History Characters / DriveFilm

Characters from the movie ''Film/Drive2011''.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:The Driver]]
!!The Driver
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/driveproms_cuimage001_2943.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You know the story about the scorpion and the frog?"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/RyanGosling

-->''"If I drive for you, you get your money. You tell me where we start, where we're going, where we're going afterwards. I give you five minutes when we get there. Anything happens in that five minutes and I'm yours. No matter what. Anything a minute on either side of that and you're on your own. I don't sit in while you're running it down. I don't carry a gun. I drive."''

A mechanic and part-time stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver with a set of very specific rules. Quiet, reclusive and emotionally isolated, he slowly builds a tentative friendship with his new neighbor Irene.

* TheAce: He effortlessly escapes from a chase from the police in the beginning and Shannon calls him the best driver he's ever seen.
* AmbiguousDisorder: While his lack of words can be interpreted as shyness, his anger issues are a bit worrying.
* AnimalMotif: He designs himself after a scorpion, due to the insignia on his jacket and references the story of the frog and the scorpion.
* BadassDriver: Well, obviously. He's a professional mechanic, part-time stuntman and getaway driver.
* BewareTheQuietOnes: He may be soft-spoken, quietly friendly, and loyal, but he can hold his own in a fight, has a serious capacity for violence, and knows a thing or two about getting away from the police.
* BoringButPractical: His entire MO. No hollywood-style chases, no pyrotechnics, no guns.
* BrokenAce: Despite his skill, Driver is very aware of just how dangerous his job is, not simply because of his role as a getaway driver but knowing how his metaphor of the "frog and the scorpion" relates to his associates.
* ByronicHero: The Driver is a brooding, violent loner who's implied to have a DarkAndTroubledPast.
* ChestInsignia: The Driver has a yellow scorpion insignia on the back of his silver jacket, which the camera frequently lingers on. Later, he refers to the fable of the scorpion and the frog, which is about a good-natured frog who carries a scorpion on his back despite knowing full well its predatory nature, and [[spoiler:ends up getting stung for his trouble.]]
* CombatPragmatist: The Driver doesn't fight with honor; he fights with whatever he can get his hands on. In the course of the movie he manages to kill or gruesomely injure people by means of a shower curtain rod, a pump-action shotgun he just snitched from a mook, a claw hammer, a knife, his boots and his bare hands. He waits until Nino is tipsy after a party, and then t-bones his car before drowning him.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: He seems socially stunted, rarely speaking or changing expression.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: [[MysteriousPast It's not laboured on]], but it's hinted that the Driver has one of these. The original novel goes into greater detail.
* DoesntLikeGuns: One of his rules is that he never uses a gun, unless it becomes practical. He likely doesn't own one and wants to be the least involved in the crime. The only gun he fires the whole film he takes off one of the hitmen sent to kill him.
* DropTheHammer: [[spoiler:Uses a hammer and a bullet on Cook.]]
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: His real name is never revealed.
* HeroComplex: It comes back to bite him in the ass.
* GetawayDriver: His gig when he's not working as a stunt driver or in Shannon's garage. Shannon sets up the contacts and provides Driver with a car, and he does the rest, under very specific rules.
* HiddenDepths: The Driver, who comes across as a deeply quiet and shy man who has a few minor criminal connections, but is later revealed to have great reserves of anger and darkness within him. His {{Backstory}} was explained in detail in the source novel, but only suggested in the film.
* IconicOutfit: His white satin jacket with embroidered gold scorpion on the back, driving gloves, skinny tight black jeans, light colored madison boots, and a [[DropTheHammer hammer]].
* LimitedWardrobe: He takes his satin jacket everywhere, even when it's noticeably stained with blood. He also only ever seems to wear the same denim shirt under it. Obviously an homage to Ryan O'Neal's character in ''Film/TheDriver''.
* {{Motif}}: [[spoiler: The story of The Scorpion and the Frog is a strong motif for the Driver. His criminal career is marked by his signature silver jacket with a golden scorpion on the back. He themes himself as the titular scorpion of the story but is ultimately revealed to be the good-natured frog. Who ferries the scorpion over the river, only to be attacked midway by the scorpion.]]
* MysteriousPast: It's never revealed who he is, where he comes from, what he did, how he became so skilled...every single thing about the Driver is a big question mark.
* NoKillLikeOverkill: [[spoiler:When he kills the assassin in the elevator, he stomps the absolute shit out of him. Three times probably would've been enough. He goes on for ages.]]
* NoNameGiven: Known only as 'Driver'. The closest to a name we get is Shannon calling him "Kid". The soundtrack refers to him as "Deluxe", which is taken from a pun on Standard's name in the film.
* NotSoStoic: He becomes very angry towards Shannon when he accidentally tells the bad guys about Irene. Also while [[spoiler:stomping a thug's face into mush.]]
* NotWearingTights: Hi's satin jacket with its scorpion motif is akin to this. In interviews, Ryan Gosling and director Nicholas Winding Refn have both likened the character to a superhero.
* OralFixation: He has a habit of leaving a toothpick hanging out of his mouth, allowing him to look cool while pointedly not smoking tobacco.
* TheQuietOne: He is quite reticent, communicating more through his eyes and fleeting smiles than his words. In fact, he speaks fewer than twenty full sentences.
* RedemptionFailure: [[spoiler:Though he tries to do the right thing, he ultimately misses out on being able to live a normal life.]]
* SociopathicHero: He shows signs of this later on, but ultimately [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] it. He may have brutally violent tendencies but by the end of the film, is firmly motivated by good will.
* TheStoic: Ticking him off results in a very small change in his overall manner. [[spoiler:Destroying a man's face by repeatedly kicking him]] and then walking away like nothing happened qualifies for this trope. The only thing that makes him seriously lose his cool is finding out that [[spoiler:Shannon told Bernie about Irene]].
* TranquilFury: He never raises his voice, even when he's breaking your hands or threatening to kick your teeth down your throat.[[spoiler:Even when finding his friend Shannon dead, he doesn't change expression. But his demeanour changes.]]
* UnscrupulousHero: [[spoiler:A brutal, but heroic criminal.]]
* UnstoppableRage: [[spoiler:When he gets angry, he's very capable of this. Nino, Tan Suit and Bernie found out the hard way.]]
* WouldHitAGirl: If you're lying to him. [[spoiler:Blanche]] gets first-hand experience.
-->And now you're lying to me. So how about this? From now on, every word out of your mouth is the truth. Or I'm going to hurt you.
* WouldntHurtAChild: This trope explains why Driver gets involved in Standard's robbery scheme in the first place, to protect Irene's boy who was given a bullet by the mook who beat up Standard. In effect, the desire to protect Irene & her child is what drives Driver throughout the film.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Irene]]
!!Irene
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Drive-Promotional-Stills-carey-mulligan-23625112-940-624_1690.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/CareyMulligan

-->'''Irene''': Sorry about the noise.
-->'''Driver''': [[SarcasmMode I was gonna call the cops.]]
-->'''Irene''': I wish you would.

A single mother who moves in next door to the Driver. She forms a friendship with him while waiting for her husband to be released from prison.
----
* AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder: Toyed with, then averted.
* ArmorPiercingSlap: Gives one to the Driver.
* BrokenBird: Her husband's incarceration took a toll on her and she still seems to have a feeling of betrayal and fear. Mostly [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] though since she isn't bitter like the typical examples.
* GirlNextDoor: To the Driver.
* InnocentBystander: The Driver does not involve Irene and avoids telling her specifics that might make her an associate with him. [[spoiler:In the end, after several more murders, he chooses to never see her again.]]
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Although it's easy to sympathize with her, she did manage to get involved first with Standard and then the Driver. But they're either charming or seemingly harmless, so it's hard to fault her too deeply.
* MoralityPet: For the Driver.
%%* NiceGirl
* RaceLift: In the novel she's a Hispanic woman named Irina. In the film she's played by Carey Mulligan. Ironically, Irene is a valid Hispanic name.
* UnresolvedSexualTension: With the Driver.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Standard]]
!!Standard Gabriel
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/driveproms_cuimage011_4358.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You know, we're here celebrating but it's a shameful thing... what I did. And I have a lot of making up to do to everyone."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/OscarIsaac

Irene's husband who is released from prison after a stint for an unspecified crime (implied to be armed robbery). He still owes protection money to an Albanian gangster from his time in prison.
----
%%* TheAtoner
%%* ButtMonkey
%%* ChewToy
%%* HiddenDepths
* OneLastJob: For Cook, to pay off his debt.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Turns out he is this as a husband. He initially gives off dangerous vibes during his return party and sounds a bit patronizing, but it turns out he genuinely loves his son and wife. He reacts very maturely to his realization that a man has been sniffing around his wife during his absence and respectfully gives them space to settle their affairs.
* RedemptionFailure: [[spoiler:Standard does want redemption, and wants to try. Unfortunately, his past never truly lets go of him and he dies shortly after being released from prison.]]
* RobbingTheMobBank: Although he didn’t know.
* SacrificialLamb: His sudden murder marks the film's jump from being a character study with a crime backdrop into becoming a full fledged violent crime movie.
* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: [[spoiler:He's abruptly shot in the back halfway through the movie.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Benecio]]
!!Benecio
->'''Played By:''' Kaden Leos

Irene's shy young son who bonds with the Driver.
----
* MoralityPet: To the Driver, along with Irene.
* TheQuietOne: He doesn't talk much, which is probably why he gets along so well with the Driver.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Shannon]]
!!Shannon
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/driveproms_cuimage008_167.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"What happened to all the ashtrays in this town?"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/BryanCranston

-->'''Nino''': How you doing, Shannon? [[KickTheDog How's the fucking leg?]]
-->'''Shannon''': I paid my debt.

The Driver's limping, chain-smoking boss who arranges his stunt work and getaway jobs. He was previously indebted to Jewish mobster Nino Paolozzi, and still has a business friendship with Bernie Rose.
----
* AdaptationalVillainy: A minor example. He's just a (very good) stunt driver who took in the young Driver to the line of work in the novel, [[spoiler: and [[PostHumousCharacter died long ago driving off a cliff during a movie shoot]].]]
* AffablyEvil: Much more affable than evil, but he's still a criminal who cheerfully admits to Irene that he severely underpays Driver for what he's worth.
* ButtMonkey: In Bernie's words, he's never had much luck.
* BornUnlucky: Bernie is convinced of this, and he's right.
%%* CoolOldGuy
* GameBreakingInjury: His broken pelvis put a lot of things on hold for him.
* {{Greed}}: Shannon's biggest flaw is his greed, which got his pelvis broken in the first place.
%%* ICouldaBeenAContender
%%* MiserAdvisor
* MotorMouth: Unlike the Driver, Shannon is always making conversation, and later on ends up telling [[spoiler:Bernie about Irene]].
%%* MrFixit
%%* OnlyInItForTheMoney
%%* StupidBoss
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bernie]]
!!Bernie Rose
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/driveproms_cuimage034_4071.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"My partner is a belligerent asshole with his back up against a wall, and now, so am I."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/AlbertBrooks

-->'''Driver''': My hands are a little dirty.\\
'''Bernie''': So are mine.

An affable Jewish mobster, ex-movie producer and Nino Paolozzi's partner. He has a fragile business friendship with Shannon, whom he tolerates out of mild sympathy.
----
* AffablyEvil: One could almost forget Bernie's a mobster, with how amiable he is. [[spoiler:Hell, he genuinely apologizes to Shannon when he slits his wrist and comforts him while as dies, and is visibly shaken with his death afterward. He seems very regretful that all of this violence has to happen.]]
%%* ApologeticAttacker
* BigBadDuumvirate: With Nino.
* BrutalHonesty; He always seems to be giving you the unvarnished truth. [[spoiler:In the end, he promised that the girl was safe, and said outright that he couldn't offer the same to the Driver once they left the restaurant. Sure enough, he stabs him in the parking lot.]]
%%* DeadpanSnarker
* DoesntLikeGuns: He seems to be a KnifeNut and is never seen handling a firearm, even when he goes alone to kill someone.
* EvilOldFolks: He is getting on in age, but he still able to go toe to with the Driver, and he prefers attacking up-close with knifes over using guns.
* EvilerThanThou: [[spoiler: Due to Bernie's level-headedness, you'd think Nino would be the true villain of the story due to his vengeful ambition. But, Bernie is able to execute Shannon, Cook and even fatally injure the Driver. According to his actor, Bernie's kills aren't done in a professional manner, it's more like "Look at what you made me do".]]
%%* HiddenDepths
* KnifeNut: He does all of his killings with bladed weapons. He's even got a very nice box of expensive knives and razors that he puts to good use.
* KosherNostra: He and Nino are crooked Jewish mobsters and serve as the primary antagonists.
* RetiredMonster: According to backstory created by the director and Creator/AlbertBrooks.
%%* VillainousValor
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Blanche]]
!!Blanche
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Christina_Hendricks_Movies_1_278.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/ChristinaHendricks

-->'''Standard''': I can't do this thing alone.
-->'''Cook''': You got Blanche.

Cook's beautiful and quiet moll.
----
%%* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Averted.
* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler:How Nino's men kill her.]]
* DeadStarWalking: [[spoiler:She appears in trailers and is in the top credits, but arguably Cook does more to advance the plot than her.]]
* NotSoStoic: She rarely changes her facial expression, until she ends up in danger.
* TheQuietOne: She has almost no dialogue.
* SacrificialLamb: Her head getting blown apart with a shotgun [[GutPunch signals that this movie means business]].
* SilentSnarker: Even Cook seems to realize when she's being silently snarky toward him.
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Blanche calls the people who set them up and tells them where they are.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Nino]]
!!Nino Paolozzi / Izzy
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MV5BMjU0Mzg3NTU1OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDEwMDk3NQ__V1__SX640_SY426__4711.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I pay three-hundred for something, I want everybody to fucking see it!"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/RonPerlman

A Jewish mobster and Bernie Rose's partner in crime. More aggressive than Bernie, he was responsible for breaking Shannon's pelvis and giving him a limp.
----
* BigBadDuumvirate: With Bernie.
* BigBadWannabe: He's certainly an intimidating criminal, but he wants more and isn't quite as formidable as Bernie.
* TheBully: To Shannon, who he belittles knowing full well Shannon can't/won't fight back.
* CasanovaWannabe: He is implied as such by a vulgar retort Shannon makes to Driver about a(n equally vulgar) comment from Nino regarding one of Shannon's cars. Later, at the party at Nino's pizzeria, Driver sees Nino dancing and cutting up in front of a beautiful woman who ignores him, and he leaves without her, looking irritated.
* TheDragon: Sort of, to Bernie. They're pretty much on equal footing, but Bernie is smarter and savvier. Nino tends to be more subservient to Bernie and doesn't seem able to succeed much without him. Played straighter with the East Coast Mafia.
* TheDogBitesBack: Never seen firsthand in the movie, but he was the dog for the East Coast Mafia and his [[spoiler:attempt to steal from them]] is largely motivated by anger.
* FakeNationality: In-universe example. He's a Jewish man who pretends to be Italian and his real name is actually Isaiah.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Thinks he's a charmingly evil criminal boss. He's only three of those four things.
* HiddenDepths: Nino is actually an insecure man desperate to claim some respect he's never going to get.
* {{Jerkass}}: He isn't particularly nice to Shannon, and because he's so difficult to work with he ends up starting the conflict by [[spoiler:calling the robbery on the east cost mob and wanting the Driver killed afterwards.]]
* KosherNostra: He and Bernie are crooked Jewish mobsters and serve as the primary antagonists. Nino's motivation is never receiving respect from the Mafia because he's not Italian.
* MeaningfulName: Nino is a real Italian name, but in Spanish, it means "child," reflecting both the character's behavior and how the East Coast Mafia doesn't take him seriously (see MotiveRant below).
* MotiveRant: Gives one to Bernie regarding the East Coast Mafia [[spoiler:who he's just robbed.]]
-->''"What fuckin' family? The family who still calls me a fuckin' Kike? To my face! You know, I'm fifty nine years old, Bernie! They still pinch my cheek like I'm some fuckin' kid! Family?"''
* MuggingTheMonster: He robbed [[spoiler:the East Coast Mafia, and much of the conflict comes with his attempts to cover up his betrayal.]]
* SharpDressedMan: Only once. Otherwise, he tends to wear shabby tracksuits.
* SirSwearsALot: As one can tell from the above quotes, Nino is very fond of cursing with most of his dialogue being littered with swear words. It's also worth noting that of all the characters, Bernie is the second worst in this regard, and even he doesn't use half the amount of bad words that Nino uses!
%%* SmugSnake: Nino.
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:His idea to steal from the East Coast Mafia sets the plot in motion and ultimately gets him and his partner killed.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Cook]]
!!Cook
->'''Played By:''' Creator/JamesBiberi

An Albanian gangster to whom Standard owes money.
----
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:He's a sleazy, smug jerk who's rude to everyone, so it's hard to feel sorry for him when Driver breaks his hand with a hammer and later when Bernie kills him.]]
* BaldOfEvil: Very bald, and rather evil.
* BigBadWannabe: He thinks he's the guy in charge, bossing around Standard and the Driver and doing a bit of evil posturing. In reality, he's an expendable and incompetent moron.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: [[spoiler: Gets a fork [[EyeScream impaled in his eye]] and then a butcher knife stabbed into his throat by Bernie]].
* TheDragon: To Nino, albeit not a very effective one.
* EyeScream: [[spoiler:Bernie blinds him by sticking a fork in his eye before killing him.]]
* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler:Bernie and Nino don't trust him not to talk, and given his general incompetence, they're probably right. Bernie subsequently murders him.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: Cook is a needlessly sarcastic asshole to absolutely everyone.
* LoanShark: His gang offered Standard protection in prison, then jumped the price up and used violence to extort him.
* SmugSnake: Cook looks down on the Driver, Standard and Blanche. He insults them and still expects them to work for him. He also tries speaking to Bernie and Nino on their level, which Bernie isn't having any of. In short, he's proud of abilities he's imagined.
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Cook still thinks he can take on the Driver after being thoroughly trashed by him. If he had half a brain, he would have sensed the change in the room's atmosphere in the moments before Bernie kills him.]]
[[/folder]]
----

Characters from the movie ''Film/{{Drive}}''.

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:He's a sleazy, smug jerk so it's hard to feel sorry for him when Bernie kills him.]]

The Driver's limping, chain-smoking boss who arranges his stunt work and getaway jobs. He was previously indebted to Jewish mobster Nino Paolozzi, and stil has a business friendship with Bernie Rose.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: With Nino.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: With Bernie.

* GreedyJew: He and Nino are crooked Jewish mobsters and serve as the primary antagonists.

* GreedyJew: He and Bernie are crooked Jewish mobsters and serve as the primary antagonists. Nino's motivation is never receiving respect from the Mafia because he's not Italian.

->'''Played By:''' James Biberi

%%* HiddenDepths

* HiddenDepths: The Driver, who comes across as a deeply quiet and shy man who has a few minor criminal connections, but is later revealed to have great reserves of anger and darkness within him. His {{Backstory}} was explained in detail in the source novel, but only suggested in the film. Hinted at with both Bernie Rose and Nino; both appear to come off as little more than ruthless and vicious criminals, but Bernie gives the impression at times of a man deeply weary with his life and apparently genuinely eager to set up a stock car racing team with Shannon, while Nino reveals that he's stewing with resentment at never being shown respect by his criminal associates.

* AmbiguousDisorder: While his lack of words is shyness his anger issues are a bit worrying.

* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Hell, he genuinely apologizes to Shannon when he slits his wrist and comforts him while as dies, and is visibly shaken with his death afterward. He seems very regretful that all of this violence has to happen.]]

* BadassGrandpa: He is getting on in age, but he still able to go toe to with the Driver, and he prefers attacking up-close with knifes over using guns.

* RetiredMonster: According to back story created by the director and Creator/AlbertBrooks.