The Driver 4K 1978

Already in his second work, Walter Hill began to do what he did best in the seventies and eighties - to mix different genres, hiding them in an outrageously simple plot. In The Driver, Ryan O'Neal plays the best driver in town, who is so eager to catch a cop played by Bruce Dern.

However, from the very first shots, you start paying attention to the details that are in no way peculiar to an ordinary movie about the confrontation between law enforcement and those who live on the side of the law. Hill is not ashamed to lavish the film with noirish overtones: all the main events take place at night, and the day is just the calm before the storm. The characters are taciturn and talk only about business. It is interesting that Hill has abandoned the names of the characters, they all have nicknames: Driver, Detective, Player, Contact, Glasses, Teeth... Such a simple device almost immediately removes questions about the characteristics of this or that character. The confrontation between the driver and the policeman develops somewhat unexpectedly: it is rather difficult to tell who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist. The policeman, in order to catch the driver, goes to extreme measures and practically organizes a bank robbery. They both play cat-and-mouse with each other, and in the end, everyone stays on his own. And who broke the law more is another question.

Despite the title, there are only two chases in the film - at the beginning and shortly before the finale. With practically no background music, preferring the roar of motors and the screech of burnt rubber, the director manages to capture and convey the drive, speed, excitement and danger of car chases. Hill emphasizes realism, so no explosions or wild accidents. Even the number of police cars pursuing the main character is realistically small - no more than five. However, the chase scenes even now look decent.

Like its debut feature (Hard Times), "The Driver" is a little-known movie for the average viewer, but for the completeness of acquaintance with the work of Walter Hill is recommended for viewing.