Drive

“Real Human Being and A Real Hero…”

This song had me at hello. It gave me Cyndi Lauper feels.

To be honest, I had my share of doubts about watching this film. I am not an action film enthusiast and I could not imagine Ryan Gosling walk the talk. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Gosling but for me he will always be a Sebastian (La La Land) or Noah (The Notebook).  Or so I thought.

The best thing you can do is to not watch the trailer, going in, because it does not do any justice to the air of mystery that defines it. So don’t. It is an extremely stylish film, but credit to the director for not limiting himself to that. No wonder, it won accolades at the Cannes Film Festival.

Drive is the story of a loner who seeks a certain thrill in driving robbers and their dirty money to safety. But, unlike all other action heroes, he is awkward, straight-faced to a fault and hardly mouths any “I am your man” kind of dialogues. A stuntman cum body double and garage worker during the day and a getaway driver at night is what he is. Of course, he makes quick money out of the latter. But that is not the only driving force (pun intended). From what I, as a viewer understand, he gets a kick out of it, (perhaps living an alternate life to make up for the hero that he couldn’t be) before he falls for his married neighbor, Irene, played by the ever so lovely Carey Mulligan, and suddenly he craves for an existence less mechanical.  The complications that follow form the rest of the story.  

Drive is a slow and moody film, with an almost dream like quality. The action sequences are gory, unpredictable but not particularly voyeuristic. And thank heavens, our hero and the bad guys don’t indulge in forced fisticuffs, as is the ritual in most of our Indian films. So, if you are looking for flying cars and mumbo jumbo, you know where to look.  

Great cinematography (each frame is exquisite), a great director behind the wheel and an awesome supporting cast (led by Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston) seals the deal. The background score and original soundtrack are an add-on. All in all, a highly underrated gem – this film. 

P.S. Beware! This film shares its name with a recent Bollywood release/Netflix original – a cringefest that ought to be avoided even when one has all the time in the world.