The Driver written and directed by Walter Hill is an Neo-western action-thriller set in Los Angeles. The film follows the titular Driver portrayed by the Late Ryan O’Neal. The Driver acts as a getaway man-for hire to bank robbers and thieves. He is the best at what he does and comes well respected amongst crooks. He and his accomplices never get caught. 

Enter the Detective (Bruce Dern), a tenacious and driven cop who always get his man. He and the Driver engage in their very own cat and mouse game throughout LA with The Player (Isabelle Adjani) in the middle, playing both of them against each other. Soon a job is set up and the real game begins. A game where only one man can win. The Driver or The Detective. 

The film maintains an effective balance of action packed stunts and story driven drama. O’Neal does a good job at playing a quiet driver who is highly competent and effective at what he is hired to do. However the real star of the show is Dern’s The Detective.  Dern plays the detective with a natural and charismatic energy that puts him at odds with the Driver. His performance pushes the boundaries of being over the top yet captivating nonetheless. Isabelle Adjani’s performance as the Player adds a latent tension to the film. Interacting with both The Driver and The Detective to twist an audience’s notion on which side she is on. 

The Driver although not well received upon its release, picked up a strong following in the decades that followed.  Influencing directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, and Nicholas Winding Refn. With both Wright and Refn paying homage to the film in their films; Baby Driver (2017) and Drive (2011). Both featuring a getaway driver forced into a confrontational situation in which he must drive and persist to win. The Driver has lived up to films of the era such as Bullitt, The Getaway, and A Vanishing Point. Achieving a legacy of its own with fans remembering its new – wave style. 

If you like films that are similar to Drive and Baby Driver, if you like films that have fast and exciting car chases with a thrilling story behind them. The Driver is perfect for you. It is a simplistic yet exhilarating piece that is memorable and will keep your eyes on the screen.

The Driver (1978) is owned by 20th Century Studios and StudioCanal.
All rights belong to them.

Photo Reference: StudioCanal UK.