"Five minute window"

Drive (2011)

 This is without a doubt one of the most spectacular film of 2011 surpassing X-men First Class, HP Deathly Hallows pt2 and the sleeper hit Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Relatively known Ryan Gosling brings screen dominance and presence to a rather indie film with a low budget and semi-known cast.

Now I am an avid movie-goer who enjoys the fuck out of big budget explosions, thinly-veiled plots, and the cheesy liners. But sometimes, there is a calm and collected piece of art that is able to grasp the mind of a 21yr old whos only concerns are getting laid and cheating in the next exam.

I'm not going to pretend I know shit about film, I don't watch the classics such as Gone With The Wind or some shit like that (I mean cmon bro) and I haven't studied shit about filmmaking and all that shazazz but films like Drive, even a idiotic teenager can appreciate the effort and creativity that's gone into it.

Drive is about "Driver" (Gosling) a part-time stuntsman who moonlights as a criminal getaway driver. A man suspended in the present - no ambitions, no goals - with his past is hidden to the audience. He befriends his neighbour Irene (Carey Mulligan from Wall Street Money Never Sleeps) and develops feelings while simultaneously excels under the mentorship/management of Shannon (Bryan Cranston who's the dad from Malcolm in the Middle lol). Things get tense when a crime goes wrong with alot of money and lives at stake, and bizzarely gangbangers and mobsters get involved and its up to "Driver" to uncover the truth.

The acting is excellent. Gosling gives a fucking ace performance as the quiet "Driver" with minimal dialogue but expressions that say over 9000 words. Few people might be offput by the silence in this film however the eyes and movement of each character speaking profoundly. The actors are blessed with breathtaking cinematography (lights and imagery and shit) of LA day and night bringing a deep, understated tone to the film. This isn't a film that you can fall asleep or be on mobile twitter/facebook for half the time(kill urselves) and still understand. Every minute needs attention in order to comprehend the actions/motives and thoughts of the characters.

The action scenes are well scripted with a serious approach (unlike Fast Five LOL), the car chasing, fist fighting, and shootout scenes are all done with purpose and creativity with every little detail fleshed out(pun intended?). Small enchancements such as the Patek Phillipe watch,satin scorpion jacket and THOSE FUARKEN SEXY DRIVING GLOVES brings style and substance to this mysterious protagonist. The 80's synthesised retro music also gives this film a unique taste. Keep an eye out for a few sexy cars.

After an intense opening scene, the first half becomes more calm but rises to produce the latter half of incredible action and exposition scenes without negatively influencing the pacing, a credit to director Nicholas Winding Refn - there wasn't a moment where I was dozing off or daydreaming, an achievement in and of itself considering the 21yr old brain never usually concentrates for more than a minute.

Definitely worth the admission cost, incredible film - 9.5/10

I WANT THOSE DAMN DRIVING GLOVES