This film resembles a classic case of "Bait Art" common in contemporary filmmaking, especially among young directors. They lure in film critics who are overwhelmed by a wide range of intense hollywood cinema and give them something digestible- a slow moving, short scripted, uneventful film- market it as artsy and put in some artsy music and artsy shots to complete the picture. Drive, for the rest of us, is nothing more than a ridiculously forgettable movie with some great actors. The film is painfully slow, painfully cliche and above all overdramatic in delivery. It never feels real. Made for the elitist critics, not for people like us.… Expand

After seeing this movie, I was first a little taken aback to discover how popular it was among the critics. I then realized why- they were attracted to its very obvious qualities of artsy-ness. It is as "TomProCritic" says. They responded to its artsy qualities- a few: long pauses for no reason, hesitation, unique camera angels, the use of techno and modern music, a kid who is not very childish...etc. The movie was dull. If you don't respond to hollow artsy crap, it falls flat. I only give it credit for having some truly terrific actors.… Expand

Drive is like nothing I've ever seen before. Rarely will a movie saturate its first 45 minutes or so with a gentle love story and then escalate so quickly into the horrific, grizzly, B-Movie violence that is Drive. This is what makes it such a powerful film. Its formulaic use of silence and violence makes it work and makes it work well. Go see it but keep in mind, it is not for the faint of heart mainstream audiences.… Expand

"listen2themovie" and "memphisfeast" have it right. The artsy-ness of this movie tries to distract you from how lifeless the plot is but instead make things worse. It really is one of the worst cases imaginable of critics bait.

I'm getting sick of these near-silent movies punctuated with 4 minutes of dialogue every 15 minutes. And Drive falls into this category. Why doesn't anyone really talk unless they are getting beaten or shot. The premise of the movie is great, but the the screenplay is lacking and what you remain with is an empty movie with a few outstanding moments. All in all, Drive is better watched on a sick day..when u are actually sick and could care less what happens!… Expand

Reading user reviews for this movie made me want to write a review. I just saw the movie tonight. It seems everyone is to wussy for all the violence this movie had. This is one of the best movies I have seen in a while. I really didn't know what was going to happen next. This isn't your typical action movie with car chases and everything blowing up. So don't expect the usual, but if you want something different give this movie a shot. While it does have action its just not done in a traditional way. The acting was great. Ryan gosling like you have never seem him before. The story was good, the camera angles and everything was just different. Don't listen to the people complain about violence, go see it. fantastic movie.… Expand

the plot sucked, I did not hate the acting, but it was not nearly enough to carry the movie. did I mention the plot was unimaginative, regurgitated, unoriginal, and boring. the movie pissed me off, I love both leads, the reviews were great but it just sucked. sorry I'm not a better writer/reviewer.

Everything about the film Drive is good. From the lead actor, supporting actors, the script, the direction, the action, the drama, and the music. Drive is the most endearing film I've seen in a while.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was so bewildered and disappointed that Meta-critic gave this a score of 80 (almost as surprised as Winter's Bone receiving a 90!). How is this possible? Did these "professional" critics see the same movie that was presented to the general public? This movie was awful! Dreadful! So bad in fact, that the audience began moaning and groaning with pain (and laughter) at the incredibly bad downward spiral the film took after the initial terrific opening sequence. The dialog was so dull and boring that I had to check to see if George Lucas penned it. Slow, lifeless, and uninspired events were periodically interrupted by pointless and graphic violence. I hated almost everything about this film, with the exception of Bryan Cranston! My heart was breaking badly for him as an actor having to be associated with this bomb. Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks should have their SAG cards taken from them. If future actors want to learn how to NOT act like a gangster or thug they should retrieve this movie from the landfill and watch their pitiful performances. The costumes were ridiculous (who dresses up that way to attend a function at a strip mall pizza place?) and the music was misguided...even the scripted pink font during the opening credits went awry (I know, I get it, an 80's reference, but why why why?). The bizarre sequence of Gosling wearing a mask and chasing Nino into the sea needs to be placed in the Screenwriter's dictionary under "what to do when you've run out of ideas, but still want to make your film ARTSY". PLEASE save yourself some time and money and skip this blunder.… Expand

Awful. The first scene is good, and might even be great if it weren't followed by 90 minutes of frustrating, boring (and, occasionally, nauseating) cinema. The acting feels like it tries to be minimalistic, pensive, and mysterious; it come off as dull, wooden, and self-important. The movie doesn't go anywhere and doesn't say anything, and remains a "style over substance" effort. Unfortunately, even the style is confusing at best: the pink lipstick credits, the Casio synth sound, the cheesy "Thunderdome"-style power ballad... if this movie had been made in the 80s, it might have some B-movie credibility. As a movie made 20 years after the 80s ended, Drive feels bewildering and artificial. And that's not even to say anything about the degrading, absurd violence; you don't have to be "faint of heart" to be disgusted with the blood spillage in Drive. I rarely have such a visceral reaction to a movie as I did with Drive. I could not for the life of me understand why such a movie is even made, as it is an exercise in empty style... and a D effort at that.… Expand

While most people dislike this movie for the obvious reasons- it lacks dialogue, creativity and plot and it is slow moving and cliche- I dislike much more strongly because none of it felt believable. It was all so glossy and manicured with catchy techno music, but no scene felt like it could ever happen the way it did- from start to finish. It was trying to be ridiculous but came off so over the top that it fell, very hard and very flat. I'm with the previous haters. Drive was AWFUL.… Expand

Sensational director Nicholas Winding Refn's "Drive" is a good subtle movie that sorta revives the noir genre with violence and color. The film's ending is hurried and weak compared to the immense tension it creates. However, the director actually presents a great movie with his ability to use various masterful camera angles as well as showing copious action and car chases. In conclusion...watch it. It's a cool movie that will definitely appeal to you.… Expand

Easily one of the best films of 2011. The opening 5 minutes of Drive are simply extraordinary: zero music and virtually no dialogue, just the Driver outrunning the cops after a burglary. If you aren't instantly drawn in by the opening chase sequence, your favorite movie is most likely Transformers and you do not deserve to see the greatness this film beholds. This raw and realistic film is falsely advertised by its trailers; they make it seem like a hardcore action flick, but it turns out to be an intensely character driven story with very minimal, but effective, dialogue that progresses the story at a continuously entertaining pace. The cinematography is some of the best I've seen in years: it seems effortlessly smooth and endlessly creative. The plot is simple, but Refn's execution is, in part, what makes the film ultimately stand out. Another crucial part to what makes this film so enticing is its ruthless depiction of violence. I KNOW that some (actually, a lot of) people are turned away, or dislike, Drive solely because of its graphic violence. These people are dumb; IT'S A MOVIE (not real). The violence is as realistic as it gets, without being over-exaggerated to the point of blood spraying 10 feet into the air in all directions when someone gets stabbed. There ARE some very graphic scenes, but I feel that it's a reflection of the characters (especially Albert Brook's and Ryan Gosling's characters). Most of the film is actually absent of action/violence, in which i was pleasantly surprised by. It's probably a 75/25 split. Overall, if you have any appreciation of good film, you definitely need to see this film. It's amazing and should win a handful of Oscars.… Expand

Overrated. Don't get me wrong, it had it's charms. The soundtrack and cinematography for example, were great, but the dialogue, especially between the male and female leads, was consistently awkward and wooden. It also had way too many excessively artsy shots of Gosling looking contemplative. Plot-wise, it said and accomplished little. The movie really shines during it's driving sequences, and in a few of the action sequences. Overall, it's not bad, but it's not the amazing movie some of the professional critics made it out to be.… Expand

Settle noir, intense violence, and a thrilling yet mysterious story. Though slow at first, the movie picks up right in the middle, and hardly lets up from there on. However, even the slow parts held my attention. It's unfortunate that this film probably will not get the credit it deserves as one of the best films of the year. Amazing performances from the entire cast, and it's a must see for the cult film followers.… Expand

Unbelievable. I can't remember the last time a movie made me want to stand up and cheer when it was over. Heck, I wanted to stand up and cheer after the first five minutes. Everything here is top notch: the acting, the cinematography, the direction, and the action scenes. Don't go in expecting your traditional action movie though, you will probably not get it. This is borderline art house, from the cinematography to the lack of dialogue. This is a movie for people who love great movies or, more specifically, the art of cinema. If that doesn't appeal to you (or you're turned off by relentlessly graphic violence), stay away. Those who haven't been satisfied with giant robots and superheroes this summer should definitely check it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.… Expand

Really, really bad. Totally dull and hard to follow. Script was a paragraph long. Lacked plot. Easily one of the least fulfilling movies of the year.

i really enjoyed this film. the acting was great, cinematography was beautiful, music was great, great direction. the only problem that i had was the writing, i felt that the second half of the movie was lacking something, it just feel complete. that being said, its still a really great movie. i didnt mind the lack of dialogue i think it just help set the mood/tone/atmosphere of the film, or the violence (again helped the mood). this movie isnt for everyone, i think if you liked "The American" with Clooney you might like this the pacing was the same and it too had little dialogue. and if you dont mind the more "realistic" violence (similar to "Eastern Promises" and "A History of Violence") than you should be fine.… Expand

Wow, I can not remember the last time I was so thoroughly disappointed in a film. It would be unfair to insist that this film does everything possible wrong. The shootout in the hotel was fantastically edited. It had just the right punch, but even that was ruined when the driver awkwardly pulls back into the darkness. It might be easier to just list the faults Wooden awkward bland leads. Long horrifically pointless pauses in plot progression Poorly executed pastiche 80's style in a film that takes place in the present. I'd like the think if the film were a half hour shorter and actually took place in the 80's instead of being crudely styled as such in post, it would have been a few notches better. Maybe a 4. But this was horrific. Everything you need to know about this film can be found in the trailer. Gosling blandly recites, "I don't shoot people, I drive" followed by a 3 seconds later cut to him in a gun fight. I cannot remember the last time I attended a film where the bar was set so ridiculously low, and everyone involved failed to reach it. SKIP THIS. the best analogy for this film is as follows. Suppose you would desperately like some gold, and a gentleman, let's call him Nicolas Winding Refn, offers to sell you three pounds of gold at market price. You pay the man, and he hands you a box and runs away. You open the box and find half a pound of gold covered in 2 and a half pounds of feces. That is what this movie is, half a pound of gold, covered in two and a half pounds of feces. I went with two friends, and everyone in the theater hated the film. I haven't lead an entire auditorium in angry laughter like this since Sucker Punch,. It's a film so poor, and so surprisingly well reviewed, that I forced myself to sign up for a metacritic account, just to try and warn people. AVOID THIS FILM LIKE THE PLAGUE!… Expand

I have been a champion of Nicholas Winding Refn's films for a few years, and DRIVE is his best film yet and my new personal favorite film. The film is brutally intimate and subtly beautiful. Gosling's soft spoken almost silent protagonist reminded me of Robert de Niro in Taxi Driver. The amazing synth soundtrack, the long shots of characters faces as the director forces you to feel their emotions, to the amazing use of horrific violence that you a sense of real desperation, DRIVE is a perfect film.… Expand

Not for fans of mindless big explosion movies. This isn't your typical action film. It's pretty artsy in terms of very well done cinematography, not much dialogue from the main character, very still scenes, but it's not bashing you in the face with that. So yes, I do feel like even people who don't really care for art films can still get into it. The movie is well paced and when the mood changes, that when you know **** just got real. It can be disturbing and shocking at times due to the ultraviolence which is quite typical of Refn is you've seen any of his other films, particularly Bronson. Even if you don't like the film you have to admit the acting is VERY well done by everyone.… Expand

Although Gosling has been stronger, more dynamic in other films (Blue Valentine, Lars, Half Nelson), he brings such intensity and subtle emotion to what amounts to a relatively shallow character. Without dwelling on the details of the film to any great extent, I don't think that I haven't seen a film since maybe Hurt Locker that has made my heart feel like it was going to beat out of my chest like this one did. I'm not a fan of Carey Mulligan at all - couldn't stand her in An Education - but she's terrific in an understated role. You never plummet the depths of the driver's soul, but that is unnecessary - I can't imagine anyone else doing what he did here. Jason Statham? Nope. Burt Reynolds? Nah. There's something about the timber of Gosling's voice that just works in a role like this one.… Expand

Rather than discuss the many turns and layers of Refn's crime drama, I'd like to talk about the style of the film and, eventually, the crafty storytelling textures that most likely won't pick up on. First, the brilliant style of the film … Gosling's Driver, for starters, is a sight. He wears a stuntman-styled coat with a scorpion stitched into the back - a subtle nod to the samurai element of the character. Aside from the coat, he blends in - seemingly styled after a Ken doll. As the film's action segments play out, we see the Driver turn from a handsome shadow into a blood-soaked scorpion, striking quickly and confidently at all the right moments, taking down the danger in his way without losing his breath. He moves from person to person, conflict to conflict, each scene lit, framed and composed in a beautiful, poetic manner. The technique in this film is the stuff of legends, Refn and his crew's work standing high above that of the average modern film. If nothing else, the movie is a clinic in lighting, editing and sound design (much of the Driver's emotion is told through the cracking sound of his leather gloves - no joke). We see blood and love and cars. Villains and heroes and victims - and it's all beautifully composed. Mostly, we see Gosling's Driver, an unmarked loner who reminds a bit of the George Clooney character in last year's great The American. We see him fall in love and take care of business. But here's where things get interesting: after the film a friend suggested a new layer. As the story plays we're led to believe that, on the surface at least, the Driver is a normal guy put into extraordinary situations - a naturally cool, calm, collected guy seemingly capable of anything, so as long as it keeps his new love (Irene) out of harm's way. That he handles these intense situations with such grace, precision and confidence seems, again, on the surface, like a dose of Hollywood fantasy. Led by a series of clues throughout the film, my movie-going pals and I figured some things out. If you've seen the film, you'll remember the following bits of information: The Driver just showed up one day, got a job with a semi-connected garage owner, and began working for peanuts; the three additional male principals (Nino, Bernie and Shannon) all share an organized crime-infused history that we're told links back to a Jersey crime family; the Driver leaves the catalyst for the tension in the film (a bag full of unmarked bills) behind with the final bloody body that stood in the way of Irene and Benicio's safety. Those details in mind, we decided that the Driver was planted in L.A. to observe Shannon and his criminal friends - whom we learn feel unappreciated by their Jersey-based bosses. Sure, the Driver was there to put in work, too, but he was more or less a skilled spy, sent by the Jersey family. When the things get messy he acts - not as a quiet man who can drive cars, but as an instinctive and trained driver with a presumed history in the muscle game. One of the shadow men who keep things moving - a deeper variation of the Jackyl character in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. The final scene, featuring a silent performance by Gosling, is the cherry on top. We see the just-stabbed Driver in his car, still, not moving, covered in the blood of himself and the three men who stood in his way. We sit starring at the still screen for a 30-second stretch that feels like an eternity, wondering if our hero is dead. Then, suddenly, the Driver blinks. Then starts his car. Then drives away. Probably towards Jersey. Irene and Benicio are safe; and thus the job is done. We're left sad that the believable love-at-first-sight between Irene and the Driver didn't come to fruition, but moved by the lengths our man went to in order to assure the safety of the films only two pure and innocent characters. The quick blast of love he found flipped a switch that, as movie-goers, we hope helps our man move up, on his way towards a more emotional, connected, human existence. There's more - much more - we could dissect and fawn over. In short, go to this movie; we promise that your film boner will pop through the roof of your car just as soon as your engine revs while driving home. Check out more of my film- and music-related writing at ZeCatalist.com.… Expand

Drive is a milestone in filmmaking. There won't be a film like this in some time. Artistic, Brutal, Sweet, and Poignant. It will no doubt baffle many and I think that's its greatest quality. A maverick tour de force. I consider this film a Masterpiece. It is also in the running for my favorite film of all time.

Drive is total critics bait. Classic case of trying very hard to be loved. One of the worst movies of 2011. Predictable, cliche and overdramatic. Lacked plot.

The way the film was directed caught my attention. I couldn't stop watching it had me hooked from the start! Plus Gosling is extremely good looking and his attitude in the film is irresistible.

Overrated. Started out like it was going to be another Transporter-type movie (a'la Jason Statham) but quickly got boring. Not that it wasn't an interesting, 'different', artsy type of film (minimal dialogue, lots of shots of actors looking into space, drawn out scenes) but I hoped for more action and less boredom.

Do not watch this film. I have never walked out of a movie nor have i fallen asleep in a movie. I nearly did both for the first time while watching Drive. I made the mistake of believing there would be some action in this movie. I was also unimpressed with the "driving" that was done in the film. Anyone that gave this movie a high rating was probably paid to do so.

I thought it was fantastic. Great soundtrack, sleek, low-key, but powerful. Maybe a little over the top w/the violence. But Ryan Gosling was absolute perfection. I can see why some people wouldn't like it, but I personally loved it.

Ryan Gosling scores another winner with this compellingly atmospheric drama/thriller hybrid. Ryan plays an emotionally detached character, Driver, who has a simple 5 minute rule. You hire him, and he's there for you completely for 5 minutes. Anything a minute either side of that, and you are on your own. What a setup! There's not a lot of dialogue from Driver, but what there is is acted out so well and glues you to your seat. The perfectly tuned soundtrack serves as another character in the film, helping to steer the action and heighten the emotion of the film. I can't say that I've ever seen a movie quite like Drive before. Sure, there are some similarities to other movies. The soundtrack alone reminds me of something out of Michael Mann's earlier works. But there's more here than even the pieces of homages to other times could possibly add up to make. There's been discussion about the very 80's lipstick font chosen for the titles of the film. I think this was done purposely, to evoke memories of another time. Drive will transport you away from the everyday into a taut and tense emotional vehicle that will leave you wanting more by the time it all inevitably ends. Highly recommended and not to be missed! See you at the popcorn stand.… Expand

Surprising that anyone commenting on it being a series of meaningless images and boring scenes or mentioning the silences calling them pointless, even bothered to review a film they shouldn't have seen to begin with. It is quite clear that some don't seem to be capable or maybe do not want to understand and look deeper than the obvious, which is the usual for these sorts of art-house films. ‘Drive’ is one in which things don't need to be spoken to be said. One where characters express more through silence, short but poignant dialogue and the interactions they have together, but to know this requires a bit of thought which apparently bores some. At its core it is a dreamlike and contemplative exploration of the serene and the hyper violent. A slow burning character study of the 'scorpion', a man who puts the job and those he cares about above all. When he or they are cornered or threatened he acts out instinctively, which results in his true violent nature. Everything is just below the surface and it all builds up, through a series of quiet and calm moments only to erupt into intense violence and although it means distancing himself from the ones he cares about he chooses to continue to do whatever it takes. Making him a hero, but not in the conventional sense. Refn polishes it all off with a retro gleam to produce an action film for film buffs, one that puts the focus on characters, emotion and atmosphere instead of following the typical Hollywood template of explosions, inane dialogue, nonsensical stories and terrible acting. Be warned, if you are one of the people I mentioned at the beginning, in that you need someone to hold your hand and walk you through a non-stop gauntlet of set piece after set piece to keep your attention or if you require “in your faceâ€� exposition because you are not capable of looking or just do not want to find a deeper meaning behind what’s on the screen and below the surface than this is not for you.… Expand

Excellent! Gosling gives a great performance along with an especially strong supporting cast. Mulligan and Cranston are great and Brooks and Perlman are totally convincing. This movie felt "cool". I was completely focused on the story which reaches moments of tenderness and brutality with great cinematic style and finesse. When I saw Gosling appear in this film, I kept thinking back to the classic veterans of the film industry such as Marlon Brando, James Dean, or Steve McQueen. He completely embodies this role and he does so with a very calm but focused reserve. The score is spectacular and is such an integral part of this story! This one will definitely be in my collection!… Expand

+Gosling is compelling. +The soundtrack is amazing. +Supporting cast is well-acted and adds to the realism. +It is subtle and not mainstream (which can be a good or bad thing depending on the type of movie-goer you are). -The story is good, but had more potential than it used. Overall: Highly recommended for people who can think beyond what's happening on the screen and actually have some intelligence.… Expand

Shot gorgeously, terrific acting, and compelling yet semi-believable chase scenes. I enjoyed the hell out of it. I don't know how this is too "artsy", except in comparison to crap like Transformers or Final Destination. I've seen movies that are too artsy, they definetly exist- most of them are pretentious film festival entries or indie dramas. Worst you could say about Drive is that there are some awkward silences. So yeah, awesome film.… Expand

I just didn't get it. Way too weird and not about a get away driver at all. There is maybe 15 minutes of driving in the whole movie. It was boring and strange.

I, like many others, joined just to review this movie. I have to say I love movies. I love arthouse movies. This movie was not too wierd or "arts-y" for me. The reason for the low score is that it is genuinely awful. I would have given it a 0, but the opening scene is very good, and I liked one other scene. Apart from that, I see absolutely nothing redeeming about Drive. The protagonist is an antisocial personality-vacuum. The love interest and her son are cute but ornamental. The two mob villains are ham-fisted and cliched to a point beyond parody. The audience is given no reason to emotionally invest in the well-being of any characters. There is not a germ of realism in the tacky, tv-movie script. All of which could serve to reinforce the mythology, if that's what this movie is after, but the archetypes aren't strong enough, and the story arc not epic enough to sustain a myth. And, to top it all off, amid all the clumsy writing and un-reality of the script, the filmmakers practically beg to be taken seriously with overlong dramatic pauses and hyper-graphic depictions of violence. It is a superficial, nihilistic, cynical exercise in vanity that seems to want to be taken as deep. It's terrible.… Expand

I suppose my only complaint is the lack of character development, but Refn creates such a wonderful atmosphere ... absolutely incredible film! I just saw the movie tonight and I keep wanting to replay it in my head. I will have to see this one again. I'd also like to ask - why is everyone "not enjoying" Drive because of the brutality? Is this the first Refn film you have seen? Have you never seen a foreign film (Drive is on par with some international violence)? Please go and see DRIVE! It is one of the best films of the year (so far). The story line is probably familiar to most moviegoers, but everything else about the film is so satisfying.… Expand

I registered just to review this movie. Critics are usually always right on but this movie was just awful. I was sitting there waiting for something to happen and it just never did. I was more entertained by "Gigli" and critics hated that movie. The movie did have a few good great scenes. For example the first scene was AMAZING and I thought the movie was going to be great but then there were like 6 bad scenes and another good scene. The movie had maybe 3 good scenes (the first chase scene, the elevator scene, and the crash scene at the beach) but it was not worth the other 2 hours or your money. Stay away and wait for the DVD.… Expand

I thought this movie would be a non-stop action fest but its not anywhere close to that. This is my surprise movie of the year. Good plot, emotional and pretty good acting. I thought Gosling was great in this film, except when it came to dialogue with the female lead, those scenes were awkward. It starts off slow, but when the action picks up, you will be on the edge of your seat, an unpredictable, sleek film… Expand

To understand the appeal of Drive, one has to understand the European mindset. Europe today is manifest by an anti western ideology. That means that there is dislike - enmity, for America, Israel, and of course Jews. Keep in mind that the intellectuals in France, at the Cannes film festival, gave Drive a standing ovation. That is why, for example, there are two conspicuous Jews in the movie. And those Jews manifest every false negative stereotype that Nazi propaganda could come up with. There was no legitimate reason for this in the movie. It was just a cheap gratuitous attempt at Jew bashing. Similarly, all of the characters have a dark side, although they are much more nuanced and human than the two Jews, who are devoid of humanity in this film. There is some laughable concept of cool that these European intellectuals aspire to, including apparently the director and the writer of the screenplay. But however hard they may try, those responsible for Drive did not create a cool movie: Rather a boring, empty, meandering series of images, that never coalesce into anything worthwhile, or exciting. As for the critics that rave about this movie, they are so far out of touch with the average American that they might as well be in Europe, where they too can pretend to be intellectuals out of touch with reality.… Expand

The greatest flaw of "Drive" is not it's obscenely short script, nor is it how cliche and mundane the film is. The biggest flaw is certainly not the acting or cinematography, both are terrific- they make the movie almost bearable. The movie may lack plot, pace and believability. But no- the biggest flaw is far greater than the sum of its parts. It is the desperation. The immense attempt that a young director makes to lure the audience. Pulsing techno, old school pauses that exist for their own sake, slow motion music-video-esk shots that occur at random moments. They are all meaningless. A movie without a plot cannot be saved by artsy fillers. They fail to captivate and create a bigger problem and a larger distraction than the mundane plot does from the unrealistic nature of the film.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have also just created a Metacritic account for the sole purpose of lending my voice to the sane, thinking, critical people who see past the stylish facade and realize that Drive is a bad film. A subterfuge of aesthetics covering up a dull pastiche of cliches. I went in ready to fall in love; neo-noir-ish elements? The Gos? A stylish looking thriller? I figured it couldn't miss. And yes, the first five minutes showed promise. But, for starters, I actually think Gosling did not work in this role; he's very charming and I think this is why people seem to have liked his character. But in reality, all we are given is a mono-syllabic killer; a dull, violent creep. Which is FINE, that could work. Except, it's far from "hero/lover/surrogate dad" mantle that the film is also struggling to hoist on him. A very confused follow-through of what I assume was a pretty great book/initial idea for the film What part did fans like best? The abandoned race car driver subplot that no seemed interested in anyway? The way that Gosling dons a mask for no practical reason to carry out one of his killings? When that other car shows up mid-robbery for no purpose? (oh, they were going to pull the double-cross on the side of the highway? Smart thinking). That Hendrick's role consists solely of getting slapped by our "hero" and then getting her head blown off? Did you like the gritty realism of Carey Mulligan's 90s-emo-pixie-girl-who-also-works-at-Denny's-and-has-a-husband-in-prison aesthetic? It was so beautiful when the Gos turned that guy's head into mush in front of her, wasn't it? Did you like how the characters (besides Gosling who, ooh! has a trademark toothpick! Cool!) explained who they were in tight, little speeches so we all knew where we stood? Albert Brooks's hands are "dirty" too! From all the violence he carries out as a mobster. Get it?! Oh wait, maybe you liked the soundtrack. Ah yes, you know when the chilled out blissful tune plays and the singer says: "A real human being and a real hero,". I just love stuff you don't have to think too much about, you know? (It would be like if in Top Gun, while "Highway to the Danger Zone" was playing, Maverick and Goose were on an actual highway passing a sign that said "Danger Zone, 20 miles away") To like this movie is to be easily fooled or just playing it safe to stay on the right side of the prevailing critical response. And, don't worry, you are not alone if you read these response and started to feel like "Maybe I didn't get it?" But there is nothing to get. I do love that beautiful Gosling, but you know, sometimes the ones we love...… Expand

The first 5 minutes of "Drive" is Worth the price of admission ( 6 bucks, if your askin' ) stylish photography, tense, terse with several brilliant scenes within; but the " Art House Gore" in lieu of a more solid script mars the effort. Rated "R" ( Nudity, language, unsafe driving practices ) "X" for Violence;- - and never, EVER pose a threat to this young mans Girlfriend.

I cannot comprehend how everyone can decry a movie because of its apparent 'artiness.' Movies are art, they are about more than just telling a story and seeing a guy's head implode. The silences are not without purpose, they are really quite powerful. That this move can be so great with so little dialogue says loads about the direction and acting. This is by no means a boring movie. I guess some people lack the intelligence to understand the subtleties of this truly brilliant movie.… Expand

I've always found the ratings on Metacritic to be reliable -- but not this time. Like some other have said, the opening scene is very well done, and sets the stage for an action-thriller. I thought the movie would play more on the Jekyll-Hyde motif -- a stunt driver by day and an off duty getaway driver for heists. Instead he meets "the girl" 5 minutes into the movie and soon we see him playing "temporary step dad" to her son. These scenes with the three of them seem to go on forever and at the same time go nowhere. What follows is an array of confusing and brutally violent scenes, with the love story taking a back seat. In sum, the story is not well developed...period. I suspect the "art lovers" giving this movie high ratings are the type who like to go to art galleries to see paintings with random splotches. If that's your thing, enjoy! I will give props to Gosling -- he was very intriguing from the opening but unfortunately wasn't given the story to build his character on.… Expand

if you have a soul, this movie will grip you from beginning to end. it burns a hole in your stomach with anticipation and fills it with hope. heartbreaking and honest.

I can see why the critics would love this movie. It is different and generally speaking, that already scores high with critics. I did not enjoy it, but not because it was different. The rhythm is uneven, the score good but soundtrack doesn't work. The script clearly aims for "gritty and real" rather than the holywoodish "witty and snappy" but the result is boring instead of interesting. The title is misleading because there is very little actual street driving, people should know that. But really, for me, the key element for the story to work which is the love between the two main characters is just never credible. Without a foundation, no building can remain standing, no matter how pretty the curtains or how different the layout is.… Expand

I joined after my disappointment in this movie given that IMDB gave it an 8.4. Hopefully this site will be more objective. Terrible movie, I thought I was in an episode of Miami Vice from the 80's. Gosling is more wooden than Keanu Reeves, Bryan C. had too small a role as did Ron Perleman. This movie isn't worth even downloading. uggg

"Drive" is different. It's a modern western with extremely violent death scenes. It reminded me of Sergio Leone's westerns with the nameless hero at center, cleaning up the mess left behind by very bad people. While Eastwood's Blondie was a silent type without expression, but still likeable, Gosling's nameless hero is pretty silent, but impressively expressive at the same time. He goes through all the motions with real emotion, and even though none of his back story appears, we know that he has a dark past that has driven him into the underworld, into hiding from something terrible, something that always comes back to haunt him. Albert Brooks is surprisingly effective as a cold, cold bastard. I admit getting a little tired of Carey Mulligan, that sweet wife with the sweet kid, and an unfortunate husband. However, I understood why she was important. The characters seemed emotionally invested in each other, which added context to the action. And what an action. The driving was not disappointing, nor the heavy brutality of the killings, which were just as ugly as brutal as killings must be. Nothing attractive about the violence in this film. When watching Ryan Gosling, I feel there is finally an actor comparable with the great Jimmy Stewart. He can both act sweet and cruel, desperate and calm, and at every moment believable. Without Gosling, this would have been just another action movie about a loner seeking justice in an unjust world.… Expand

Drive is, hands down, the single most exciting and involving film to come out all year. The best part is, you also can't really figure out what makes it so engaging. It just is. Too many films think. This once acts.

I have registered on Metacritic specifically for the purposes of reviewing this "movie". This horrible junk is not a movie and definitely is not entertainment. I can say with absolute honesty that I attempted to give this movie the benefit of the doubt, but no saving grace presented itself. I am willing to say that this is THE worst movie I have ever seen in my life. There was very little action, and the romance wasn't there either. I don't know how this movie was produced and I am in complete shock towards how utterly awful this experience truly was. Marijuana wouldn't even save this film, you would have to be high on acid, and even that might not work. I generally understand where the critics come from when rating movies but they are the polar opposite of right about this movie. Many people actually left the theatre about 60% of the way through and I was seriously considering following their lead. I feel like I wasted enough time watching that movie and I don't feel like wasting more going into heavy detail about everything this movie did wrong. If you are considering seeing this movie: DON'T.… Expand

Pretentious, conceited, contrived, hollow and boring. This film has no redeeming features. Anyone who enjoys this film clearly has an extremely limited knowledge of films. True 'arty' films such as Requiem for a Dream and A Scanner Darkly show what can be achieved with cinematography and a different approach to the formulaic construction of most Hollywood films. Drive merely shows how poorly a film can turn out when the director loses sight of the plot and focuses too much on being different. The result is a film where you feel nothing for the good-as-mute characters, lackluster driving scenes, gratuitously violent, yet brief, action scenes, a nonsensical plot as well as around 20 minutes of unnecessary silence. In short, Drive is a truly awful film.… Expand

Every once in a while, a film comes along that cannot be compared to anything else you have ever seen before. This is one of those films. Drive is truly one of a kind. Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson) uses his talents and unique vision to tell a story with style and substance. He has made an artsy action film that lets music tell part of its story while always being visually exciting. Ryan Gosling plays a guy who only goes by Driver. He is quiet and keeps to himself. By day, he works in a garage for Shannon (Bryan Cranston) and works part-time as a Hollywood stuntman. At night, he is a getaway driver and uses his special skills behind the wheel to get the bad guys to safety. He is a loner by nature and has his own way of doing things. He has specific rules that people must follow before he takes a job and lends his services. And there is no mistaking on what he expects from them or himself, and he makes sure you definitely understand what he is telling you. But even for a guy like Driver, he cannot help but fall in love with his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), a young mother whose husband (Oscar Issac) gets out of prison and drags all of them in to a very messy situation. Due to how he feels about Irene and her son, Driver helps her husband with a heist that is to clear his debt once and for all. But it goes horribly wrong and he soon finds out there are more than a few people involved who want the bag of cash, including a gangster (Albert Brooks) who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. This leaves Driver, a man who has only had to worry about himself, shifts it in to gear to clean the streets up and protect Irene and her son, the two people he has ever cared for. There is not one ounce of bad acting in this film. All of the performances are amazing, but Gosling, Mulligan, and Brooks bring something to the table that no one else can. Mulligan has shown how good she can be in every single film she is in. If you need proof then watch An Education and Never Let Me Go. As Irene, she is a sincere, compassionate woman and mother who gets put in a tough spot due to her husband’s past. And she is the only one who is able to breakthrough and actually gets to see who Driver really is as a person and a man. And who would have known that an actor/comedian could be one of the most violent gangsters to ever grace the screen. This is a complete leap for Brooks and it pays off extremely well. He plainly admits that he has had to do some stuff that he may not be proud of, but that would do it all over again if it was necessary. And we finally get to see for ourselves what he is capable of doing and it isn’t pretty. What a year Gosling has had and it’s not over yet. He still has one more film to come out this year (Ides of March which is directed by George Clooney), but with Blue Valentine, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and now Drive, he is a limitless actor that can do it all. His character loves to drive. That is what he lives for. That is who he is. But his world becomes a little bigger once he meets Irene. He begins to open up and show a side that maybe he has never shown anyone before. We do not know anything about his past, but we soon realize violence may play a part in it. Driver seems to never lose his cool behind the wheel, but something snaps inside of him that turns him in to a very dangerous man. It is scary and thrilling to watch Gosling go from one level to another and there are definitely some tense scenes in the film that show this. After seeing his gripping performance in this, Gosling is confident in what he can do and I only look forward to what he does next. Drive is intelligent, riveting, and simply cool as hell. Refn gives the film a retro look and feel to it that makes it slick and that much more appealing. And while the film has a slow, patient pace, once the violence begins, there is no turning back. It gets brutal and bloody in a hurry and it’s exhilarating to see it break loose on-screen. Drive has compelling, powerful performances and is an adrenaline-rush thrill ride from beginning to end. There is nothing else like it out there and is certainly one of the best films of the year. You understand?… Expand

The Film is a masterpiece and the best movie of the year. This film has it all, a love story, great symbolism, suspense and a well paced out film. However what is so impressive about the film is the style it chose. The director chose an artsy style and tone to dominate the screen. The film should be just another fast and the furious film but no it is much smarter and very well done. Ryan Gosling's performnace is one of the keys to the film. He stays true to his character the entire film. He does not speak often which emphacises all the words he does say. We don't learn about the driver through his words but instead through his actions.… Expand

Remove the excessive violence and it would be a cool picture. What disturbs me is that the kind of violence I find nauseating seems perfectly acceptable to a generation raised on exceeding graphic violence found in video games. I was almost physically sickened by the director's last movie Valhalla Rising and nothing about the rest of that movie made up for the violence. This movie had a human element and relationships that were compelling but the violence was simply too much. Not a director that I want to see more of since apparently this type of violence is his trademark… Expand

if you go into this film expecting a high-octane, 80’s B-movie inspired, violent action thriller, that’s what you get; if you expect an aesthetically European art-house flick, that’s also what you get. This is the stuff movie buff dreams are made of. Read my full review at: http://themuddoctor.blogspot.com/2011/09/drive.html

One of the best movies I've seen in a long while. Possibly my favorite movie. Incredibly stylish, has a phenomenal score, has a creative and brilliant plot, and does a great job of character development, besides the driver. The driver has no backstory. The driver has no name. The driver is a mystery, and that adds to the movie incredibly. This film isn't an action flick, it isn't a drama, its a genre-less movie, but thats a good thing. This film is incredibly gorey, so if you can't stand a little blood, I don't recommend this for you. Otherwise, you are in for a treat.… Expand

The driver in Drive is just that, he drives. He has no past and even no name. One would guess prison was a part of his past but that is just a guess. The driver only has two distinguishing characteristics, he is extremely adept behind the wheel of a car and he wears a strikingly odd white jacket with an orange scorpion on the back. The scorpion’s meaning is somewhat explained and furthers a philosophical undercurrent in Drive which is not apparent in the previews. The audience I saw Drive with on a late Saturday night opening weekend started to laugh at the screen and mock the actors, the direction, and the jacket. Their expectations did not match what was unfolding on the screen. They expected multiple car chases between the driver and the cops, backstabbing crooks, and action sequences just for the sake of action sequences. Well, those clichés are not here and it transforms what would have been just another Gone in 60 Seconds to a film which operates on a different, more introspective plane. The actors in Drive are well known as true actors who respect their craft: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, and Albert Brooks. Gosling has shown his chops before with The Believer, Half Nelson, and Lars and the Real Girl and might have the fewest lines of dialogue ever by a film’s main character. Carey Mulligan, still resonant from An Education, pulls off a sympathetic next door neighbor who needs the driver’s help even though she may not know it. Bryan Cranston is assigned a more stock character and Albert Brooks who usually plays bumbling schlubs gets a turn as an antagonist for once. The only sour note is Ron Perlman who just plays an extension of his Sons of Anarchy character. This script requires true actors to flesh it out. Scenes with words are few and far between so that facial expressions say more in conversations than dialogue does, especially between Gosling and Mulligan. There is a reason you will not see Jennifer Aniston and Ryan Reynolds in Drive; there is now way they could just sit in a room, stare at each other, and talk to each other with their eyes and cheek bones. Drive’s director, Nicolas Winding Refn, won Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival for one reason, necessity. If the film does not need it, it is not there. For example, when the driver is waiting outside while a robbery is going on inside, there is no sound. If you were waiting in a car with the radio off, it would be exceptionally quiet, just like in the film. There is no background noise, no radio on, nothing. The audience was absolutely quiet right along with the film straining to hear what was going on in the building next door. Refn could have extended the car chase scenes with more screeching tires, made the scenes between Gosling and Mulligan more romantic, and turned down the accompanying existential philosophy. By choosing not to do these things is why he won Best Director. Existential is the most apt word to describe the driver. He gives his own life meaning and purpose. His background is never brought up once, but something in his past has shaped his actions. He lives his life sincerely despite the myriad distractions of obviously crooked associates, menacing goons, and the unfamiliar terrain of romantic feelings towards a woman. What truly makes Drive so good is all of the pitfalls it avoids by just focusing the camera on Gosling on Mulligan and letting it go from there. Mainstream audiences looking for standard car chases and fist fights on a Saturday night will not understand Drive; the philosophical undercurrents here make them uncomfortable. Drive is for those who appreciate diving in a bit deeper rather than wading in the cliché kiddy pool.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So I just came home from watching a late night screening of this film. First thing off the bat, there was almost no dialogue between the protagonist and central characters. Even the "Bad Guys" and side characters seemed to have more dialogue. In general there was barely any dialogue in the entire movie, as a matter of fact. Does that take away from movie? That is debatable. This film seems to portray crime in a very negative light, from my perspective. The beginning is mellow and shows the inherent goodwill of the protagonist "Driver", and his attempts to protect those he cares about. The film really did a good job creating the bonds between these characters - the driver, Irene and her son. Halfway through the movie, I was thinking "Wow, they've set this up well. Here comes the action part." I was thinking that much like other thrillers like "Taken", the back story had been set up and the movie would become more fast-paced. After all, it's supposed to be an action movie. To my dismay, it was still slow, not much action but very gruesome. If you're looking for your standard popcorn action movie this is simply not it. The ending of this movie was sudden and left many loose ends. The movie had a message, but it wasn't much to end on. Secondly, the ending was very anti-climatic and dull. Overall, I found this movie entertaining. The soundtrack always seemed to fit in nicely, the cinematography, and slow motion sequences were great. But, ultimately it left something to be desired. Left the theater with a mixed "meh" feeling. 6/10… Expand

This movie was the worst movie I've seen all summer, and that's saying something considering how abysmal the selection of new movies has been over the last 3 months. I give the first 5 minutes of the movie a 10, but the rest gets a 0...so it averages out to less than 1, but I decided to be generous and round up. I was in a similar theater to the ones other reviewers mentioned....the EXCESSIVELY pregnant pauses at bewildering points in the movie go so far beyond creating thoughtful contemplation in the viewers that eventually they begin to moan or laugh every time there is this awkward silence. And I need to emphasize how awkward and unrewarding you feel after 5 or so of these occurrences. It's as if your friends invite you to a party on your birthday...you show up expecting a surprise, but you open the door to a dark house. After standing there uncomfortably for 20 seconds, you flick on the light to see everyone has already eaten their cake (or, rather, stomped it into a puree in the back of an elevator), then they all walk past you to leave.… Expand

I was looking forward to the movie after reading critic reviews and seeing the cast. I am sorry but I do not get it. i do not understand what all of the critics are raving about. Maybe they saw another movie called Drive because they could not of seen the movie I saw today. Slow, boring, predictable, horrible script, bad music and sound editing, poor acting... That about sums up what I can honestly say is the worst movie I have seen since Joe and the Volcano. And ever patron in the theater seemed to be of the same opinion. IF you must see it, wait for it to come out on pay per view so you can turn it off in the comfort of your own home. Cinematography as nice...… Expand

Trash of a film. I repeat. Trash. Horrible. Great acting, but NO PLOT! Lacks so, so much. Worst movie of the year thus far. As fulfilling as starting at a wall.

The director made more of a homage to film noir than a film. Its all mood and style, with little dialogue worth mentioning. By far the most maddening aspect is how little is said. Gosling just stares, nods his head, shows a supposedly knowing gaze that the director feels is enough communication. Well, no. The violence is gross and jarring in an uncool way. It detracts from the movie because you get tired of being led around by one music sequence after another. This is a long boring music montage stitched together with a few words and dull gazes.… Expand

Just a beautifully photographed film and the music/sound effects...one of the most stimulating sound tracks in recent years. The lighting and overall compositions give the film a kind of depth of meaning that is seldom seen in mainstream films anymore. Having said all that, I found the ending a tad unsatisfying and I have to admit that the main character's laconic-ism got a little annoying towards the end! Okay, yes, his actions and facial expressions (and, again, the compositions) speak volumes about his interior angst but my goodness at some point we need some actual (cathartic) expression as well! Still, loved it....… Expand

This movie is truly amazing! The acting is top notch and the soundtrack is one of the greatest that I have ever heard. I've been reading alot of negative reviews mainly because it was boring and didn't have enough action or some stupid crap. Well if your one of those people than yes go see transformers 3 because it will for sure have more action. This movie is purely psychological and most of the acting is expressed through emotion so you do not have much dialogue. However, i think that is what makes it so unique. I've never seen anything as cool as Drive in a long time. I bought the soundtrack ASAP and that night listened to it while driving in my car at excessive speeds. Awesome! See it!… Expand

I am loving Ryan Gosling and I really enjoyed this movie. The action (gore) scenes were taut especially in contrast to the "long awkward pause" scenes. The cinematography was great and really made you feel like you were in the scene. Great characters! Albert Brooks (?), yes, it worked! The one thing that bothered me was the soundtrack, which I am usually totally unaware of, that seemed to well up and remind you that you were watching a movie.… Expand

Hands down best movie I've seen this year, no doubt! This movie has it all: well thought out story, good action scenes, amazing soundtrack and great actors. Ryan Gosling totally ruled as the nameless main character.

Great Film, and a damn good soundtrack. If Albert Brooks doesn't get nominated for at least a Globe, it would be a crime. Love the way it maintains a love story through so much violence, I mean Ryan Gosling gives the man in the elevator a beating of a lifetime.

DRIVE started out with such promise, then quickly derailed - or should I say - went off the road, crashed and burned...? It's really a shame, too. It was trying to be a masterpiece, in the vein of KILL BILL, which coincidentally, I happened to watch once again a week before seeing DRIVE. DRIVE is no KILL BILL. Thank you, Quentin Tarantino, for reminding me of how great you are! In the end I found DRIVE pretentious. And poor Carey Mulligan. So underutilized. As for Ryan Gosling's character, what's his name?...Oh, that's right, he had no name!… Expand

Interesting look into a scarred anti-social individual who only feels alive, at first, when he exercises his automotive skills. The lack of dialog between the two leads was hard for me to accept, but the attraction and distance they maintained seemed real. Movie looked great, soundtrack unique, acting by all impressive. Three excruciatingly violent scenes that only mirror the lack of humanity in the world these characters inhabit.… Expand

Great great great movie, do not be fooled by the negative reviews by users self proclaimed "critics", they clearly have no idea what are talking about. 100 minutes passed like a moment, it is been a long time since I had this experience. Stylish, interesting, now it is officially in my top movies of all times list :)

Drive is a movie where you will either love it, or hate it, depending on how well you can tolerate arthouse films. So be prepared(If you ever watch the movie), to see a bunch of scenes where the characters just stare at each other rather than actually talking to one another. Specifically Gosling's character and Mulligan's character. So there's not that much dialogue especially within the first 30 minutes. Even though I'm not a fan of arthouse movies, I loved this one. Though, the title and the way this is being marketed as is very misleading. I expected a movie with tons of action and cool car chasing scenes. That is not this movie. There's little action and really only two car chasing scenes. This movie focuses on the relationship between Gosling's character and Mulligan's character, for about the first hour. Then the last 40 minutes is just a lot of killing, a lot of the killings are graphic and extremely gory. The acting is terrific, the cast does a wonderful job but the two that stuck out the most were Gosling and Mulligan, surprisingly. They were both exceptional, and the chemistry between them was great. I just wish that they could have added another scene or two with Gosling's character and Irene(Mulligan) hanging out together or driving somewhere together to really make the relationship seem even more believable and stronger. I also wish that they would have given Gosling's character a name, he's only referred as "Driver" or "The Driver." I can see why they did that, I suppose it's probably better that they didn't give him a name but it would have been nice of them to give us a name. I admit I was pretty skeptic when I first heard Gosling playing this type of role, he proved me wrong. I actually can't picture anyone else doing this role but him. He ended up replacing Hugh Jackman, that was probably the best decision ever. I could not picture Hugh Jackman pulling off this type of role the way Gosling did. The story is simple and it kind of annoys me that people are saying this movie sucks because there was hardly a story. Sometimes a movie with a simple story can turn out to be an amazing film based on how well it's told and done. Other times a movie with a simple story can turn out to be total crap(Transformers Revenge of The Fallen). I mean no one seemed to care how Avatar hardly had a story, hell I didn't even care and I liked it. I didn't mind the simple story here because the movie was done so well. It was nicely shot especially during the two car chasing scenes. I especially liked the first car chase scene because you never left the car, it was filmed inside the car the whole time so it was nice to feel like you were part of that experience. The soundtrack for this movie was amazing, if the soundtrack for this movie is not nominated for best score I'm going to be upset. I loved the nice 80's like retro songs. Each song fit perfectly with each scene, and set a nice tone throughout the movie. I especially loved the song "A Real Hero" by College. That song just fit so perfectly with Gosling's character and actually added some depth to his character. Though the ending might have been disappointing for some, I liked the way it ended, and let me tell you it's not your normal Clichéd happy ending. It was actually very sad and different. People also seemed to complain about how awkward it was when Gosling and Mulligan stared at each other a lot without saying anything. I can see why people felt that way but it was really only awkward the first time they met and hung out together. Isn't that normal though? They both start to like each other but they're nervous so they stare, smile and laugh at each other. I think it added some realism to this movie. Another thing that seemed to bother people was that Gosling hardly said anything during the movie, especially when he was with Irene(Mulligan). This is true, but they purposely did that. He was originally suppose to talk a lot but they decided to cut away most of his lines, to make him seem more mysterious. I think it was a smart idea of them to do this, it fit well with the movie, and it gives you a chance to try and figure his character out yourself. What was his childhood like? What got him into driving? How did he learn to drive so well? Ect. There's really no wrong answers to those questions and I actually thought about this movie for about a week after I saw it, hell I'm still thinking about it. I think I went overboard with reviewing this movie, I could continue to go on forever talking about this movie and everything that I loved about it but I won't. People who disliked this movie are probably going to think I was on crack while I was watching it but this is a great movie.… Expand

Like many others, I registered an account here to add to the negative reviews. I cannot understand what it is about Drive that people enjoyed. At all. I am baffled by the overwhelmingly positive reviews and praise for its "suspense" and "tension". Not once did I feel even a slight interest or attachment to any character, which I realized about ten minutes in, and hoped would change. Nope. I had gone to see this with another person, at a little independent theater, and at one point thought about walking out. Based on the gasps and chuckles and jolts of the surrounding move-goers, I think I was the only one in that little independent theater who hated what she saw. Drive is incredibly boring, unimportant, unimpressive, unemotional, and absolutely pointless. I wouldn't bother giving it another view, and wish I could take back the one I had.… Expand

Drive was brilliant. The themes it revisits still resonate, especially with men and with those well versed in film. The existential (anti)hero, the man with no name with a past, unrevealed, with a death wish on one final redemptive mission, brilliantly shot, acted and scored. The style is slick, 80s like, the violence stylized, cool, heartless, surreal, like Ballard. Gosling is perfect. The performance channels McQueen. The screenplay also kills, like a Paul Schrader, revisiting the light sleeper. The chase scenes were amazing, like Bullitt or The 7UPs, blissfully free of CGI. Great techno soundtrac to boot. Captures the Ballardian dystopia nicely. Best film I've seen in the last few years and would see it again.… Expand

Usually I agree with the critics, but this one was way off. Why would anyone pay to see people on screen doing nothing, intersperced with blood & violence. Did the writers take a week off? I go to a movie to take a break from reality, to be drawn into the story. How can one be drawn into a film with no dialogue and a bunch of brooding, poor attempts to trying to look pensive? I hate that I wasted my money and time on this lame film.… Expand

You know, considering that I walked out of "Drive" weak at the knees, with my heart still pounding in a worrying fashion and my hands sore from clenching them together for a good hour or so; I find it completely baffling that this movie's reception is as polarizing as it is with regular audiences. I think of this as one of the most intense action films made in a good long time, but most can't seem to get past the meditative exposition at all, so much the relatively simple plot structure (which, again, completely baffles me: action movies have no dire need to be as needlessly convoluted as "Transformers" or the "Star Wars" prequels; everyone needs a little "Die Hard" sometimes). It's at the point where I think there's a mutual hatred of the movie based off of its unique direction and popularity with critics. To put it bluntly: if you believe that anyone whose review score is lower than three, you are sadly mistaken. The movie is directed extremely well -- it is a very clean, very tight action film that contrasts the quiet nature of the movie's dialogue with the EXTREME violence (and I do mean extreme -- this is Peckinpah violent). Basically, if you want an action movie that is a little bit different from run-of-the-mill stuff, watch Drive.… Expand

The opening scene from Nicolas Refn's "Drive", in which Gosling's character is working as a getaway driver, set the premise for what I thought would be a great film. Instead, it marked the pinnacle of its discontinued merit. Firstly, throughout the movie it was apparent that the director was attempting to create a quasi-80's film feel; from the pink cursive font (Dirty Dancing, Risky Business) to the intermittently permeating synthetic music, to the formulaic and overly used montage scenes. Refn's use of these cliched devices contributed to a consistent tone of awkwardness and banality. Secondly, from the cinematographic style, to the multiple metaphors and motifs, to the utilization of silence as a recurring theme, to the character development; all felt forced into the film and thoughtlessly used. It is clear that Refn understood that all of these cinematic elements were necessary for a powerful film, and yet used them too frequently and without subtlety. Lastly, while it seems that Refn often attempted to emphasize silence and characterize through plain dialogue, it often left many scenes feeling unnecessary and artificial. I understand what ideas Refn might have been attempting to convey by directing Drive, but instead of providing insight into the human condition, he ended up making a movie that was chaotic and which appeared messy on many levels. Perhaps Refn was inspired to put too much into one feature length film, or perhaps he just could not decide what kind of movie he wanted to make, but Drive turned out to be unsubtle, fragmented, and lacking the necessary flow to allow the viewer to achieve the necessary; suspension of disbelief.… Expand

More than just an action movie, this film is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Gosling gives one of the greatest performances of his career and of the year, period. Far more substance than I was originally anticipating, with the stellar performances tied to extraordinary writing. Don't even get me started on how amazing the soundtrack is. This is the best action movie I've ever seen, and one of the best pictures of the year, without a doubt.… Expand

Most antisemitic movie you will see all year. Every Jewish character (the religion of no other characters are mentioned) is a Nazi-style stereotype of money grubbing, immorality and nearly laughable degeneracy. Albert Brooks should walk in shame to have participated in this garbage.

The story was pretty interesting, and they released the film at the right time: when not many other great films are coming out. If this film was released when the hobbit or the dark knight rises comes out, this wouldn't stand a chance. Well worth a watch though.

While I wish more movies would do things differently and take more risks, Drive is a movie that while being different - did NOT work. The opening scene was promising but the rest of the movie contained mis-chosen music, unnecessary use of slow motion, and a boring use of dialog. Drive's story was not special or innovative, I cared little for it's characters or it's situations which is the key for a movie's success. Pass on this one.…… Expand

I don't understand why this movie has so many haters. The movie's remarkable and I've watched it with pleasure. Every take was well thought out. Play of lights, positions of actors, their gestures and facial expressions where charming. Someone said there is lack of dialogs. I don't agree - the action was focused on a driver who has been played rather as a silent person but with strong personality. These tricks I mentioned above were enough to tell me a full plot. And the storyline was really absorbing.… Expand

Drive is the best movie I have seen in years. Fantastic direction, beautiful cinematography and impeccable acting. Don't be confused though, Drive is not an action movie; if you are expecting to see a super fast driving/heist movie, avoid this movie at all costs and go watch the fast and the furious or even The Town (which I really enjoyed). Drive is an arthouse movie disguised in the trailers as a genre piece. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys watching experimentation in film and cinematic style… Expand

A technical and dramatic powerhouse. This is the best film so far of 2011. The opening action sequence in downtown LA is the best cinematic representation of Modern Los Angeles I have ever seen. Top Notch filmmaking across the board. Ryan Gosling actually built his car for the film, loaded with precise details and outstanding creative choices. This is a film that will be highly valued decades from now.… Expand

Drive is a fairly sophisticated and barren piece of movie-art. The violence and crime progressively gets rather disturbing at the end but it is always appropriate and done in thoughtful style; the silent and laid-back main character (Driver) adds further authenticity which results in an even mood throughout the entire film and leaves you thinking that the Michael Bay or Gore Vorbiski type of movie should probably be worried as Drive might be a replacement for this; further installments will let us know.… Expand

Drive is unlike any heist film/thriller I have ever seen...in a good way. It's full of intensity and left me riveted from the opening scene until the very end. The best part of the movie is Ryan Goslings amazing performance which goes against the action hero norm and then there is Albert Brooks who's bad guy portrayal will hopefully earn him a deserved Oscar. The movie moves at a rather slow pace but it somehow maintains the same level of tension throughout due to a job well done by director Nicolas Winding Refn. The movie is also complemented by an amazing soundtrack and great cinematography. But I have to warn you that this is not an action movie with tons of explosions, expensive visual effects, or the occasional comic relief so stay away from this movie if that's what your looking for. If your looking for a well acted and well told alternative to the big blockbuster action movies, this is your kind of film.… Expand

Drive was brutal, artistic and poetic. The love story is intriguing. A heist goes wrong movie is never be the same in collaboration between Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn. And also the neon sign soundtrack was cool.

Cool. Ryan Gosling is almost frustratingly quiet at times in this film, but the coolest characters are often those who use their words sparingly. Very solid movie experience with great action sequences, definitely worth your time.

DRIVE is clearly the best film of 2011 .From the start to end its the most silent amusement one can ever have . The whole movie is so amazing . Ryan's acting was clearly his best and 2011's best actor . Albert Brooks was damn good in his role . Also Carey , Bryan , Oscar ,Perlman did their best work .Nicolas Winding Refn's directing was so wonderful and tnx coz you remind us once again that Film-Nori is not dead, its still out there and still the best film genre ever. The whole film has a flow which gave me a great example of film making . Now , Soundtrack .... I have never liked a Original Motion Picture Soundtrack this much . Its just incredibly amazing . Tnx so much Cliff Martinez for the best ethereal electronic-pop score ever . I am Putting DRIVE in the top position of 2011 films and probably gonna watch it hundred of times when DVD's or Blu-Ray gonna released . Tnx Nicolas Winding Refn , Ryan , Cliff Martinez and rest of the cast and crew and Producers , Hossein Amini , James Sallis, Newton Thomas Sigel , Matthew Newman for this Amazing film .… Expand

An arthouse film with shameless but aplomb violence, Refn's Drive gripped audiences with shock and adrenaline of the paced sequences and Gosling's portrayal of a cool driver. He may not be similar to the legends McQueen and De Niro but Gosling delivered high caliber style to a dwindling genre of car chase and machismo.

What a pathetic piece of crap! I want my 100 minutes of life back. Absolutely no direction, story, script, acting, direction, or character development. What the hell were the film makers thinking? There are movies so great you don't find words to describe them, but this movie is so drab, I don't have words to describe it. Why 3 points then? Well, charity! I am not as hard-hearted a man, after all.

Interesting enough to keep your attention with art-house stylings and sporadic scenes of ultra violence, but the odd pacing and weak performances left me disappointed. I certainly expected more driving, given the title and trailer. There was no sex, and the foul language, which I generally appreciate, seemed forced and unnatural. The acting was good not great. In the end I didn't really care about any of the characters. I love violent action and drama movies, and I had high hopes for this one, but I left the theater feeling shorted. I guess I'm in the minority on this one, given the reviews.… Expand

This is definitely a polarizing film as you can see from the scores so far. I'm still trying to figure out if it's a film I really like. It's definitely more an art house film so there will be plenty of people expecting a straight up car chase movie and this won't be for them. But it's an interesting take on an action film and contrary to others I think the acting was excellent. The long pauses are supposed to be uncomfortable. The most disturbing thing of all was the young boy sitting through the most violent movie I've seen in a long time if ever. I cannot believe parents (who were warned by staff) would ever bring their child to this movie. The violence was too much for me, In Canada this is not R rated - and I don't know what would be if this isn't.… Expand

What a strange movie. People just stare at each other for what seems like hours before they speak, if they speak at all. I thought the film was going to be driving and chase scenes, and there were a couple of those, but it is mostly a quasi mob movie. It is VERY slow in parts. It is strange seeing Albert Brooks in a mobster role. Every time he spoke I thought of the father fish in Finding Nemo! All the actors, including Brooks, do a good job, however. There were some great scenes in the movie (the opening drive sequence, the motel shoot-out), and some ridiculous scenes (the mask, some of the dialogue, the music/songs, the elevator kiss, people's reactions to things), but at least the movie is different and not the usual predictable Hollywood fair. Lastly, this is a very violent, gory movie. It goes from very serene to explosive quickly. Overall I recommend it, the good outweighs the bad.… Expand

Mediocre. I didn't go in expecting action, i knew it will be a slow-paced, artistic movie. However, i expected more both on the psychological part and on the emotional part. It was dull and mediocre on all levels, except for the artistic part, visually, i found it very good. Good actors too.

Brutal, slow, and pathetic with good acting from Brian but a movie with no plot, or life. Boring parts, gory parts but all in all, all parts of this movie waste your time and money. I would rather have stayed home and played with the dog, as would the dog. In my opinion one would have to be paid by the studios to give this movie a good review. Worst movie I have seen in many years.

"Modern film noir" may seem internally contradictory, but it aptly describes "Drive," which is at the same time an homage to many of the cliches of film noir, but also so ultra violent that it would not have been made during film noir's heyday. Other than the violence, it is straight down the middle film noir. It was definitely worth seeing. But there are some major logical problems with the story (e.g., organized crime bosses who are constantly unguarded and who do all their own dirty work or the main character, who is one step ahead of everybody until the end, when something happens that everyone but him knows is going to happen). Those logical story issues aside, it is a highly stylized film that is really fun to watch. Gosling is great in the movie, and there are great supporting performances by Albert Brooks and Carrie Mulligan. But the music is (with one distinct exception) so annoyingly out of place that it is distracting in a way that one would not have expected from an otherwise well crafted film.… Expand

I'll summarize this movie in a few short words: The actors are great. The music is fantastic. The camera is excellent. The rest is just for idiots. .............................................................................