I like this film for simple reasons: Walter Hill had so much to do with making it. He both wrote and directed it. However, in the Trivia section here, someone mentioned Walter Hill wrote "The Getaway" (1972), starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw. That is absolutely incorrect. Jim Thompson wrote "The Getaway"; Hill wrote the screenplay, a significant difference. McQueen had read a 25 cent paperback copy and produced it, with Sam Peckinpah (like McQueen, another renegade himself) directed it. I want to mention McQueen and MacGraw fell in love during the making of that film, which drew even more attention to it. Although she was married to Robert Evans, the CEO of Paramount (perhaps the most powerful man in Hollywood), it didn't make any difference; that shows how much women were drawn to Steve McQueen. I don't mean to infer they weren't in love; they truly were, and got married shortly after it was released. However, my main point is not to deride Walter Hill; it is the opposite: He has made so many very good action films; whether by writing stories, screenplays, and/or directing them. I am not a huge Ryan O'Neill fan. I do respect him, and know he was in some very big hit movies in the 1970's and 1980's. Ironically, he co-starred with Ali MacGraw in "Love Story" (1970), 1 of the largest grossing films of the era. It had a very young (25 year old) Tommy Lee Jones in his very 1st role, as well. Back to this film. "The Driver" is 1 of countless "car chase" films that have been made to this day; all of which "Bullitt" (1968) started. Most people don't realize in "Bullitt", they were actually driving at full speed. They got up to 124 mph in older, heavier cars, and McQueen did most of his own driving, along with 9 of the best stunt drivers in the world. There were no real special effects (of course, no CGI) then. Regardless, "The Driver" is worth the watch. Walter Hill deserves all the credit in the world for this, and so many other (better) films. Do watch it.
Review of The Driver
