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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Drive

    Featured In Issue 164, February 2012

    Picture5
    Sound5
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    39231
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Strong brutal bloody violence, language and some nudity
    (Retail Price):
    $35.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    100
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2011
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    01/31/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Nicolas Winding Refn
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    In Drive, a Hollywood stunt driver for movies moonlights as a wheelman for criminals and discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong. Though a loner by nature, the stunt driver (Gosling) can't help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene (Mulligan), a young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband. After the heist gone wrong, he finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves, tailgated by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals (Brooks and Perlman). Soon he realizes the gangsters are after more than the bag of cash and is forced to shift gears and go on the defense. Based on the book by James Sallis. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include four featurettes: I Drive (HP 05:26), Under The Hood (HD 11:50), Driver And Irene (HD 06:14), and Cut To The Chase (HD 04:35); an interview with Director Nicolas Winding Refn; up-front previews; BD-Live functionality; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 1080p AVC picture is terrific, with a perfectly natural appearance throughout. Contrast is well balanced with deep, solid blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Color fidelity is rendered naturally as well, with strong but natural hues and primaries. Reds, in particular, are nicely presented with, at times, boldness. Fleshtones are naturally toned throughout. Resolution is excellent, with fine detail revealed in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. Dimensionality is quite good as well. This is a solid visual experience, with a natural look that heightens the realism. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is superb, with an overall holosonically® intense presence, with energized and directionalized surround envelopment. The music score drives the action with various genres presented, often with an engaging undercurrent of deep bass supported by the .1 LFE channel. Atmospherics and sound effects are well recorded and presented with a sense of spatial integration to the on-screen action, such as during various car chase scenes with helicopter effects overhead. Such effects are powerful and dynamic at times and heighten the intensity. Dialogue sound naturally toned and generally spatially integrated. Overall, this is a very fine soundtrack that is engagingly supportive of the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

    Reason #67 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    Widescreen Review is by far the most in-depth and comprehensive publication in its genre. Readers of all levels of expertise can increase their knowledge and enhance their enjoyment of the Home Theatre experience. Widescreen Review is one of the few, if not the only publication, that actually affects manufacturer’s decisions in regards to their product lines. I believe one of the reasons DTS decoding is so common in consumer equipment is due to the efforts of Gary Reber and his associates. Additionally, the magazine has heralded the importance of a properly calibrated video monitor. Consumers who are so inclined now have the information needed in order for their equipment, from entry level to state-of-the-art, to be the best that it can be. Add to this the software reviews, articles on emerging technologies, and meticulous equipment reviews, and you have a magazine that sets the standard for others to emulate. This is why I read Widescreen Review.

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