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The Driver Details

1978 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 1007 members

Ryan O'Neal stars as THE DRIVER, a conniving and talented getaway driver, and Bruce Dern as the corrupt police detective obsessed with capturing him. With breathtaking car chases and a terrific climax, this is a simple and thrilling cat and mouse game. The two single-minded characters, with otherwise bleak lives, must .. Read more

Starring Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani, Ronee Blakley
Director Walter Hill
Genres Action/Adventure, Thriller

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The Driver

Ryan O'Neal stars as THE DRIVER, a conniving and talented getaway driver, and Bruce Dern as the corrupt police detective obsessed with capturing him. With breathtaking car chases and a terrific climax, this is a simple and thrilling cat and mouse game. The two single-minded characters, with otherwise bleak lives, must perpetually out-smart the other in this lean, clever and compelling thriller.

Starring Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani, Ronee Blakley
Director Walter Hill
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 27 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 15.gif
Genres Action/Adventure, Thriller
Language English
Released DVD: 19 Apr 2004
Production year: 1978
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Driver

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    This story of a getaway driver who has no life outside his work is pared down to its absolute existential essentials in Walter Hill's terrific thriller. Critics thought that the writer/director was paying tribute to Jean-Pierre Melville's 1967 classic Le Samourai, though he denied he'd ever seen it. However, Ryan O'Neal wears the same trenchcoat as Alain Delon, and he has the same cool demeanour and ruthless tunnel vision. The car chases are amazing, but it's O'Neal's calm you remember, before he ultimately unravels as slinky Isabelle Adjani and cop Bruce Dern get under his skin.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • Scriptwriter-turned-director Walter Hill's Hard Times (retitled The Streetfighter in Britain) received deservedly... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of The Driver

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  • 9 out of 13 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Boys and their stolen toys

    This is an enjoyable, if rather pointless, addition to the car chase/crime genre that began to gain in popularity during the 1970s. Whilst the plot was never in danger of getting in the way of tyre burning car chases, the lead protagonists O?Neal (The Driver) and Dern (The Detective) are allowed to develop enough of a cat and mouse relationship to ensure the film holds together.

    The cinematography at times, I felt, successfully portrayed a dark and claustrophobic criminal underworld environment in which the Driver operated. The car chase sequences were fine but nothing really groundbreaking.

    Acting is average but the dialogue was punchy at times.

    Whilst this film is a long way from the high testosterone, low brow world of modern films such as The Fast and the Furious it probably won?t appeal to the more ?discerning? viewer. However if like me you are a fan of 70s films then is a reasonable, if not essential, addition to your rental list. 3 out of 5.

      • Clucky from Cardiff, Wales
      • Posted 09 Jul 2004 14:13

  • Most recent members' review of The Driver

    View all
  • 9 out of 13 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Boys and their stolen toys

    This is an enjoyable, if rather pointless, addition to the car chase/crime genre that began to gain in popularity during the 1970s. Whilst the plot was never in danger of getting in the way of tyre burning car chases, the lead protagonists O?Neal (The Driver) and Dern (The Detective) are allowed to develop enough of a cat and mouse relationship to ensure the film holds together.

    The cinematography at times, I felt, successfully portrayed a dark and claustrophobic criminal underworld environment in which the Driver operated. The car chase sequences were fine but nothing really groundbreaking.

    Acting is average but the dialogue was punchy at times.

    Whilst this film is a long way from the high testosterone, low brow world of modern films such as The Fast and the Furious it probably won?t appeal to the more ?discerning? viewer. However if like me you are a fan of 70s films then is a reasonable, if not essential, addition to your rental list. 3 out of 5.

      • Clucky from Cardiff, Wales
      • Posted 09 Jul 2004 14:13

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      • Ryan O'Neal stars as THE DRIVER, a conniving and talented getaway driver, and Bruce Dern as the corrupt police detective obsessed with capturing him. With breathtaking car chases and a terrific ...