best film of 2017

Rating: Null/10 (30 September 2017)

Go watch Baby Driver- the best film of the year till date.
Baby Driver is a unique movie, creates its own category- that of a heist musical. Yes, you read it right, and let me explain. At its core, Baby driver is as old school as it gets- it is about rollicking car chases and near crazy criminals. Juxtapose that background on the central character, Baby, who is a demon of a getaway car driver, and who views life through music, and there you have a heist musical- an exhilarating experience I must say. No superhero or transforming robot big bashes, just a straight forward stylishly made romantic action comedy running on gallons of nitrous oxide.
Was he slow?
So what is unique about Baby, played by an excellent Ansel Elgort? He makes remixes out of everyday conversations, and turns his world into music. He is addicted, nay dependent, on music because of his tinnitus condition- he needs to play music to cancel out the continuous ringing in his ears. So director Edgar Wright takes this a step further to make everyday activity a part of Baby's soundtrack. Everything that happens in the movie- a car rushing past, a man typing, a message coming on the phone- will work with the beats, in a fluidic way that is almost impossible to imagine, let alone execute. Hats off to Mr. Wright then.
But its not all style, there is tons of substance too. Baby in the past tried to rob Doc (Kevin Spacey), got caught and now is trying to pay off his debt by being the driver for the heists that Doc plans. One last job is what he is due, but once you are in crime, there is no last job so there is that. And then he meets Debora (Lily James), the love of his life, the reason to get out of crime. Do the stars align? Is Baby able to turn a new leaf? Do the lovebirds get to walk away in the sunset? All this to the tune of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Bob & Earl, The Beach Boys, Queen, Simon & Garfunkel T. Rex, Beck and many more.
The stars do an exceptional job too. Ansel Elgort and Lily James embody an old world chemistry and charisma. Spacey is Spacey- super cool, Jamie Foxx as Bats is scary, Jon Hamm and Eiza Gonzales as lovers in crime are great, while CJ Jones as Baby's foster father brings tons of sensitivity to a 100 mph movie. In fact it is not only about the stars. Every one- the extras, the bits and pieces actors perform like flawless beats in a chart topping soundtrack.
Baby Driver is what movies are all about. Awesome music- check. Great plot- check. Excellent direction- check. Superb acting- check. Flaws in the movie- nil. Don't believe? Watch it and find out.