Breezy crime film is pure cinema!

Rating: 9/10 (13 August 2017)

Snappy crime film from writer/director Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"). Ansel Elgort, an actor who I was previously not familiar with but who is excellent, plays Baby, a young getaway driver paying off a debt to crime boss Kevin Spacey by pulling jobs for him. Baby is near the end of paying off his debt and getting out, but as with most crime films about criminals trying to leave the life, it pulls them back in. That synopsis does not do this film justice because Wright tells his story in a supremely cinematic of fashion. What I mean by that is that he tells his story in a way that it would not be the same if it were told in a book, a graphic novel, TV show, or other format. "Baby Driver" is pure cinema. Baby wears headphones throughout the film to buffer the constant ringing in his ears from a childhood accident that killed his parents, which allows Wright to give this film an amazing playlist of the first order that includes everything from Dave Brubeck to The Dammed to Queen to Young MC. This is easily my favorite film soundtrack in a very long time! And as you would expect from a story about a getaway driver, Wright delivers a series of dizzying and thrilling car chase sequences, each better than the last. The film also boasts a strong supporting cast that besides Spacey includes Jon Hamm & Eiza GonzÃ¡lez as a husband/wife crime duo, Jamie Foxx as a dangerous nutcase, and Lily James as Baby's new girlfriend Debora. Everyone's performance is great all around, but this is really Edgar Wright's show and they're just living in it (or at least fleshing it out). With constant references to other genre films, this movie one that is a must see for cinephiles!