The moody, violent “Drive” begins with the best single sequence on film in 2011. Ryan Gosling plays an unnamed driver for hire on what is, for him, a routine evening of evading police helicopters and squad cars.

This isn’t a fast cutting car chase out of the “Bourne” franchise. The Driver takes the most logical route, and takes only the amount of turns necessary to avoid capture. There are no crazy stunts because a good driver wouldn’t need them.

“Drive” features three distinct car sequences, but it shouldn’t be classified as a “car chase movie.” This is classic noir territory, with Gosling’s Driver trapped between the girl next door, a heist gone wrong and a couple of ruthless gangsters. (more…)