Mark Kermode reviews Drive (2011) | BFI Player

“This is pedal-to-the-metal cinematic fare - shocking, seductive, and utterly mesmerising.” Watch Drive (2011) on BFI Player (UK only): https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-drive-2011-online

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My BFI Player choice this week

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is a modern cult classic from director Nic Winding Refn

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A neon-tinged, neo-noir crime drama

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that had the honour of being rescored by hip Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe back in 2014

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but which has never been better than in its original 2011 release

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the dark, violent, romantic thriller

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'Drive'

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Adapted by screenwriter Hossein Amini from James Sallis’s 2005 novel

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Drive centres on Ryan Gosling’s unnamed stunt artist turned getaway driver

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and his neighbour Irene

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ethereally played by Carey Mulligan

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Irene is raising her child alone while her husband is in prison

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But when the jailbird

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menacingly played by Oscar Isaac

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regains his freedom

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Gosling’s enigmatic man of few words

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finds himself drawn into a heist to protect Irene

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A heist that inevitably goes horribly wrong

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Originally earmarked as a project for 'The Descent' director Neil Marshall

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with Hugh Jackman in the lead role

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'Drive' struck Gosling as being a story about:

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'A guy that’s seen too many movies'

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'and he’s started to confuse his life for a film'

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That of course was pure catnip for Nic Winding Refn

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whom Gosling brought on board

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along with production designer Beth Mickle

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and who turned an everyday crime thriller

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into something genuinely transcendent

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Gorgeously lensed by Newton Thomas Sigel

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with music by Cliff Martinez

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who was brought in after a lengthy collaboration with Johnny Jewel of Desire and Chromatics

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'Drive' premiered at Cannes in May 2011

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where it won the Best Director prize

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With Albert Brooks

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Bryan Cranston

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and Ron Perlman in key supporting roles

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and moments of head-stomping cinema extremity

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amid the dreamy fairytale ambience

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this is pedal-to-the-metal cinematic fare

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Shocking

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seductive

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and utterly mesmerising