Drive (2011): Ryan Gosling plays a mechanic and Hollywood stunt driver that moonlights as a getaway driver for hire (he’s never given any name). His fixer, Shannon, keeps him in jobs working for various no-good nicks, including mobster Bernie Rose (Albert Brooks, playing way against type as the ruthless Bernie) and his second, Nino (Ron Perlman), who want the driver to race a stock car for them. Into his life walks his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), who the driver develops an attachment to, and her little boy. Shortly thereafter, Irene’s husband Standard (Carlos Isaac) comes home from prison and the driver agrees to help Standard pay off an outstanding debt to a local hood, Cook. Then everything goes pear-shaped, as the driver finds himself knee-deep in a million dollars of dirty money and a double-cross, with the bodies piling up around him as Bernie and company start to clean house to cover their tracks. So the driver takes it upon himself to get Irene and her son free and clear. A violent film (hammers to face, people getting their skulls kicked in, stabs to the throat and eye), but it’s a simple, neat little noir drama with good-to-great performances all around. Director Nicholas Winding Refn has directed some great films I’ve enjoyed immensely (I love “Bronson”) and this one is solid, not a single false note. From the 80’s-ish soundtrack and title scheme (hot pink cursive lettering), to the lighting and cinematography (this looks and feels like a Michael Mann movie to me), it’s all well done. It clocks in at 100 minutes but feels shorter. Sure, the plot isn’t treading any new ground, but the execution makes it worthwhile. Woodchuck sez, “Check it out.”
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