The Driver (1978)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Driver (1978) – W. Hill

Director Walter Hill seems to be trying to channel the spirit of Jean-Pierre Melville here, with his loner protagonist, a driver (Ryan O’Neal) with no friends who only takes certain heists for a big fee.  He doesn’t talk much and he doesn’t mess around – he gets the job done and doesn’t put up with nonsense or trouble.  When Police Detective Bruce Dern decides to capture him, the cool O’Neal accepts the challenge, walking right into the trap that Dern lays for him.  Isabelle Adjani helps O’Neal, perhaps for sheer admiration because he doesn’t let her in – he doesn’t let anybody in. You can see how Melville would have directed it, with Delon and Bourvil.  But Hill is no Melville and, although he gets the blue-green tone right and the driving action is as thrilling as in any film, there’s something missing. Perhaps it is the choice of O’Neal (a different sort of star) and Dern (much looser than Melville would have allowed) or perhaps the twist at the end doesn’t leave the right melancholy feeling.  Nevertheless, this is worth a look.