Confident, swaggering heist jukebox comedy thriller that will blow you away

Rating: 10/10 (12 July 2017)

Title not enough to go on for my thoughts on this movie? That's OK; I'm cool to go deeper.
This movie is the latest film to be directed by Edgar Wright, the same hyperactive auteur behind the Cornetto trilogy - Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End - and also Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. All of these films are fantastic and very much some of the best movies of the modern century, let alone some of the best comedies. His films do feature very whip sharp dialogue and editing, along with very faithful homages to the genre he's satirising/straight up directing for. This film is no different.
Principally, this movie is in a genre that's hard to pin down: it could very much fit into any one of those that I listed in the title of this review, because it inhabits each of them equally. The way it utilises the comedy and thriller elements are typically brilliant of an Edgar Wright project, but even still, the editing is on top form here. This is really apparent during the action scenes, where the action is cut to the music i.e. gunshots that play to drum beats, or the actual timing of the beginning and ends of the action scenes being on point. It extends beyond into how Baby interacts with Debora at the launderette, and builds a really, REALLY infectious kineticism with the movie that its exceptional.
The filmmaking is solid, but also the writing is great as well. Everything that is set up within the film comes into play at some point, and in very unexpected ways that are genius - even the spelling of Debora's name comes into play, or a particular song being used in a way that you wouldn't expect it to be. There's also the inclusion of a kind-of Antagonist switch at the final act of the movie; I haven't seen that in a long time. This originality, and not patronising the audience with stuff they've seen before is totally refreshing.
And then we have the acting. Ansel Elgort, who's best known for The Fault in our Stars, is really giving a new start to his career as this charming, cool, but also quietly powerful performance as Baby, who is aware that he's playing alongside dangerous criminals but also has standards that come into play throughout the film. Additionally, his chemistry with Lily James is quite endearing and sweet, and realistic for a pair of 17 year olds.
Kevin Spacey is in this film, giving his best film performance in a long time, as the mob boss Doc who is both a parental figure to Baby but also is very demanding of him in a deep kind of way. His presence in the film is a welcome one to keep the thriller and comedic elements afloat.
However, the two best performances in the film - and I WILL state that they are Oscar worthy here - are by Jamie Foxx as 'Bats' and Jon Hamm as 'Buddy'. Both are the subject of that Antagonist switch I mentioned earlier, and the way they are utilised as direct threats to Baby and everything he has are genius. These characters are both individually fantastic: they are in equal measures terrifying and hilarious at the same time, and get some great lines. There's also supporting performances by Jon Bernthal at the beginning very briefly as a gangster, Eiza Gonzalez as Buddy's wife Darling who is equally awesome, and a heart warming performance by deaf actor CJ Jones as Baby's foster father.
In short, see this movie. I predict it'll get no awards attention even though it sorely deserves it, and I would love it if it did. Just make sure you see it in a cinema and get the best experience you can with it.