BABY DRIVER
A story 22 years in the making becomes an instant classic.
I still remember watching the trailer for this movie in theaters last summer.
Elgort's stand-out performance, excellent directing, and the all-star cast make Baby Driver one of the summer's biggest block-buster films.
Baby Driver follows the story of a young getaway driver (Baby) whose job quickly complicates his life when the safety of his foster father and newfound love, Deborah (portrayed beautifully by Lily James) is threatened by the ruthless gang he works for.
This film has one of the best opening scenes I've ever seen.
Director Edgar Wright starts this flick off with tons of personality from our main character, Baby, as he's seen singing along to "Bellbottoms" by The Jon Spicer Blues Explosion. Let's just say, the opening scene had me falling in love with Ansel, and instantly connected me to the main character. Pair that with a fantastic high-speed car chase and you've got a spectacular opening scene. Within the first six minutes the audience gets the message loud and clear - you're in for a crazy ride.
Don't believe me? Watch for yourself!
There are so many reasons why Baby Driver stands out amongst this past summer's blockbusters.
For starters, it's not your typical action movie. After a tragic car accident, Baby is left with tinnitus, a condition that leaves an unnerving ringing sound in his ears. The solution? Music. Yes, music is as intrinsic to this film as it is to Baby's character.
Baby & I have something in common - we're always wearing headphones.
An action-musical. How's that for original? :)
One of my favorite things about this film was its soundtrack. With tracks from Queen, Simon & Garfunkel and The Commodores, there's a little bit of every genre represented in this film. If you're a music fan like me, it will certainly be a treat.
In addition to the fast-paced action sequences, Baby Driver boasts a beautiful love story.
The relationship between Baby and Deborah develops slowly, as it should. After all, Baby's job makes him cautious of those he surrounds himself with. Baby plays it cool, often flying under the radar. But his charm, musicality and wit make him an irresistible match for Deborah, the quirky, spirited waitress who welcomes adventure.
Ultimately, love drives the plot in this action flick.
Baby works with a crew of bank robbers. Led by Doc (Kevin Spacey), Buddy (John Hamm), Darling (Eiza González) and Bats (Jamie Foxx) are sent to hold up a post office. A trip to weapons dealers turns deadly when trigger-happy Bats opens fire on the men after realizing that they are ex-police. To be honest, this was the most unclear scene of the film for me. I understood that Bats was borderline eccentric and prone to violence, but it didn't seem necessary for him to kill them. His motive was unclear to me, and that was the only thing that disconnected me from the story...
Bats causes a lotttt of drama in this story.
After he blows the heist, infuriating Doc (who, as you can imagine, is not someone you want to mess around with); the gang turns against him. There's a scene where the group goes to dinner at - you guessed it - the same diner where Deborah works - and Bats creates an awkward dialogue exposing the unlikely pasts of Buddy and Darling. So as annoying as the character can be at times, he does push the film's plot along nicely, while adding some rough and tough personality to the movie.
Baby Driver made a lot of money in its opening weekend, quickly becoming a leading blockbuster hit.
With such enormous success, it's hard to imagine why Edgar Wright has been developing this film for 22 years. That's longer than I've been alive!
I found articles discussing why it took so long for him to bring this story to life, and they're linked below if you'd like to know more. For a cinema studies minor like me, Edgar's story is very interesting. It's certainly a testament to the kind of hard work, drive, and persistence necessary to succeed in the entertainment industry. There are stories that I've been imagining since middle school that I aspire to bring to the silver screen someday. I'm sure that I, like Edgar, can make those dreams come true.
What else can I say about Baby Driver?
It's witty.
It's daring.
It's got something for everyone.
And by everyone, I mean everyone - action lovers, music lovers, lovers in general... :)
Oh, and it's got a pretty incredible scene stealer.
Yes, Ansel Elgort is this film's amazing leading man, but it's breakout star is CJ Jones.
What makes Mr. Jones a compelling actor? He reels audiences in with his gentle nature and masterful comedic timing. But surely there's another way that CJ Jones stands out amongst this all-star cast?
Did I mention that he's deaf?
CJ Jones plays Baby's deaf foster father, Joseph.
It's 2017, and the entertainment industry is making tremendous strides in representing multiple groups, whether it be in diversifying casts or including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
I don't know about you, but I can't think of any other deaf characters, other than Helen Keller, that I've watched in films. CJ Jones' performance is groundbreaking, endearing and all-around important.
I love that he was cast as Baby's foster father, because their relationship is such a special bond in the film, and their scenes together light up the silver screen.
We appreciate Baby's honesty with Joseph, revealing his life as a getaway driver. They communicate using sign language and comedic gestures. Joseph's sweet sense of humor is quite a delight to behold. Their dynamic is incredible, bringing deaf characters into a new light which I think is incredible progress for Hollywood. It was one of the biggest surprises from this movie, but I'm so happy that CJ Jones was cast. I hope to see a lot more from him in the future.
I wonder how long it took Ansel to learn sign language.
I've always wanted to learn it, myself. :)
I'm 19, and Baby Driver is the first R-rated film that I've seen in theaters.
There's plenty of violence, some drug use and pleeeeeenty of adult language. [Most of which was unnecessary, in my opinion - I'm talking to you, Jamie Foxx].
For these reasons, I probably should not have seen it with my Nana.
But guess what? She enjoyed it. :)
There's a little bit of everything in this movie.
High-speed car chases/ action
Romance
A spectacular soundtrack
Dynamic & endearing characters
All-star cast
I left the theater wondering "when am I going to get to watch that again, it was amazing!"
This is definitely one that I'm going to purchase when it finally becomes available on DVD.
I highly recommend it to all - but you probably should see it with friends, not your grandmother. :)
Baby Driver is a tremendous achievement in filmmaking and in this author's opinion, an instant classic.
I look forward to watching it on repeat for years to come.
Thank you Ansel Elgort and Edgar Wright for showing the world that love can be fast & furious.
I give this film an A+.
Lit Links:
'Baby Driver' Breakout: How Scene-Stealing Deaf Actor CJ Jones Wowed Edgar Wright
Video - "Why Baby Driver took 22 years to make"
Edgar Wright Explains Why Baby Driver took 22 Years To Make Baby Driver