With the title "Drive" and the tag line "Get in. Get Out. Get Away" one could be forgiven for thinking that this was a fast paced heist movie focused on long car chase get-away sequences. It isn't. Less 'Fast and Furious' and more 'Subdued and Serious'. The film starts with a getaway drive that rather sets the tone of the film; our driver says very little and only picks up the pace if cornered at which point he can and will do whatever he has to.
Arguably our driver is either mysterious or astonishingly lacking substance; new to an apartment he quickly develops a bond with his neighbour. When the neighbours husband needs a favour things go terribly wrong, and with the driver's life threatened, but more importantly the neighbour and her child's life threatened, driver does everything he has to to keep them safe. At times this gets very gory, and there are those who will question the need to be quite so graphic. Drive does not glorify violence by any means, but does tell us a lot about Driver whose quiet demeanour could otherwise be mistaken for passive or apathetic.
Pros:
- Stunning visuals and sound. Fans of 80's Michael Mann films will be happy in this respect.
- A serious and engaging story for the more patient viewer.
Cons:
- Many will be put off by the graphic violence. Some will say it is unnecessary, although probably most will disagree.
- What for many will be an interesting albeit quiet protagonist, will for others be soulless and borderline sociopathic.
Bottom Line:
- Engaging and stylish for the patient.
- Tedious and one dimensional for the impatient.
- Horrific for those with weaker constitutions.