Driven

Based on true events, Driven follows pilot/drug runner Jim (Jason Sudeikis) as he agrees to work for the FBI as an informant after he’s caught with $3 million worth of cocaine – with the narrative detailing Jim’s friendship with next-door neighbor John DeLorean (Lee Pace) and his eventual efforts at incorporating him into his illicit activities. Filmmaker Nick Hamm does an effective job of instantly cultivating an intriguing, compelling atmosphere, as Driven boasts a stirring and briskly-paced opening stretch that establishes the late ‘70s environment and proliferation of colorful, larger-than-life characters – with Sudeikis’ typically ingratiating turn as the smarmy protagonist certainly holding plenty of promise. The stirring vibe is thoroughly enhanced by the arrival of Pace’s almost ridiculously charismatic figure on the scene, and it’s clear, too, that a pivotal early sequence, in which DeLorean delivers an impassioned speech selling his product to potential investors, only enhances the movie’s completely captivating feel. It’s disappointing to note, then, that Driven slowly-but-surely begins to lose its grip on the viewer as it progresses into its comparatively underwhelming midsection, with the decision to focus almost entirely on Jim’s far-from-fascinating exploits (eg Jim’s sketchy friends wreak havoc at a party at DeLorean’s house) paving the way for an overly familiar, been-there-done-that second act – which proves especially disappointing given the massive potential afforded by the undercurrent of DeLorean happenings (ie it often seems like there’s a much more interesting, more engrossing film playing out in the margins). The film’s final stretch, detailing a suspenseful sting operation, ensures that Driven ends on a fairly compelling note, and yet the mostly by-the-numbers nature of Colin Bateman’s screenplay ultimately confirms the picture’s place as a disappointing missed opportunity.

**1/2 out of ****