The new movie “Drive” features director, Nicolas Winding Refn, who has been worshiped by gangs of cinophiles for years. Even with this terrific direcor, there are many reasons this film succeeds. The director is not known to main stream audiences; however, his dedication to the craft shines through every moment of the movie. Ryan Gosling has devoted himself to serious roles in serious films. His enthusiasm for the work has helped him create a powerful character for this film. Carey Mulligan, as the lead female in the movie, succeeds and has that perfect look which disarms the audience in her role. However, Drive would not reach the levels of success as a film it has achieved without the stellar supporting cast.

Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac and Christina Hicks have all created characters that help lift “Drive” above being a solid character driven movie of vendetta and action, to a place of being a flat out brilliant movie. Instead of focusing on delivering performance, these actors delivered performances that are astute, thought through and deepen the complexity of the film.

Like almost every movie ever made, there can be disparaging remarks made about the film. For “Drive” there is only one aspect of the film that misses the mark. Nothing in the film brings anything new to the table. In films of violence, revenge, action and repentance by the masters, there are notable moments of the human spirit and new insight. “Drive” does not provide these moments, and instead stays a terrific movie just missing the master mark.

“Drive” is a movie starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and based on a book by Hossein Amini. This is an adult film, rated ‘R’ for violence and language.