Drive (2011) Limited Edition 4K UHD/Blu-Ray Review
Hollywood stuntman and best in the business getaway driver (Gosling) has a strict professional code, but his loner lifestyle is turned upside down when he falls for his neighbour Irene (Mulligan). With her ex-con husband owing protection money, she’s sucked into the dangerous criminal underworld and there’s only one person that can her save her… the driver.
Drive Limited Edition comes in stunning premium packaging with new artwork by AllCity and includes a 240-page hardback book with new essays, an exclusive interview with author James Sallis, original storyboards, stills and behind-the-scenes photos; the original novel with exclusive new artwork and art cards. All versions come with new exclusive audio commentary by Nicolas Winding Refn and Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw, and a 70-minute conversation with Nicolas Winding Refn, editor Mat Newman and composer Cliff Martinez. (Please see full list of extras at the bottom of this review).
Based on James Sallis’s 2005 novel of the same name, DRIVE cemented Ryan Gosling’s standing as a lead-actor of note wowing festival audiences before hitting the jackpot at Cannes in 2011 where the film received a fifteen-minute standing ovation as well as securing Nicolas Winding Refn the festival’s Best Director Award.
DRIVE went on to be nominated for four British Academy Film Awards, which included Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Carey Mulligan), and Best Editing. At the Oscars however the film had to make do with just one Academy Award nomination, for Best Sound Editing. And it wasn’t just the Oscars that cold-shouldered DRIVE Stateside but paying audiences too who would rather get their cinematic jollies from the latest catering-for-the-lowest-common-denominator blockbuster, than try something new, free from any franchise-base.
DRIVE is a stylish action-thriller that glistens and gleams, pulsating both romance, and violence through its Eighties-flavoured heart. It’s a work of art, understated but still impactful, and for my money it’s one of the best films of the past twenty-five years and one that will stand the test of time. Not only is it one of the best films of recent years but it also boasts an astonishingly good soundtrack too fusing electronic, ambient, and retro into one of the best film scores – period!
With Gosling rocking it as the titular character it’s pleasing to report that not one of the ensemble cast takes a misstep. How Albert Brooks – better known for playing the underdog in such films as BROADCAST NEWS – failed to secure an Oscar, let alone an Oscar nomination, for his chilling performance in DRIVE is just further evidence as to what a load of old b* the so-called Awards are. If you haven’t worked it out by now I am definitely a big fan of DRIVE, and that’s coming from someone who would normally steer clear of action-romance flicks. It’s spunky, edgy, constantly surprising and deserving of its cult status – a must-see!
Special Features
A Special Edition release presented by Second Sight Films and Director Nicolas Winding Refn
Includes UHD and Blu-ray both with main feature and bonus features
New 4K master produced by the original post production company and approved by Nicolas Winding Refn
UHD presented in Dolby Vision HDR graded by the film’s original colourist
Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
New exclusive audio commentary by Nicolas Winding Refn and The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw
Drive: a 70-minute conversation with Nicolas Winding Refn, Editor Mat Newman and Composer Cliff Martinez
Cutting a Getaway – a new interview with Mat Newman
3 Point Turns – a new video essay by Leigh Singer
Optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired
Limited Edition Contents
Premium box set packaging with new artwork by AllCity
240-page hardback book with new essays by Travis Crawford, Alison Taylor, Matthew Thrift, Simon Ward, Thomas Joseph Watson, Emma Westwood and Hannah Woodhead, an exclusive interview with Drive author James Sallis by Matthew Thrift, original storyboards, stills and behind-the-scenes photos
The original novel with exclusive new artwork by AllCity
7 collectors’ art cards