The Driver (1978): American Action Meets European Minimalism

Is Walter Hill's The Driver the source of inspiration for getaway driver movies and games to come?Drive, Baby Driver, or most things with a getaway wheelman -- those films and TV shows likely owe something of their makeup to Walter Hill's The Driver 1978.A sleek, minimalist, neo-noir crime thriller, The Driver never reveals his name and may, in fact, say fewer lines of dialogue than Mad Max (I haven't counted).Still, this all-business operator is perhaps the best in the business behind the wheel.While this movie did little at the box office and isn't all that well remembered, it has some famous director fans. And it may be more influential than most of us realize, when you consider the movies, television, and video games that all came after it.Join me as I discuss the movie's dangerous and thrilling car chases, whether or not the minimalist style works, and the film's lasting legacy.Directed by Walter Hill. Starring Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani, and Ronee Blakley.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com