Baby Driver
28/06/17 Filed in: Cinema
Baby Driver was released today and we went to see it. The trailer whetted my interest and a number of positive reviews reinforced my first impressions.
With quite a lot of film genres around that start to get repetitive, it's good when something comes along that's a bit different. You will no doubt think to yourself that there have been plenty of driving movies, but while the driving is certainly integral to this film, it's not really what marks it out as special. Baby, the young man who gives the film it's name, is in hock to master criminal Doc, played by Kevin Spacey, after he stole his car not realising from whom he was stealing. Doc found out a bit about Baby, so rather than killing him, he employed him as a driver for a series of heists. Baby has to work off the debt, but he is to find out that once he is in with people like Doc, it is difficult to break free.
The lead-in to the film shows us one such heist, with Baby producing some impressive manoeuvres in a 2007 Subaru WRX. All the car action in this film is realistic, with no CGI or 'green screen' effects, and there's certainly some very impressive driving on display. Baby is constantly listening to his iPod. When other members of the gang question why he does this, Doc explains he has tinnitus, and the music blocks out the ringing in his ears. This isn't the whole story, however, and we learn that his mother was a singer, and that a traumatic incident in his childhood influences much of what he does. We also are introduced to his foster father, and the very special relationship between them. We come to understand that Baby is a complex person.
As intimated above, when Baby has paid his debt to Doc he still isn't off the hook. Meanwhile he has found a kindred spirit, and a love interest, in the shape of Debora, a waitress played delightfully by Lily James. He also has a job as a pizza delivery driver; the faster pizza delivery in town! But Doc gives him an ultimatum that isn't really negotiable so Baby is in for one more heist. This time the team includes Buddy (John Hamm) his girlfriend Darling (Eiza González) and last, but certainly not least, Bats (Jamie Foxx). All nicknames of course, all to some extent descriptive of each of their characters, especially in the case of Bats who is, well, batty. They need to 'tool up' before the job, and Bats is true to his name when they meet the arms dealer. The outcome is that Doc wants to cancel the job, but the others are still 'in', including a reluctant Baby who, in reality, secretly has the intention to pick up Debora and drive off into the sunset, music playing. But he is caught trying to leave. Bats subsequently visits his foster father, which greatly concerns Baby, who now has no choice other than to go through with the job, which this time is on a post office.
Baby's conscience is becoming increasingly troubled, and before this latest job he had been sent in to check out the post office. While he's awaiting the gang to emerge on the day of the heist, he spots the friendly woman who had served him previously, and motions to her not to go in. A noble thing to do but one that turns an already risky heist into a fiasco. From then on it's every man for himself, and it doesn't end well for two of the team. Baby's sole thoughts as he flees are to take care of his foster father, who has been roughed up by Bats, and meet Debora, but Buddy has other ideas.
So do Baby and Debora drive off down Route 66? Or is that a too simplistic ending? As they say, good things come to those who wait, and in Baby's case perhaps this will be true.
A fast-moving film played out to, and synchronised with a superb soundtrack. It is the way in which the action in this film is so completely linked to Baby's music choices that makes it something special.
One not to miss.
Baby's conscience is becoming increasingly troubled, and before this latest job he had been sent in to check out the post office. While he's awaiting the gang to emerge on the day of the heist, he spots the friendly woman who had served him previously, and motions to her not to go in. A noble thing to do but one that turns an already risky heist into a fiasco. From then on it's every man for himself, and it doesn't end well for two of the team. Baby's sole thoughts as he flees are to take care of his foster father, who has been roughed up by Bats, and meet Debora, but Buddy has other ideas.
So do Baby and Debora drive off down Route 66? Or is that a too simplistic ending? As they say, good things come to those who wait, and in Baby's case perhaps this will be true.
A fast-moving film played out to, and synchronised with a superb soundtrack. It is the way in which the action in this film is so completely linked to Baby's music choices that makes it something special.
One not to miss.