Heist films typically are safe bets, provided they are relatively well done and cast, the Ocean films and The Italian Job are fine examples this genre. Baby Driver wasn't something that I was really looking forward to seeing because the previews made it look ridiculous, or really just another obnoxious heist film, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. The film is about a young man who is essentially an expert driver and uses those skills as the getaway driver for a criminal group of people. He (known as Baby) is working towards getting out of the criminal business and moving on to something else. And of course along the way he meets a beautiful woman. His world however, is shaped by the music he listens to; he carefully selects what he listens to before he drives the criminals away, as he drives the criminals away from the authorities, in victory, and then in every day life. It is the music that drives his life. Even though he doesn't necessarily talk much, Ansel Elgort as Baby does a terrific job of getting across a wide range of emotions, thoughts and feelings to the viewer. He is humorous, empathetic, and possesses this genuine nature that makes you want to connect with his character. This of course is an indicator of two things: good writing and good acting. Jon Hamm as Buddy plays essentially this smooth go-lucky criminal who is lighthearted about the criminal activities they are undertaking. You like him and you hate him; villain and scoundrel. Personally I don't care much for this actor, but he did well in this film. Eiza Gonzalez plays Darling, essentially the other half of Jon Hamm's character; they're like Bonnie and Clyde, except more psychotic. Static characters, but they add a necessary dimension to the film. Lilly James as Deborah adds some much needed air into at times a very dark and violent film (hence the R rating). As the love interest of Baby, the two of them together have great chemistry on-screen, and a good deal of delight and empathy as a couple. She once again shows that she has a good deal of talent. Regardless of what people think or say, Kevin Spacey is a phenomenal actor, and that will never change regardless of the allegations made against him. He plays Doc, essentially the ringleader of this merry band of bandits; he is smart, cutthroat, shrewd, and has this laid back sense of humor. There is also this almost mentor kind of relationship with Baby that just works despite how he treats the young man. The last major cast member was Jamie Foxx, and if this film were to have a traditional villain, then he would have been it. He is a fine and talented actor, and he played his role so well that I couldn't stand him in this film at all. This has nothing to do with his performance, but rather his character was just so unlikable. So note to everyone; Jamie Foxx makes an excellent villain.
Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz) wrote and directed the film, and I have to say he did an excellent job with it all. Not only is the story well done and written, but the execution of it was quite good too. Lately in Hollywood a lot of films have good potential but due to poor writing tend to be quite dreadful; fortunately the opposite was true in this case. The action for the most part was quite dynamic and fantastic, with only some of the action towards the ends of the film bordering on the ridiculous or overwhelming. Perhaps what people will remember most from this film will be the music in conjunction with the action sequences. I'm not quite certain how the music was selected, but it worked very well with what was going on-screen. Which was why it was nominated for three Academy Awards in the technical elements categories. The cinematography by Bill Pope was excellent and should have been nominated for an Academy Award. There was this gravitas to the shots and camera angles that along with the music made the film come across as....smooth is the best descriptor. Now this isn't entirely light and fluffy like The Italian Job, but it does have that element peppered throughout the entire film. I was very delighted to find that I ended up very much enjoying the film and I highly recommend it for everyone, unless you prefer your movies 100% fluffy, then this will not be for you.Baby Driver opening scene
Baby Driver interview
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