BurtonReviews Baby Driver: The Ultimate Driving Playlist

(Image sourced from http://www.hdwallpapers.in/baby_driver_2017_4k_8k-wallpapers.html)

After a troubled road trying to get the Antman movie off the ground, but creative differences between the director and Marvel Studios, we were robbed of experiencing another one of this man’s phenomenal films. Of course the man I am talking about is one Britain’s most talented directors Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and so many other top notch films). Knowing this injustice couldn’t stand, Wright is back to balance the scales with a high octane heist movie that has a soundtrack every driver will want.

(Video sourced from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTvJJnoWIPk)

 

The story of Baby Driver follows Baby (Ansel Elgot), an enigmatic but insanely talented driver for Kevin Spacey’s ingenious crime-lord, Doc. Trying to pay off a debt to Doc, Baby must complete these heist jobs to earn his freedom and get out of this not so nice business. But with a new set of volatile hardened criminals to work with for each job, getting out of this life of crime is proving to be harder than a flat spin barrel roll that lands into a wheelie.

The plot might seem like a tried and true set of events for a heist movie, but taking a simple plot and elevating it to an all new stylish height is what Edgar Wright has done best, with the cop-action romp of Hot Fuzz, or the romantic zomcom of Shaun of the Dead, and its what he does best with Baby Driver. The element here that elevates Baby Driver above it’s greedy compatriots is its use of music.

After being in an accident as a child, Baby was left with a constant ringing in his ears, to drown that maddening hum out he employs the use of various IPods to give each day its own special musical vibe. This character quirk isn’t only a motif used at a few points in the movie, or a gimmick to make Baby more interesting, it is an integral part of this movies DNA and a guiding hand that’s presence is felt throughout the entirety of the movie.



(Image sourced from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/edgar-wrights-baby-driver-first-look-review-sxsw/)

The first, and obvious benefit, the constant use of awesome licensed music brings is that the epic car chase scenes are made even more heart pounding and enthralling by just the right track accompanying it. But what Edgar Wright does to make this feature more than just a party trick is how this whole world seems to operate on a different rhythm, both in the obvious, and the more subtle ways. Characters, events, and sick drifts, all line up and are executed in time to the head banging track that is bustling through the speakers at the current moment. The attention to detail and amount of planning this must have talent to make the end product line up so perfectly with the chosen songs ins not only staggering, but insanely impressive and had me smiling with glee both in the big action moments when a car flip happens just at the drop of a song, or even when Kevin Spacey’s pointed finger gestures upward exactly with the beat of the song. This film is truly the art of movie-making at its finest.

And this choreographed feel to every single scene, accompanied once again by the perfect song at the perfect moment, gives this film such an energetic and vibrant feel. Just take one of the opening scenes for example. Seeing Baby go and get some coffee doesn’t sound too interesting does it? But when I add that it’s a one shot put to Harlem Shuffle by Bob and Earl, where not only does Baby saunter along to the music in his headphones without a care in the world – as we all do from time to time on our commute to wherever – but so too do the events around him seamlessly work to the music too; a boring scene of a coffee run turns into an energetic glide through the city. And it’s this special ingredient of Wright’s genius use and placement of music that makes every scene in this film no only fly by, but feel fun and worth every second of your eyeballs attention.

And if Wright can make a coffee run a fun experience, just imagine what he does for the set piece heists of the movie. these scenes are bristling with intensity as not only are the vehicular stunts on show impressive as all hell, but the way Wright shoots them makes sure that you can completely follow the path and trajectory of the scenes. Instead of being confused as to where the car is flying off too, you know exactly where it is heading and you’re damn terrified to see if Baby can make it out of this one.

(Image sourced from https://www.destructoid.com/review-baby-driver-445577.phtml)

 

But why are you so terrified for Baby’s safety? Well that’s because not only Baby, but pretty much every single character of Baby Driver has been written excellently, and acted phenomenally. Every relationship seems real and heartfelt, every character’s motivation makes sense and is completely understandable, and every little quirk that builds out Baby Driver’s despicable crew of thieves, or charming loves of Baby’s life, creates a host of characters that are genuinely interesting and incredibly fleshed out instead of the 2D gun-toting thugs they could have been.

And if that wasn’t enough to make this movie intense as hell when it chose to kick it into high gear, then the real world stakes preserved in this heightened constantly foot tapping reality, should really be enough to send you over the edge. Every decision, every jerk of the wheel, every song chosen has consequences attached to them, making you really feel like no one is safe as the car narrowly skirts between oncoming traffic because they wouldn’t be, and so they aren’t, and Wright brutally enforces these real-world rules showing that a life of crime ain’t all sunshine and gags like some movies would have you believe.

Overall Baby Driver is a finely tuned spectacle of a movie. Everything, from the loveable and believable characters of the movie, the heartfelt relationships between them, the eye popping set pieces, to even the day to day moments of Baby’s life are all expertly written and choreographed to not only be energetic and enthralling every single second, but they also work perfectly to the dominating beat of the time and gives Baby Driver a unique sense of identity to really stand out in this heated summer block buster season.

Baby Driver = 9/10

Why not check out my YouTube channel, BurtonReviews, where I upload awesome gaming montages put to badass songs or scores every Sunday. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUfnyezvQsVsDgN3TGRh1Q