There’s a popular phrase widespread throughout Hollywood; “All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl.” A statement Nicholas Winding Refn clearly took to heart when creating Drive, only adding “a car” as a third element in this neo-noir heist film. While flicks like The Fast and Furious exemplify the genre, Drive avoids the usual template and races back 20 some years to honour the spirit of the 80s car-chase action films, in art-house style nonetheless. Despite its lack of Oscar nominations, Drive gets my pick for best movie of 2011!

DIRECTOR: Nicolas Winding Refn
CAST: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston
GENRE: Action Thriller
AGE RESTRICTION: 16 (Strong Violence and Language)
PLOT: A mysterious Hollywood stuntman, mechanic and getaway driver lands himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbour.

In a genre filled with clichés and predictability the words “action movie” don’t often go hand-in-hand with intelligence. Refn, however, does well to marry the two, employing brilliant direction, great acting and a haunting soundtrack to a story that mixes elements of romance, car chases and grotesque violence. It’s a classic tale of both revenge and love, with Ryan Gosling resting at the very centre of this morbid piece; playing the cool, calm and often mute hero. It’s almost criminal that he hasn’t received an Oscar nod at this year’s awards ceremony.

Gosling plays the nameless enigmatic Driver, a loner by nature, who works as a stunt-car driver for the movies by day and a getaway driver for mobsters by night. His boss, Shannon, in hopes for a career change, attempts to enter the race car circuit with our hero behind the wheel. Shannon makes contact with mob bosses, Bernie and Nico, inviting them to go into business with him.

Meanwhile, Driver has befriended a neighbour, Irene, an innocent and shy young mom. As the two drive around the city he falls slowly and deeply in love with her, drawing him out his emotional limbo. Just as things are working out for the two her ex-con husband is released from prison.

It goes without saying that this was a stellar year for Gosling. His work in The Ides of March, All Good Things, Blue Valentine, Crazy, Stupid, Love and Drive are all worthy contenders for an Oscar Award. This year he has no doubt proven that he is more than just the pretty face we remember from the Notebook, but instead a dedicated actor who sharpened his craft.

Refn channels all the energies of a great supporting cast, including Albert Brooks (mob boss Bernie), Ron Perlman (mob boss Nico), Bryan Cranston (Shannon), Carey Mulligan (Irene) and Oscar Isaac (ex-con Standard) to unforgettable performances.

The tense opening sequence in Drive is testament to the energy and moody nature of the movie. Dimly lit and heavy on low camera angles, accompanied by synthesized pop pulse beats, the scene sets up the look and feel for the entire film. (Watch the first five minutes of Drive below)

Drive makes the list of my all-time favourite movies! It’s so refreshing and polished that I can’t help but watch it over and over. I guess in the end the sentiment does ring true: “All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl.”

The Driver’s Scorpion jacket is available to buy here

The Drive Soundtrack is available on iTunes here