Presented in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer of Drive looks excellent. Most of the film looks to have been shot under low or natural light and has a stylized color palette; both are supported quite well by deep black levels and strong color definition. A handful of indoor sequences tend to look a little soft and flat on occasion, but close-ups, outdoor scenes and cityscapes are extremely crisp and textured. Digial problems (including DNR, edge enhancement, aliasing and compression artifacts) don't seem to be an issue here. Overall, this is a capable effort that fans should be pleased with.

Similarly, the audio mix is up to the challenge. Presented in Dolby DTS-HD Master Audio, this largely quiet film is filled with subtle atmospheric touches and opens up during action sequences and music cues. Cliff Martinez's score is also quite hypnotic at times; though it doesn't fill the soundstage like his work for Stephen Soderbergh's Traffic, the effect is still potent. Other surround activity is infrequent but noticeable, with strong channel separation and clarity from start to finish. Optional English and Spanish subtitles, as well as English SDH captions, are included during the film and bonus material.

Seen below, this one-disc release is housed in a standard-width Blu-Ray case with attractive dual-sided artwork and a few promotional inserts (not shown). Menu designs are smooth, practical and easy to navigate; unfortunately, they're prefaced by at least a half-dozen trailers which can only be skipped individually. The 110-minute main feature has been divided into roughly 20 chapters, no obvious layer change was detected and this Blu-Ray appears to be locked for Region "A" playback only.

"Drive Without a Driver" (25:41) is next, and this interview with director Nicolas Winding Refn digs a bit deeper than the earlier featurettes. From start to finish, this sit-down chat talk about Refn's earlier projects, Driver's journey from Universal Studios rejection to the independent route, working with a $10M budget, casting, cinematography and the journey to the Cannes Film Festival. It's a relatively low-key but engaging session, even if there is a bit of overlap between this and some of the featurettes.

Last is a collection of Previews (6 clips, 14:11 total) that also plays before the main menu, but Driver's trailer is not included. All extras are presented in 1080p and include optional English subtitles.

Oh, and there's also an Ultraviolet Copy available via an online code, if that floats your boat.

Drive is a pulsing, suspenseful and layered film at times...yet the third act plays out more like a one-note revenge fantasy, for better or for worse. It's an odd mixture that may feel more seamless in the right mood, but one can't deny the film's strong performances, memorable score and thick atmosphere. Sony's Blu-Ray isn't fully loaded but gets the job done, pairing a fantastic technical presentation with a small assortment of quality bonus features. The film's dark subject matter doesn't lend itself to broad appeal, but interested parties should consider Drive worth a serious look. Recommended.

NOTE: The above images were obtained from promotional outlets and do not represent Blu-Ray's native 1080p resolution.