I did not expect to like "Drive", because i was not in the mood for another retro-crime-whatever-movie and i'm not so much into cars. At first the whole 80ies reminiscence was really annoying, but then i realized how well it was translated into a slick 2011-look. And when i got into the mood of the movie i really enjoyed it.
Ryan Gosling is great in his lead role - what is also the only really good character in the film, although we do not even know his name. When it comes to non-speaking, mysterious, anti-hero lead characters, there have been many more who used such an possibility to show their acting skills. And Isaach De Bankolé for example was in Limits of Control at least as good as Gosling is here. But he carries the film - no doubt - very well.
The movie is highly stylized and focuses, centers, and depends on Goslings Character. The Plot however keeps underdeveloped, some points are not made clear and most of the characters are "just there to get shot" at some point. Not even the Drivers love-interest gets really fleshed out, but her son shares a nice immediate friendship with our male lead.
All in all it is a film about atmosphere, style and a super-hero. And it does a good job.
Ryan Gosling is great in his lead role - what is also the only really good character in the film, although we do not even know his name. When it comes to non-speaking, mysterious, anti-hero lead characters, there have been many more who used such an possibility to show their acting skills. And Isaach De Bankolé for example was in Limits of Control at least as good as Gosling is here. But he carries the film - no doubt - very well.
The movie is highly stylized and focuses, centers, and depends on Goslings Character. The Plot however keeps underdeveloped, some points are not made clear and most of the characters are "just there to get shot" at some point. Not even the Drivers love-interest gets really fleshed out, but her son shares a nice immediate friendship with our male lead.
All in all it is a film about atmosphere, style and a super-hero. And it does a good job.