Edgar Wright careers back into the cinema with his best film yet and an unforgettable character in Baby Driver, which will have you singing along to the killer soundtrack whilst gripping the edge of your seat.
The story follows Baby (Ansel Elgort, The Fault in Our Stars) who works for the crime boss, Doc (Kevin Spacey, House of Cards), as a getaway driver along with a different line up of robbers each time.
Baby gets through the heists and everyday life with his wide-ranging playlist and always makes sure he has the right tune for the right moment. He needs the music to drown out the tinnitus he suffered in a crash at a young age.
Edgar Wright uses this device as the perfect vehicle for having music bleed into every scene and even direct the action of the killer car sequences. So the soundtrack really becomes one of the stars of the movie.
When Baby is forced into another job with a wild robbery crew line-up, they manage to fail even with Doc’s usually fail safe plans and are now trying to avoid being caught by the police.
This means that Baby and those that he cares for, are in danger including his new-found romance with diner waitress Debora (Lily James, Cinderella). Now he must use his skills, wit and music to help him escape this chaos.
In an era where most films we see nowadays are reboots and sequels – both good and bad – Baby Driver speeds onto the screen with an original story which gets you hooked from beginning to end.
Edgar Wright retains his trademark ability of blending action and comedy so effortlessly, as well as being able to have the action and movement of the characters match so perfectly with the rhythm of each song.
He also brings his standout visual style to the story, one scene in particular is when Baby is dancing in the street to Harlem Shuffle and the lyrics can be seen on graffiti and signs as he passes them.
This definitely ranks alongside Guardians of the Galaxy as having one of the coolest movie soundtracks in recent memory, with a funk, rock and R&B based sound and each song perfectly compliments each scene.
Especially during the action scenes, where you feel so pumped up from just listening to the songs, which are mostly hand selected and talked about by the other characters as though they are another character to be introduced.
You will definitely be listening to this soundtrack on repeat, once you’ve heard it. Good luck trying to get Bellbottoms by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion out of your heads.
Ansel Elgort is fantastic as protagonist Baby, he has the charm and wit that makes you love him, but also shows a more vulnerable side in scenes where he is threatened with his past and those he cares about.
He also shows great rhythm and passion, when it comes to the music. Lily James makes a great female lead providing the more sweeter moments in the film, and the chemistry between her and Elgort is entertaining to watch.
Kevin Spacey was great as Doc and he sure does play a villain well, making him intimidating and the type of guy you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of. He could have easily made him a generic bad guy with no empathy towards Baby but he has got some good scenes to work with.
Jamie Foxx brings the badass and cool factor that he has shown in his previous roles to make Bats a fun character to watch. Jon Hamm and Eiza Gonzalez work great together a Bonnie and Clyde-esque couple and Hamm in particular has spot on comedic timing in his scenes, as well as progressing into a more menacing character as the film goes on.
Baby Driver is without a doubt one of the best films of the year so far, don’t miss out on seeing it. You won’t be disappointed!
Purple Revolver rating: 5 outta 5 – heart pumping rhythm and action