Reel Inspiration - The Driver
The eponymous lead in Walter Hill’s The Driver (1978) was played by Ryan O’Neal, a role that undoubtedly inspired Ryan Gosling’s correspondingly innominate getaway man in Drive.
It’s a spare, tautly presented tale of cross and double-cross with The Driver, who is acting on the instructions of The Connection (Ronee Blakely), being pursued by The Detective (Bruce Dern).
The high-speed spills and Isabelle Adjani’s first appearance outside France as the deceptive The Player aside, we very much like The Driver’s distinct, generously cut lapels.