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4 THRILLING BLU-RAYS ON REPEAT IN OUR TEST ROOM THIS MONTH
What Hi-Fi UK
|Awards 2025
In the run up to the What Hi-Fi?
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Awards, the past few months have involved us testing oodles of TV and AV kit in our dedicated facilities. To put all this kit to the test, we rely on a variety of different discs to challenge every aspect of each product's performance. But what films and TV shows have we been using this month? These four have been our main go-to test discs.
THE DRIVER (1978)
Before the 2011 Ryan Gosling vehicle (geddit?) Drive, came The Driver. Walter Hill's 1978 cult classic starred Ryan O'Neal playing another laconic character who has no name but is really rather good at driving. Despite the similarities, The Driver is even more enigmatic, in that none of the characters in the film has a name, or much of a backstory, or any ethics whatsoever.
The plot concerns a detective (Bruce Dern) enlisting O'Neal's getaway driver to take part in a sting to retrieve some stolen money. But don't worry too much about that, just concentrate on the car chases in all their destructive glory. Three years ago, the movie was remastered in 4K, showing off the gleaming bodywork of those vintage coupes in even more detail. And, sonically, it's a love letter to the V8, so you'd better warn the neighbours if you plan on watching it late at night.
Its cinematic legacy is assured, with fans including Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright and Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn. But its legacy extends even to video games. PS1 game
This story is from the Awards 2025 edition of What Hi-Fi UK.
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