Ten years after its debut at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival comes the definitive home release of Nicholas Winding Refn’s Drive, courtesy of the wonderful folks at Second Sight. Packaged on both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, the release does come at a hefty price for the top, limited edition, but Refn completists will love the attention to detail with the jaw-dropping presentation, a stunning transfer, and hours of new bonus materials.
Ryan Gosling is The Driver, an unnamed Hollywood stuntman and driver to hire to anyone willing to part with their cash. His loner lifestyle is turned upside down when he falls for mother Irene (a sublime Carey Mulligan) and her young son. He is used to dealing with dodgy clients, but when Irene’s ex falls deeper into debt with local gangsters, he and her son’s life becomes more at risk, and there seems to be only one person who is able to help her.
Easily Refn’s most accessible work, and indeed one of his most polarising, Drive has matured over the decade since its release. Critics not allured by the expertly crafted indie upon release, have seemingly largely been won over in the years since its original release, and admirers seem to have fallen for it all the more. I fell into the latter when I first saw the film in front of a paying audience in south London shortly after it hit cinemas in 2012 and, after viewing this new release, still marvel at its unique styles, mastery behind the camera, and the stunning performances in front of it.
Gosling has never been better as the largely silent lead, while Mulligan is also perfect as Irene, again perhaps one of her best performances of the last ten years. Away from the brilliant leads, and the stunning support from Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, and Albert Brooks, the film’s biggest asset is its soundtrack. Cliff Martinez’s brooding, moody energetic score and the assembly of female-led ’80s style electro-ballads provide the perfect accompaniment, a masterclass in sound design still oh so very cool and in vogue a decade on.
Our review copy came without any of the fancy new packaging, but Second Sight Films’ effort in providing collectors with a worthy new release doesn’t end there. On the Blu-ray, we were provided with comes a bunch of new bonus features, including an excellent new commentary from Refn and Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw. The two bounce off one another throughout, the two offering two unique viewpoints as the film plays out.
Another highlight is the inclusion of a 70-minute zoom conversation between Refn, composer Cliff Martinez and editor Mat Newman. Newman also gets his own featurette where he comments on working with Refn on this and other projects and the collaborative process the two underwent in bringing this contemporary masterpiece to the screen. There’s also a wonderful video essay from Leigh Singer who dissects three key scenes from the film.
If you’re yet to own Drive on the home formats then this is the release to score. Whether you opt for the Blu-ray, which wil set you back £15, or the special, limited edition that’ll cost you upwards of £50, you’ll be delighted with what’s offered. A stunning update with skilfully produced bonus content that we’ve come to expect from the folks at Second Sight, and an absolute must for fans of this uber-cool, totally unique crime movie which still sits as one of the best films of the 2010s.
Drive is now available on limited edition 4K from Second Sight Films and Nicolas Winding Refn. The film is also available individually as a Standard Edition 4K or Blu-ray.
Drive
Summary
The definitive version of the classic Refn film with bonus features to die for.
