JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Driver (1978)
Driver
DVD Cover
Writer/Director: Walter Hill
Starring: Ryan O Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani
Length: 91 Mins
How do we know you're that good?-Teeth
Inspiring the PS2 game of the same name, those who love their car stunts at actual speed and want the smell of burning rubber to fill their living room, this is the film for you.
Fast and ferocious Director Walter Hill, (The Warriors, Extreme Prejudice, 48Hrs, Johnny Handsome, Southern Comfort, The Long Riders, Hard Times) helms this dark lit, slick testosterone fuelled tale.
The cat and mouse plot is simple, The Driver (Ryan O Neil), a man of few words, can pilot anything on 4 wheels with surgical precision. He is relentless pursued by a pit bull Detective (Bruce Dern) who refuses to let go of his prey, leading to an all mighty confrontation of wills and skills.
“That's right. No friends. No steady job. No girlfriend. You live real cheap, you never ask any questions... boy, you got it down real tight. So tight that there's no room for anything else. And that's a real sad song. Only trouble is, eh, sad songs ain't sellin' this year. Maybe I'm your friend.”- The Detective
John Doe says:
Fans of the modern incarnations of the genre should see what a rev-heads wet dream really looks like. Stuntmen risking it all in the name of entertainment, no dodgy CG cuts here or sped up film just real metal moving at speeds over 100 mile an hour.
Cutting his teeth on the second unit of Bullitt and penning Sam Peckinpah’s The Getaway, Director Walter Hill squeezes all the excitement and danger he possibly can into every frame.
With characters named The Driver, The Detective, The Player and the Connection this no nonsense piece of pulp entertainment doesn’t waste time with words, actions are what matters.
Ryan O Neal does his best Steve McQueen impersonation, the role was written specifically for the King Of Cool, but he had tired of his image by then.
Bruce Dern brings menace and a level of unpredictablity to the roll of the obsessive cop. Isabelle Adjani is breathtakingly beautiful and brings a euro appeal to her character.
Dark, moody and atmospheric, the film revels in its noir style. The script contains minimal dialogue, spoken through gritted teeth and a tough guy flavour. Sure it could have done with a polish but it all moves along so fast you don’t have time to care.
The death defying automobile stunts are why we are here. Bursting with four wheel drifts, the synchronized editing and high velocity is heightened by the sound design. No music just engines revving, tyres screeching and sirens blaring. The scene where The Driver puts a Mercedes through its paces in a parking garage is controlled power at its best.
The DVD:
It may not be the much sought after directors cut (runs 30 minutes longer), but considering this cult favourite is presented in Widescreen with Dolby stereo sound it’s a must for all fans of the chase film.
Other jaw dropping car stunt recommendations:
Richard C Sarafin’s Vanishing Point (Original)
John Hough’s Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Monte Hellman’s Two Lane BlackTop
William Friedkins The French Connection/To Live and Die In LA
H. B Halicki’s Gone In 60 Seconds (Original)
Starring: Ryan O Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani
How do we know you're that good?-Teeth
Inspiring the PS2 game of the same name, those who love their car stunts at actual speed and want the smell of burning rubber to fill their living room, this is the film for you.
Fast and ferocious Director Walter Hill, (The Warriors, Extreme Prejudice, 48Hrs, Johnny Handsome, Southern Comfort, The Long Riders, Hard Times) helms this dark lit, slick testosterone fuelled tale.
The cat and mouse plot is simple, The Driver (Ryan O Neil), a man of few words, can pilot anything on 4 wheels with surgical precision. He is relentless pursued by a pit bull Detective (Bruce Dern) who refuses to let go of his prey, leading to an all mighty confrontation of wills and skills.
“That's right. No friends. No steady job. No girlfriend. You live real cheap, you never ask any questions... boy, you got it down real tight. So tight that there's no room for anything else. And that's a real sad song. Only trouble is, eh, sad songs ain't sellin' this year. Maybe I'm your friend.”- The Detective
John Doe says:
Cutting his teeth on the second unit of Bullitt and penning Sam Peckinpah’s The Getaway, Director Walter Hill squeezes all the excitement and danger he possibly can into every frame.
With characters named The Driver, The Detective, The Player and the Connection this no nonsense piece of pulp entertainment doesn’t waste time with words, actions are what matters.
Ryan O Neal does his best Steve McQueen impersonation, the role was written specifically for the King Of Cool, but he had tired of his image by then.
Bruce Dern brings menace and a level of unpredictablity to the roll of the obsessive cop. Isabelle Adjani is breathtakingly beautiful and brings a euro appeal to her character.
Dark, moody and atmospheric, the film revels in its noir style. The script contains minimal dialogue, spoken through gritted teeth and a tough guy flavour. Sure it could have done with a polish but it all moves along so fast you don’t have time to care.
The death defying automobile stunts are why we are here. Bursting with four wheel drifts, the synchronized editing and high velocity is heightened by the sound design. No music just engines revving, tyres screeching and sirens blaring. The scene where The Driver puts a Mercedes through its paces in a parking garage is controlled power at its best.
The DVD:
It may not be the much sought after directors cut (runs 30 minutes longer), but considering this cult favourite is presented in Widescreen with Dolby stereo sound it’s a must for all fans of the chase film.
Other jaw dropping car stunt recommendations:
Richard C Sarafin’s Vanishing Point (Original)
John Hough’s Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Monte Hellman’s Two Lane BlackTop
William Friedkins The French Connection/To Live and Die In LA
H. B Halicki’s Gone In 60 Seconds (Original)
i dont care where he goes. I dont care what he does. Im going to nail that son of a bitch. Now where is Laura"
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Film & TV on DVD
If you havent seen it, I recommend it highly, you really do get put in the Drivers seat. Plus the whole feel and look of the game was taken directly form the film so it really doesnt feel dated.