Baby Driver is written and directed by Edgar Wright. The filmmaker behind such films as ‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’. Wright has often been lauded as a comic genius which makes the fact that Baby Driver succeeds even more special. The film though comedic is a drastic departure from the director’s previous work.
Baby Driver is essentially the sausage of movies. It’s made up of a bunch of different genres and it turned out to be absolutely delicious from start to finish. Featuring some of the best performances by the movies mostly seasoned cast in quite some time. While Kevin Spacey is thriving on TV his most recent work on the big screen has been largely sub-par. I’m looking at you ‘Nine Lives’, I’m looking at you. In Baby Driver, however, Spacey delivers a vintage performance on par with his work in ‘House of Cards’ and ‘L.A. Confidential’. Spacey plays the ringleader of a small network of criminals in the Atlanta area that he uses to perform various illegal jobs for him across the city. The scale of these jobs varies throughout the course of the film showing the audience just how plugged in he is into the underworkings of the city. Foxx and Hamm play associates of Spacey’s character in the film and both deliver excellent performances. This is Jamie Foxx’s best work since ‘Django Unchained’ hands down. His character is ruthless, suspicious and driven and after watching the film it’s extremely difficult to picture anyone else taking on the role. Especially once his interactions with the film’s title character Baby really begin to heat up.
Ansel Elgort brings the character of Baby to life in a way that’s very rare in modern cinema. He completely owns the character and since there’s not pre-existing IP behind it, Elgort is fully able to develop a brand new character who is familiar, yet entirely fresh. His journey throughout the story has been seen before in various other films, but in ‘Baby Driver’ it is portrayed in such a way that you forget you know what’s coming. Without venturing into spoiler territory Baby’s profession in the film associates him with Spacey and his crew. Leading him down a path of a very high risk, high reward lifestyle. This lifestyle provides some of the most heartfelt and dramatic beats throughout the film and is ultimately what makes the movie so special.
Amidst the insanity that takes place in the film, ‘Baby Driver’ never becomes too dark or too light. It could have easily veered in either direction at any given point but yet it remains on track. Even while including multiple love stories throughout the course of the film, with multiple characters. This is normally a death sentence for a film, but this not any other film. Both Elgort’s and Hamm’s characters have love interests that are essential for the progression of the film from a narrative perspective. Yet they never feel forced. The love stories add a sense of depth to the situations throughout the film which could have easily been throwaway action scenes without them. Furthermore, the action within the film is top notch seemed to be nearly entirely practical. Adding to the overall tactile feel of the film.
The balancing act Edgar Wright pulls off in ‘Baby Driver’ is truly a crowning achievement. Effortlessly balancing action, romance, and comedy all within the overall context of the story. Resulting in what I believe is Wright’s best film to date. This a truly a must see film and I urge everyone to go out and experience it for themselves.
‘Baby Driver’ – 9 out of 10
