game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (imagine if Tarantino fell back on an 80’s aesthetic rather than a 70’s one). The film jostles uneasily between action and drama at points and the superb action sequences are a little underused whilst the drama lapses dangerously towards pretension. However, it’s an engaging and intriguing film with some great characters, especially from a distinctly cast-against-type Albert Brooks.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:40:08 +0000
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