Hi again, movie fans!
Today's review is one of my more challenging jobs: I need to convince you to see one of the most original bad guys movies of all time...and do so without giving away anything of substance! Harder task: How do I really describe the offbeat, one-of-a-kind film?
First, the title: Baby Driver: Huh? Baby is the young star in the sunglasses in the picture above. He's always wired into rock music. He's quiet. He's mysterious. He's kind...and lives in a very violent world. We get to know him through flashbacks. And through his silence.
Baby drives a car like no one can! You see, he's the getaway driver for the bad dudes who pull bank heists. When the heists take place, Baby is in the car dialing up his heavy rock, usually a song by Queen, getting ready to do amazing feats with the car.
Enticing? Hardly!
OK, I'm not a great fan of spinning car movies. Sure, I was glued to the screen when Gene Hackman chased the druggies in The French Connection, and I will never forget Steve McQueen driving the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt. But no movie can be based on great chase scenes alone.
The beauty of this film is that it does so much: It presents bad guys like you've never seen. Baddest of all: Keven Spacey. Second and third baddest: Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm. Poor Jon...will he ever stop being Don Draper in Mad Men? YES! He's finally out of that role with this film! He is downright wicked!
More: The movie presents a very touching and memorable love story. In the midsts of all the action, the young male protagonist, Baby, falls in love with the beautiful waitress played by Lily James. The love motif has a true Romeo and Juliet feel. Absolutely captivating.
Before long, it's the lovers on the run. Now the film is like Bonnie and Clyde! What?
Yeah, confusing. As I noted, this film does so much: It does love, crime, action, and even some witty comedy. It grabs you with plot, characters, music, dialog.
It grabs you and does not let go
Who plays the young dude who lives for his rock music? Ansel Engort. Who? He was apparently the lead in The Fault in our Stars, the film for teens about young folks dealing with serious illnesses. He's GREAT!
One reason you'll feel sympathy for the young man is that he's actually forced into the role of getaway driver. And he's so caring toward his elderly, mute foster father. He's just plain likable!
This film has been getting rave reviews. Online, it has a 97% approval rating. Viewers are abuzz about this unique work of art.
RUN out and see it....and watch folks on the RUN!
My rating: A+ A film that is unlike anything you've seen. Enjoy!
At a time when black is white and up is down, I now find myself loving a hero/action movie in Wonder Woman, AND now I love a bank robber/car chase thriller. LOVED Baby Driver! Like most excellent films, one can tell from the first frame that this movie is going to be different. That it cares about creativity and surprising the viewer. Competing with Ansel Ergot for main character is the scoring – absolutely breathtakingly brilliant. The 35-song soundtrack scoring is timed to the action with perfection. It has been called “a playlist that happens to have a crime film attached.” Was that the rattle of an automatic or a snare drum riff? I can’t even convey this well, but if you see it, pay particular attention to Tequila!
ReplyDeleteOutside of the innovative music inclusion, I wouldn’t agree with David here that Baby Driver is “unlike anything you’ve seen,” because I can see many nods to earlier films throughout this one. But I take that as an homage. I saw this film at Alamo Drafthouse (best venue for any film-goer), and before the movie they showed a long piece by Baby Driver director, Edgar Wright, in which he lists his own top films for car chases, car crashes, etc. He cites his many influences. Great artistry is built as a scaffold. The job of integrating action to song belongs to choreographer (yes!), Ryan Heffington. Read more about him here. http://ew.com/movies/2017/07/08/baby-driver-choreographer-ryan-heffington-ansel-e
Hi Valerie. So glad we agree that this is a special film...brilliantly done and captivating! You seem to disagree with my statement, "Baby Driver is unlike anything you've ever seen." I have a hunch that's because I was not precise enough. Yes, there have been myriads of car chase films, including Bullitt, French Connection, and Gone in 60 Seconds. But can you recall any of these with the song motif? With music blaring most of the time? Or can you recall any of these with a dude as different and weird as our young protagonist? I'd also point to the originality of the theme of the young man having to drive to pay off a debt...and I'd underscore the originality of the love motif. Would you agree with me now? David
ReplyDeleteNo, Brother David. Remember, I did say, "Outside of the innovative music inclusion..." Having to stay in a world of crime, and just do that "one more job to pay off a debt," have seen it. Love motif? oh, please, they often do. Now, you're expecting titles as evidence. I'll get them to you. :-) (For now, I offer http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1674479/the-5-key-films-that-inspired-baby-driver-according-to-edgar-wright) But, I don't see any of this as an indictment, rather an homage, much like La La Land was (whose director proudly admits that he had many, many "borrowed" references to other musicals). If a movie has even one completely original approach as BD does, that's enough. I would see Baby Driver again in a heartbeat, and have already snagged that 35-piece soundtrack. Peace~
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie. Your persuasive skills as a master teacher are showing! I stand corrected. We both loved this film. Yes indeed, I could see again right now. Wish they'd make more like this. Your friend, David
ReplyDeleteMe, too! This one gives me hope.
ReplyDeleteHey, there's always room for varying opinions. This was a fun discussion, friend.