Grade: A

Drive is the latest film from critically acclaimed director Nicolas Winding Refn. This drama stars Ryan Gosling as a stunt driver who acts as a wheelman on the weekends to make some extra bucks. When a job goes wrong and puts him in a position he doesn’t like Gosling’s character turns it into over drive in attempt to regain control.

If you’ve seen the previews for the film, you may think it looks like your run of the mill fast car action movie. You may even think it looks like a rip off of The Transporter. It is absolutely nothing like either. I would consider it more along the lines of a violent drama. It’s very violent, but action wouldn’t be the correct term for it. I was honestly surprised at the level of on screen violence.

The story itself was solid and fresh and Gosling proves yet again why he’s one of the best actors of our generation. He says maybe 2 sentences in the first half hour of the film, and that’s all he needs to. Not many actors could have pulled that off, then do a 180 and go all crazy on some mob members.

The film has a bit of an 80′s throw back vibe to it. The music was a big part of that vibe and I wasn’t exactly keen on the soundtrack. To me it took away from it. I honestly wonder what the movie would feel like with a different set of tunes. When you choose to lay a music track over your movie, you’re setting a tone, and I was a little confused why Refn chose these songs. I guess this may make me simple minded.

However it doesn’t mean I thought any less of the films core story, which I still found to be fantastic. I’d even go as far as to say I smell some Oscar Nods in the future. Best Lead Actor, Best Director, Best Film, and Best Lead Actress. Both Ryan Gosling & Carey Mulligan are no strangers to the nominee list.

I am anxious to go ahead and check out some of director Nicolas Refn’s past work. I’m apparently late to jump on his bandwagon.