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Edgar Wright, the writer and director of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End, has come back once again to make another action-packed film with loads of humor and his own signature style.
Plot
Baby (played by Ansel Elgort) is a getaway driver for ruthless criminals who need to escape from their heists with speed and precision. As Baby falls in love with a waitress named Deborah (Lily James), he decides to stay out of the driving business for good. Unfortunately, Baby’s boss (Kevin Spacey) values his driving skills too much and is not ready to let him go.
Action
This film’s action holds the advantage of diversity. None of the action set pieces feel the same. Each piece comes with its own sense of intensity, escalation, and in some cases, humor. As the movie carries on, you feel more and more compelled to gasp while the action drives you to places you did not expect.
Writing
Edgar Wright showcases a lot of his filmmaking skills and prowess in Baby Driver. You can see his signature touch through his smart-ass humor and his perfect organization of pacing that doesn’t leave a dull moment in the plot. For the fans of Edgar Wright’s projects, you will definitely notice his subtle cinematography choices that reference his earlier works. Wright also made perfect casting choices. Jon Hamm always came across as the likeable criminal in the bunch, while Jamie Foxx’s charismatic performance stole the show on many occasions. Although he writes many things well for Baby Driver, there is an obvious flaw with Wright’s character development. Some of the relationships between characters feel very underdeveloped. There were a few moments in the movie where I did not know if Baby’s boss was his enemy or his mentor. I also felt that the romance between Baby and Deborah was clearly rushed. It felt like they went from acquaintances to lovers at the snap of a finger.
Soundtrack
I believe that Baby Driver’s soundtrack is the key element in making it stand out from all the other action films of recent memory! It’s not about what music was chosen. It’s about how the music was used. All of the tracks weave perfectly into every scene! The music influences everything from tone to pacing. The action moves with the tunes in a phenomenal fashion, such as matching the rhythm of gunshots to the rhythm of drum beats. The music made the action scenes more intense than they already were, which I didn’t even think was possible. If Baby Driver will be remembered for anything in the future, it will be for the use of its soundtrack!
Verdict
Baby Driver has one obvious error that keeps it from being a perfect film, but Edgar Wright does so many things well that makes his latest project a must-watch!
8.5/10
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