It’s no secret that even the best blockbusters can be rather
insubstantial affairs. Their saving
grace is that are usually adept at providing the requisite action and thrills,
often because the massive production budgets allow for such things. Well, times must and always do change. Just as the western and the musical
completely fell out of favor long ago, so too will big blockbusters one day go
the way of the dodo. Lower budgeted
films may one day begin to dominate the market place for a time, just as they
did after the collapse of the big studio system. Fear not, fellow adrenaline junkies, for we
will still be able to get our collective fix.
A new generation of filmmakers seems capable of delivering the goods at only a fraction of the cost. What else would explain the existence of a
modest budgeted thriller like Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive.
Drive tells the
story of a Hollywood stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who supplements his income by
acting as getaway driver. His mentor
Shannon (Bryan Cranston) acts as his manager in both the legitimate world and
the underworld. Shannon convinces his
friend Bernie Rose (Albert Rose) to act as a benefactor for their little
operation. Impressed by Driver’s abilities
behind the wheel, Bernie soon pairs the young prodigy with Nino (Ron Perlman). Shortly
thereafter, Driver falls for a waitress named Irene (Carey Mulligan) and takes
to her young son Benecio (Kaden Leos).
When Irene’s husband Standard (Isaac Guzman) is released from prison,
Driver falls back out of respect.
However, tragic circumstances soon place him back to Irene’s side and
put a price on his head.
Drive is based on
the novel of the same name by James Sallis.
Academy Award nominated screenwriter Hossein Amini overcame considerable
difficulties in adapting the novella’s nonlinear narrative for the big screen. When that arduous task was completed, Nicolas
Winding Refn eventually inherited the director’s cap. The cast is an eclectic but appealing mix that
includes Albert Brooks, Bryan Craxton, and Ron Pearlman. Though the film is officially budgeted at
only 13 million dollars, it looks as though it could have cost five times as
much. It has the feel of slick, empty
headed populist fare such as Fast Five. Yet there appears to be much more going on
beneath the hood. From a character and
plot standpoint, the film appears to play more like a slick modern day noir
replete with love triangles, surrogate father figures and makeshift family
units. If Drive represents a possible future for action cinema, than consider
me sold.
*Thanks to IGN for the scoop.
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