One of 2017's Brightest Films (So Far...)

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2017)

Baby Driver, stars Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey and is the latest film written and directed by Edgar Wright. Baby Driver, tells the story of, Baby, a getaway driver who finds himself taking part in a heist that is doomed to fail. Now I have been a huge Edgar Wright fan for years now, he brings such a unique flavour to Hollywood with his creative storytelling, and distinctive editing. All of his films feel fresh and it's easy to tell a lot of heart gets poured into them and Baby Driver is no exception.
I had not seen anything for the film prior to seeing to it, apart from a few T.V. spots here and there, so I was walking into theatre with a fresh pair of eyes and I left with such a giddy feeling. Baby Driver is a real good film, it has tight editing, a good story and rich characters, I could really see this movie standing the test of time and becoming a "classic" in the years to follow. The film meticulously crafted, with many scenes in time with the rhythm of the music to go along with the theme of the film and the protagonist's love for music.
All the leads give good performances, especially Ansel Elgort who I really bought into as someone who is a hermit and doesn't speak much, and Jamie Foxx who was super menacing. There came a point halfway through the film where Foxx's character really got under my skin, and that wasn't solely due to the great writing but also the intensity he brought to his role. Now the only minor complaint I have is from Jon Hamm, although the role was legitimately written for him, there was something about his performance that just felt off. I'm not sure whether he just felt old for the role, or if it had something to due with how he portrayed his character or if it was my preconceived notion of Jon Hamm always being a good charismatic guy, he was still good nonetheless, I think I had just expected more.
Now although I really enjoyed this film from start-to-finish, I did find the first half of the movie to be pretty by-the-numbers, I understand it was meant to set up for a crazy third act, I just felt a little underwhelmed by the first forty-five minutes. Also I found the very end of the climax to be a little hokey, it seemed to have went a little too over-the-top, but the rest of the movie makes up for these small complaints.
Overall Baby Driver, was a really solid film. I've been impressed with the amount of big budget original films we've gotten so far this year and I am happy to say that this film ranks up there with some of the best released in 2017. I do highly recommend going out to see this film, especially in theatres, as it is a unique film that isn't solely made for the purpose of the studio cashing in. I cannot wait to watch this movie again and really tear into the easter eggs scattered throughout. Baby Driver was a solid outing from Edgar Wright and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing what else he has up his sleeve and for that reason, Baby Driver gets a 8.5/10.