Drive is Film District’s latest release that opens in theaters everywhere September, 16, 2011. It stars, as most ladies refer to, ‘heartthrob’ Ryan Gosling (“Crazy Stupid Love”/ “Blue Valentine”, and the upcoming “Ides of March”) as a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a wheel man during the day.

The film is based on James Sells novel, and he sells (pardon the pun) his book in this screenplay adaptation quite well. Director Nicolas Winding Refn gives Gosling no name in this movie. He is just known as the “Driver” who’s mission is to drive criminals from a heist in a getaway car with a 5 minute window. Get in. Get out. Get lost. In that 5 minute window, he is yours. Any time before or after, you are shit out of luck as you are on your own.

He has a police radio to monitor how close the cops are which gives him a lead way. In the heart of all this drama, he meets a young married mother, Irene (Carey Mulligan from “Never Let Me Go”) who’s husband, Standard (Oscar Isaac, “Sucker Punch”), returns home after time spent in prison. But, more drama unfolds as he is still wanted by his ex gang members for an unfinished project he refused to do. He either does it or they will come after his family.

There is a romantic interlude here between Irene and Driver as he befriends both her and her son and chums up with her husband. He offers to drive her husband to finish his business but that is short lived as Standard is brutally gunned down in the parking lot where the heist was to take place. So much for the 5 minute window. Driver now is a marked man. The action picks up here with a thrilling car chase that would make Nascar proud. You will notice, however, Gosling doesn’t have to speak much. His tension filled emotional facial expressions says it all.

Add mob bosses Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”), Albert Brooks and Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad” T.V. series) and a shocking scene involving Christina Hendricks as Blanche (“I Don’t Know How She Does That”) and you have a crime, action, thriller, drama, that grabs viewers and makes them feel as if they were staring down the business end of a double barrel shotgun. And there is plenty of buckshot to go around because “Drive” is rated R for strong bloody violence.

There is a bloody bathroom scene, but the elevator assault that takes place off camera with crackling sound effects earns the “R’ right there alone. This takes place with Mulligan looking on and the chemistry Gosling and her have on screen, are terrific. I realize the first part of the film is a build up and you must be patient because Refn leads it to a climaxing end, again with little dialogue. Also, you have to appreciate the beautiful Los Angles, skyscrapers, and landscaping that is captured on film. Refn made up for his last two efforts (“Valhalla Rising” and “Bronson”) with “Drive”. A movie you will be driven to see. And the soundtrack by various artists is a perfect fit.

“Drive” is rated R for strong bloody violence, some nudity and language. The screenplay is compliments of Hossein Amini. The film opens everywhere September 16, 2011 and drives us for a thrilling 100 minutes in 2-D.

By Hustlin Bob Higgins 3 stars