Baby Driver Review

Baby Driver Review

            Edgar Wright’s stylish crime thriller Baby Driver offers a unique spin on the ordinary car-chase action film. With a prominent soundtrack and a hint of romance, Wright creates an endlessly entertaining film from start to finish. The film follows the life of a getaway driver named Baby (Ansel Elgort), who is forced to work for Doc (Kevin Spacey), a crime boss who leads a gang of bank robbers. Baby, a complex character with a dismal backstory, relies on the music from his iPod to drown out the constant ringing in his head. This paves the way for the film’s stellar soundtrack and choreographed action sequences. Elgort’s impressive performance as Baby highlighted by the film’s ingenious editing creates a captivating and unique cinematic experience.

            Baby suffers from Tinnitus, a condition that causes him to constantly hear a ringing sound in his head. He seems to always be listening to music to drown out the noise, whether he’s walking down the street to fetch coffee or he’s intensely driving the getaway car after a heist. He also frequently records sounds and conversations, mixes them to create his own songs, and files them away to listen to later. This places extreme importance on the film’s soundtrack, and it undeniably delivers. The opening sequence features Baby driving the getaway car with his movements choreographed to the beat of "Bellbottoms" by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. This elaborate opening sets the standard for the rest of the action sequences and car chases. The soundtrack drives the action of the film, which adds an exciting and unique element to the film.

            Ansel Elgort gives a captivating performance as the confident yet somewhat naive Baby. Haunted by the death of his parents caused by a car crash, Baby decides that he won’t let driving scare him. After Doc forces him to repeatedly drive the getaway car to repay a debt, Baby becomes determined to escape his life of crime. He quickly realizes that Doc has him trapped in these schemes after Doc blackmails his love interest Debora (Lily James), so Baby has to figure out how they can get away. Elgort embodies the mix of determination and innocence required by this character.

            Baby’s sudden romance with Debora adds another compelling element to the film. They meet in a diner, while Debora sings B-A-B-Y Baby, and their romance develops rather quickly, but not enough to tarnish the endearing qualities of a budding romance. This relationship adds enough emotional complexity to the plot to not overpower the main focus of the film (the crime), but it still deepens our investment in Baby.
            Baby Driver, a unique crime thriller featuring smartly choreographed action sequences to music, is a captivating experience for all audiences. Whether action thrillers are your type of movie or not, it’s easy to appreciate the film’s stellar soundtrack, as well as Elgort’s impressive performance as Baby. If you’re looking for an hour and a half escape into a world of bank heists, getaway drivers, and good tunes, Baby Driver will absolutely fulfill, and probably exceed, all of your desires.