"Baby Driver"- One of the year's coolest flicks! Sharp, exciting and endlessly charming!

Rating: 9/10 (13 July 2017)

Edgar Wright is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and electrifying minds in the world of modern filmmaking. After a more humble beginning in the world of shorts, low-budget features and television work, he shot to super-stardom with the delightful 2004 horror-comedy "Shaun of the Dead", and his ascent has not slowed since. With his famous "Cornetto" trilogy and the outstanding "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" under his belt, we were all wondering what would be next for this mastermind of cinema.
And he certainly does not disappoint with the phenomenal "Baby Driver"- a sort-of throwback film that pays tribute to the numerous tropes and clichés of the crime genre and the many famous heist movies of the past... all while being punctuated with Wright's trademark kinetic direction and dynamic comedy. The film is very much a labor of love from a fan (and fanatic) of film and media, and comes across as a wonderful and heartfelt tribute to the movies he loves. The result is one of the most wildly entertaining films of the Summer, and indisputably one of the flat- out coolest movies of the year. Filled to burst with non-stop thrilling action set-pieces, laugh-out-loud gags, endless charm and razor- sharp wit.
We follow "Baby" (Ansel Elgort), a young man in his early 20's who works as a getaway driver for criminal mastermind "Doc" (Kevin Spacey) in order to repay an old debt. Despite his young age and even younger appearance, Baby is the best there is at what he does. However, he's become increasingly disillusioned by his life of crime and seeks to escape it once his debt is repaid, especially after meeting a gorgeous and kind-hearted young woman named Debora (Lily James) who seems to bring out the best in him. However, things take an interesting turn when his latest job places him in a car with an unhinged and violent criminal called "Bats" (Jamie Fox) and a troubled Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque couple. (Jon Hamm and Eiza González) And the volatile and dangerous combination of conflicting personalities may very well threaten their ability to complete the task at hand...
To start, the cast is just magnificent. Ansel Elgort makes for a fantastic protagonist and plays the role to perfection. He's cool, calm and collected when the story calls for it, but also vulnerable and extremely open and likable when necessary. An amazing role for such a young performer. I also had a lot of fun with Spacey in his role as "Doc"- a slimy kingpin of crime that suits Spacey well... though also with a touch of humanity these characters sometimes lack. Despite being a bit ruthless, you get the feeling he actually does care about Baby and the others... not necessarily as "friends" but just on a human level, which was refreshing. You'll hate him at times... and yet you'll also genuinely love him at other moments. Lily James is absolutely adorable and a wonderful addition, and though she might lack some development, she's a key character and James does a great job. Hamm, Fox and González are all just superb and seem to be having the time of their lives playing such treacherous, evil criminal characters. Particularly Hamm, who gets some really fun moments to sink his teeth into. And I also gotta give a shoutout to CJ Jones, who portrays Baby's deaf foster-father Joseph. It's a small role, but a memorable one and it lent a lot to the movie by giving Baby a great emotional core when we see him at home.
But of course the real star here is writer/director Wright, who injects so much "cool" into the film, I wouldn't be surprised if the Blu-Ray release came with a mini leather jacket and pair of Oakley sunglasses to wrap around the disc! The most noticeable part of the film- and indeed one of its biggest treats- is the keen use of its soundtrack. In the film, the character of Baby suffers from the condition tinnitus, which he combats by constantly listening to music of all types, and this music is then incorporated into the film as the background music score many scenes. And it's extremely well done, with several key sequences choreographed and edited to match the beats. It may sound like a gimmick, but trust me... when you see a gun-battle set to the song "Tequila", your blood will be pumping. Wright's delightful visual flourishes are also on full display throughout the rest of the film, with many sequences being almost psychotically breath-taking. The car-chases here are among the best ever realized, and even the quieter moments (such as an amusing opening credits dance-sequence as Baby strides down the street) are meticulously well-planned.
"Baby Driver" seemingly came out of nowhere for me, and yet I'd now say it's without doubt my favorite film of the Summer. While I am going to dock a single point from my score due to the film needlessly dragging a bit too much at times in the second act, I can't help but completely recommend it to anyone and everyone. The cast is outstanding. The music addicting. The action awe- inspiring. And it's just the most fun I've had at the theaters in a long, long time. Edgar Wright delivers another winner in his near-flawless filmography, and I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve for his next project. Maybe we'll finally get that long-rumored "Hot Fuzz 2"? Either way, "Baby Driver" gets a near-perfect 9 out of 10 from me. See it... see it now!