Drive

     Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" stars Ryan Gosling as the unnamed Driver, a stunt car driver by day and a getaway driver by night. Soon after his relationship with his neighbor Irene is interrupted due to her husband returning home from prison, Driver gets caught up in a heist gone wrong while trying to help out said husband.  Driver spends the rest of the film using his street smarts and wit to not only survive from the mob's hit on him, but to protect the people he cares about.
     Moving past the wonderful story line, we arrive at Refn's unique style and vision for this film. During the film's beginning chase scene, we get a feel for the creative camera techniques that are used to make the chase seem raw and real. Instead of unnecessary dialogue, Refn uses audio cues, like the basketball game on the radio and the ticking of his watch to add suspense. Following this scene we are blasted with the amazing "Nightcall", a wonderful 80's style song, foreshadowing the great soundtrack that is to come. The theme, "A Real Hero", is the perfect song for this film, and is exactly how we feel about Driver as he drives into the unknown at the end. Another great aspect of this film is the fantastic acting. Gosling lays down a solid performance as the serious driver, with the boy-like wonder and charm. The pinnacle of his performance is easily the scene in which he sits in his car, without blinking or breathing, making us wonder if he has survived or not. This scene sends chills down my spine every time I watch it. Carey Mulligan also gives a solid performance as Irene, the neighbor torn between who she loves and who she is married to. They both do a great job of conveying their feelings for each other, simply through their gestures and glances, rather than over the top dialogue.
     "Drive" is a well made film that warrants many, many re-watches due to Refn's attention to detail, great cinematography, and fantastic acting. At the end of the film, you will be left wanting more Driver, a great testament to the grasp this movie holds on its audience.