Let me start off by saying that this has absolutely been my favorite film this summer, this year, and probably from the past few years. Directed by Edgar Wright, you can expect it to draw you in with its stunning visuals and cinematography. The fast-paced story was driven well by the amazing cast, led by Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, and Jon Hamm among others. This movie has so much heart and dedication put into it that any moviegoer can enjoy it in its entirety.
Baby, played by Ansel Elgort, is a getaway driver that owes jobs to a crime boss (Kevin Spacey) after an incident in his past. Running multiple heists with big name stars such as Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx is what Baby does best. He proves to be a professional driver, as his motor skills are unmatched by even the police. The dynamic between Baby and all of his criminal passengers was very well-developed, especially between Hamm and Foxx's characters. We see Baby and Buddy (Hamm) go from close acquaintances who understand each other to enemies within a few scenes, as well as Bats (Foxx) going from outwardly skeptical to, well... dead (his fault). Anyways, the performances from all of the actors were astounding, which gave the film so much heart and passion.
My favorite relationship in the film, however, was between Baby and his newfound girlfriend Debora. I tend to criticize romantic relationships in movies constantly, since I never find any of it realistic. However, this movie did a good job with maintaining balance and not turning it into a "I-would-do-anything-for-love" setting. Baby and Debora met in the diner where she was working, and Baby instantly fell for her (it's Lily James, understandable). They maintained a fantastic relationship throughout, and understood each other's needs and complexities, which was handled well.
One of the main attractions of this movie, in my opinion, was Wright's stupendous use of music to push along and assist the story. Baby has tinnitus, which was caused by an accident when he was younger involving his mother and father, causing him to wear earbuds and listening to his music consistently throughout the film. The soundtrack is an amazing collection of music that perfectly fits the mood of every scene that Baby is drowning out. Ranging from The Commodores to Simon and Garfunkel, the music is what makes this film so unique. Knowing that whatever song you may be hearing in the film is what Baby is currently experiencing gives it so much more depth than any generic orchestral background music. This was the biggest draw-in for me, as I am a music nerd and a sucker for a movie with a good soundtrack. But the soundtrack for this movie was much more than a soundtrack, as it drove the pace along and made the film absolutely brilliant.
Baby Driver has been the most fun and enthralling experiences I have had in a theater since Interstellar. While this does not happen often, I have zero issues or complaints with this movie, and it is definitely Oscar-worthy for its ingenious use of music integration into the story. I highly recommend this movie, as it is an experience like none other.
My Rating: ★★★★★
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