The Driver
The Driver

Movie spotlight

The Driver

1978
Movie
91 min
English

The Driver specializes in driving getaway cars for robberies. His exceptional talent has prevented him from being caught yet. After another successful flight from the police a self-assured detective makes it his primary goal to catch the Driver. He promises pardons to a gang if they help to convict him in a set-up robbery. The Driver seeks help from The Player to mislead the detective.

Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes79%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users83%
Director: Walter HillGenres: Crime, Thriller, Action

Plot Summary

A stoic Hollywood getaway driver, known only as "The Driver," excels at his dangerous profession, taking meticulous care to avoid being identified. His life becomes complicated when he is double-crossed on a job and subsequently targeted by a relentless detective. To clear his name and escape the escalating threat, the Driver must rely on his wits and driving skills to outmaneuver both the law and the criminal underworld.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'The Driver' received generally positive reviews, with critics often praising its stylish direction, tense atmosphere, and minimalist dialogue. While not a massive commercial success, it has since gained a cult following and is recognized for its significant influence on the crime and neo-noir genres, particularly its portrayal of the anti-hero protagonist and its stylized action sequences.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its neo-noir atmosphere and stylish direction.

  • Commended for its tense, minimalist storytelling and exciting chase sequences.

  • Ryan O'Neal's understated performance as the enigmatic driver was a notable highlight.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's cool, gritty atmosphere and the thrilling car chases. Many found the suspenseful narrative and the Driver's mysterious persona captivating, though some noted the sparse dialogue could be a drawback.

Fun Fact

Walter Hill deliberately kept the dialogue minimal to emphasize the visual storytelling and the characters' actions over their words, a technique that contributed to the film's unique, taut atmosphere.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This is probably more famous for having characters without names. Ryan O'Neal being the eponymous character whose getaway antics bring him to the attention of the pretty seedy detective Bruce Dern. What ensues is rather minimalist adventure...

nikkiwild

nikkiwild

I love Hill's stuff, I think the car chase sequence is great and how Hill captures a city's landscape is amazing ( 48 hrs (my favorite) and The Warriors has that trademark as well.)

Steve

Steve

www.noiroftheweek.com This week we take a look at the intense neo-noir, The Driver. Directed by Walter Hill, this cold neo is a perfect example of how film noir evolved into experimental crime films in the 1970s. No doubt inspired b...

John Chard

John Chard

Sparse Urban Magnificence. The Driver is written and directed by Walter Hill. It stars Ryan O’Neil, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani and Ronee Blakley. Music is by Michael Small and cinematography by Phillip H. Lathrop. A determined cop ...