When it comes to contemporary filmmaking, Ryan Gosling has asserted himself as a dynamic and mesmerizing screen presence. From the black comedy in The Nice Guys to heartfelt drama of La La Land and the commercially successful Barbie movies, Gosling's portfolio is incredibly varied yet excellent. Yet, among all these incredible performances, one film stands out as his best work: the 2011 thriller Drive _ Now, supporters can get this creation on Netflix UK.
Drive is a 2011 neo-noir action film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn from a screenplay written by Hossein Amini and adapted from James Sallis's 2005 novel of the same name. The main protagonist of the film is the mysterious Driver Gosling, whose name,occupation – a professional driver, remains unknown. But he is not a full-time driver; during the day, he is a mechanic and also performs stunt in movies. This duality of life creates conflict and suspense that serves as a foundation for an engaging story.
Gosling is just superb in his artistic depiction of the sensitive yet wordless character called Driver. His personality, disguised by the high level of seriousness, progressively starts to crack emotionally as he gets acquainted with his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her child Benicio. Nevertheless, his vulnerability is revealed, and it looks different from his cold and calculating character and the plot.
This movie also has an excellent team of co-stars such as Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks. This gets complicated when Irene's husband Standard played by Oscar Isaac is out of jail and involves the Driver in a million-dollar robbery was badly planned. The risks involved are steep, and the narrative speed never lets up, but the intensity is in the emotional subtext of Drive.
A completely memorable wardrobe piece to me has to be Ryan Gosling's satin bomber jacket featuring an embroidered golden scorpion on the back. This piece of clothing has therefore become an attribute of the character and goes well in enhancing the film's look and feel.
Drive was one more impactful film in Gosling's portfolio which was released along with the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love and the critically acclaimed drama titled The Ides of March with George Clooney. It was also his passion project and Gosling was the first cast to come onboard and he even reached out to Refn personally to convince him to helm the film.
Gosling and Refn shared a vision for the film that went beyond fast cars and thrilling chases. In a 2011 interview with The Guardian, Gosling revealed their mutual desire to explore the existential aspects of driving. They wanted to depict how being behind the wheel can strip away one's persona and offer a glimpse into the driver's subconscious.
With its stylish direction, evocative soundtrack, and unforgettable performances, Drive is a film that resonates on multiple levels. Now available on Netflix UK, it's the perfect time to revisit this modern classic or experience it for the first time. Additionally, the movie is also accessible on Prime Video, ITVX, and MUBI.
Dive into the world of Drive and see why it's hailed as Ryan Gosling's finest work.
