Movie Review: Drive

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Warning for anyone who sees the film: the trailers are extremely misleading. This is not the Fast and the Furious type action movie the trailers make it out  to be. That being said, Drive is a great film if you're willing to take a chance on it. It's definitely not a film for all audiences, but for those who are patient, it's very rewarding. Drive is a combination of two films in one. The first half is a romantic drama and the second half is a brutal crime/revenge film. What unifies the film though is it's unique style throughout. Director Nicolas Winding Refn's style is abstract, but undeniably cool. The film is able to blend a layered romantic story with brief sequences of incredibly graphic violence effortlessly. His choice of shots is remarkable and it's easily the most impressive camerawork I've seen in a long time (the elevator scene is nothing short of mesmerising from a technical standpoint). There is a very art-driven approach to the whole production, but it's not pretentious or douchey in any way. On top being very well made, Drive is full of top-notch acting. Ryan Gosling's work as the lead is amazing. His performance is subtle yet very bold. His character doesn't say much, but his actions speak louder than his words. The second half of the film his character shows that beneath his calm demeanor is a beast that can destroy anything or anyone that is put in his path. Just as good is Albert Brooks's performance as the film's antagonist. Brooks is playing really off-type, but it might be the strongest performance of his career. His character is a ruthless mobster that strikes fear into everyone around him. Brooks isn't on screen for very long, but when he is, he is absolutely electric. Drive is an ambitious film that succeeds on almost every level. It's definitely not for everyone. It's slow, there are sequences with no dialogue, and there is no action for the first 45 minutes or so. But that doesn't take away from how great this film is. Drive is the most brutal romantic film ever made and it's kind of a shame it didn't get more attention from the Academy Awards this year.

4/5 Stars