07-05-01 The Driver (1978)

Seen: April 27th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 6

Yup, another Driving movie. It's getting to be a habit. This time around it's a mercenary getaway driver.

The fist thing to mention here is the quality of the driving. There are chase sequences here that are spectacularly choreographed. They're fast, visceral and very well shot. They're really the heart of the film. They're not over-the-top from a stunts perspective, just fast chases through traffic, often at night. In addition, there's some stunt driving in a parking garage which is very impressive. And a crash near the end I saw coming a mile off, but was still impressed by.

The story isn't a bad one. It's direct, not complicated. It serves well enough, but is nothing exceptional. The dialogue I found a bit stilted. Bruce Dern plays a tough cop, and his dialogue is particularly trite. Perhaps this has something to do with the way he portrays the character rather than the way the character is written.

Ryan O'Neal does a decent job here, playing a bit against type. His character is exceptionally stoic and very direct. This plays against the driver stereotype and is what sets the character apart. Even in the heat of the chase, he is calm and collected, judging every turn and change in a logical, direct manner. This contrast exists within the film as well as within the genre. It surprised me that O'Neal could pull this off. Even when he lets his guard down around those he trusts, he still maintains an air of detachment.

The film overall is quiet. With the exception of the detective, people tend to act more than speak. This juxtaposition is obvious and appropriate. There's many cases where the action itself propels the story and dialogue would simply be superfluous. An interesting choice is to deprive the characters of names. It's done seamlessly and helps define them in terms of their role, depersonalizing them, and distancing them.

In places it's very well shot. There is some amazing shot composition, camera angles and uses of reflection and shadow. But there are also shots that are bland and staid in their simplicity. It's all a bit bleak and stark, which serves the film very well.

Overall I liked this film. It's not exceptional, but does draw you in. There's not so much action per se, but the driving scenes are truly remarkable. My only problem was The Detective, who really irritated me. I'm not sure if this was due to the acting, directing, writing, or a combination of all three, and may have been intentional.

The Good: The Driving

The Bad: Stilted Dialogue

The Ugly: Mind The Gap