Drive

One of the great under-appreciated mobster films of the 21st century. Absolutely gorgeous, beautifully tragic. The second half is one of the most stunning, thrilling rides ever. I loved every single second of it. For some reason I was expecting Baby Driver (well, maybe for obvious reasons) but this is like if you took that and then rewrote it on cocaine. So good. Ryan Gosling's character is flat in a way that verges on annoying, but that's also the literal point (his name is literally 'Driver') - he's a blank template that serves purely as a device relative to the world around him. He matters almost not at all - he is the weapon of the director. NWN builds this incredible world, and then places Driver right in the middle to fill the gaps. He is our avenue to exploring this world, to understanding the inevitable tragedy of every character. Irene, a women married into this life from a vulnerable age, now helpless to the violence that surrounds her. Standard, the man helpless - despite all efforts at change - before the mistakes of his younger self. Bernie and Nino, men struggling for power in the world of organized crime in a larger world that has left them behind, victims to their own pride and ambition. And Shannon, who is just plain unlucky. Driver is the antithesis of the innate helplessness of all of these characters. Shockingly, silently competent, he maneuvers the world in a way that seems to directly combat these forces. Driver is our link. He is our eyes. He is NWN's vengeance, his sympathy, and his love. It's a beautiful way to tell a story, and it works perfectly.