Drive

I watched Winding Refn’s ‘Valhalla Rising’ last year during a very strange time in my life. Miles from home, alone in a faceless hotel room and inevitably pissed the film had a profound effect on me. It was eerie and compelling, an interesting, dreamlike mix of pregnant pauses and shocking violence. It probably wasn’t the best time for me to be watching it and I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not for a long time after. Strangely enough that’s a compliment, it stuck with me.

Drive, however instantly evoked jealousy, awe and adoration. Maybe because it taps into the films I grew up watching with it’s 80’s noir stylings and superb sound track. Maybe because like Valhalla Rising it is not afraid to skip dialogue and rely on visual narrative or maybe it’s just because it’s very fucking cool.

I don’t know much about Ryan Gosling or Carey Mulligan but with Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks and Albert Brooks it’s a great supporting cast. So impressed I’m tempted to watch it again today and I’ll also now track down Winding Refn’s ‘Bronson’ and his ‘Pusher’ trilogy.