Drive

Ryan "Baby Goose" Gosling is getting Oscar hype for some reason. I liked the movie, I just feel like Gosling really didn't have to do much except say about 80 words and drive a car primarily. The movie is an homage to 80's stuff with tight scorpion jackets, neon pink cursive writing, and 80's techo music with Megatron and foreign chicks singing in the background. Looking past that we join Gosling on a heist where he is the getaway drive, or "Wheelman" as the kids say. He looks smooth, never talks, and drives a car very well. He comes across a neighbor lady, doesn't say anything, later sees her in a market, doesn't say anything. Sees her in a parking lot having car trouble, walks over to fix the car, doesn't say anything. Returns the groceries to her apartment, doesn't say anything, BUT finally says "where should I put these" and the unbearable awkwardness is broken, but remains a recurring theme. We find out her baby's daddy is in prison, Gosling starts spending quality time with them and they take a SHININ' to each other. Gosling works at a garage she takes her car to, his boss insists Gosling take her home where he takes the woman (Carey Mulligan) and her son on a detour in an aqueduct and to a stream where I assumed gruesome murder/rape was about to ensue, but instead they form a bond. After a few bonding sessions they find out her baby's daddy is getting out of prison= fun is done. Husband still owes $$$ to people, they force him to rob a pawn shop and Gosling offers his services as Wheelman extraordinaire to ensure everything goes swell. All hell breaks loose, the movie takes off on a crazy ride of vengeance and it starts getting real stabby.

Bottom Line: 7.9 out of 10. I really felt like it was good, and I liked it, but it seemed to take a long time to accomplish anything meaningful. I honestly don't know if I'll watch it again, but it's certainly worth seeing once. Interesting soundtrack and camera work.