Ooh Baby, Baby… Driver?

Most fast-paced action movies make me sink dejectedly into my seat in anticipation of an onslaught of drawn-out car chases, an excessive amount of gunfire, and the loss of a few brain cells. But something was different about “Baby Driver,” a film released this summer by director Edgar Wright.

“Baby Driver” is about a young man, Baby (Ansel Elgort), the getaway driver for a major crime boss played by Kevin Spacey. Baby Driver is unlike a typical crime-heist movie like that of “Ocean’s Eleven”. Rather than having crime be the main focus, it is pushed to the side, and the emphasis is put on Baby with mysterious tapes and flashbacks cutting in between the handful of heart-stopping chase scenes. His love of music, made evident by his endless collection of iPod shuffles and cassette tapes and his need to listen to certain songs during his getaway driving is a strong aspect to this film. In fact, music is what draws him to Debra (Lily James), a sweet voiced waitress and Baby’s love interest.

The soundtrack– laying out cues for certain movements of the actors– makes this film unlike most. Differing from most modern soundtracks like that of “Suicide Squad” and “Pitch Perfect 2,” the music is comprised of jazz, soul, and classic rock and, despite the obvious genre clashes, this soundtrack fits together in ways that move the audience. This musical aspect gives the film a nostalgic feeling, enhanced by its overall retro style.

The storyline is reminiscent of one of Wright’s other films “Scott Pilgrim vs The World,” where the main character has to overcome odds to achieve his goal. The director also is known for the hit British dark comedy “Shaun of the Dead,” a hilarious zombie film. While both “Scott Pilgrim” and “Shaun of the Dead” have action sequences, neither is like the other nor “Baby Driver”. In Scott Pilgrim’s (Michael Cera) fights with ex-boyfriends, it is in a video game-style, and Shaun’s (Simon Pegg) fights are extremely gory and unathletic, whilst Baby’s mostly being with guns or cars.

This film is bound to be a cult classic loved by many, and it is still playing in some theaters like La Paloma and Cinépolis. Go see this film on the silver screen and give your money to a deserving masterpiece of a film! At the very least, watch the DVD when it comes out on Nov. 13.