- Sensibility: The nature of the driver and the dealings if the crime world are a bit strange but not to a point where it is bothersome or detracts from the film.
- Cinematography: Beautifully shot with so much going for it in costuming, production design, and framing. However, the highlight of the film is undoubtedly the lighting. This film is the prime example of how great lighting change the look and feel of a film.
- Energy: Undeniably great watch, with great action sequences, drama, violence, and even some romance. Great chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan, which is particularly important since there is so little dialogue between them. The film is jam-packed with a tight run-time and the side characters are all so brilliantly performed that this film has no let downs.
- Narrative: It's a story with a classic feel, but the characters are so clearly designed that the film has an undeniable charm and aura. Only negative is the romance portion, particularly the drive to the creek feels a bit too fantastical for the gore and dark realities of the rest of the film.
- T-Points: The film received four bonus points: one for great side characters performances in Oscar Isaac and Bryan Cranston who add so much to the film even in their limited roles, one for a stunning scene in an elevator, one for a brutal gun fight in a hotel, and one for stunning and inspired lighting.
I've loved this movie for years, and it's a treat to come back to every once in a while. I'm a huge fan of Refn's Pusher trilogy as well, but this film satisfies a craving that very few other films can.
Number of Watches: 3
