BABY DRIVER (15)

BABY DRIVER (15)

Run time: 113 mins

Director: Edgar Wright

Cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, John Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Eiza González

Synopsis: A talented, young getaway driver relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. When he meets the girl of his dreams, Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss, he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcRVWoyIuaE

UK director and writer Edgar Wright [Three Flavours Cornetto film trilogy – Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), The World’s End (2013)] makes his first Hollywood film and it is surely the coolest film of the summer.

In a standout performance, Ansel Elgort [Allegiant (2016), Paper Towns (2015), The Fault in Our Stars (2014)] is Baby –  a young and talented getaway driver who relies on the personal beat of his preferred soundtrack to heighten his focus and reflexes to extreme levels. A car accident as a child left him orphaned and with permanent tinnitus, which he blocks out using his music. Baby is the preferred driver of Doc, played by Kevin Spacey [House of Cards (TV 2013-), Margin Call (2011), The Usual Suspects (1995)] who is the mastermind organizer of bank robberies and other big-money heists.

Viewed with suspicion by the rest of Doc’s team, especially by Bats (Jamie Foxx) [Sleepless (2017), Django Unchained (2012),

Baby loves driving but is not really a criminal and when he finds a girl, Debora (Lily James [ Downton Abbey (TV 2010-2015), Cinderella (2015)] he just wants to repay his debts to Doc and get out, in timeless romantic fashion.

This is a totally unique, entertaining film with breath-taking stunt work, thrilling car chases perfectly choreographed to a superb packed soundtrack featuring Simon & Garfunkel, Martha & The Vandellas, Queen, Barry White, Blur, T Rex, The Commodores, Bob & Earl and Dave Brubeck and others.

Backed by a strong ensemble, including John Hamm (Mad Men’s Don Draper) as Buddy, a handsome party animal who is part of the bank robbers’ gang, a former Wall Street trader, and Eiza González as Darling, Buddy’s lawless and scandalous girlfriend and partner in crime.

With unforgettable photography from Bill Pope and razor-sharp editing from Jonathan Amos and Paul Machliss, there are many laugh out loud moments in Wright’s taut script.

At heart, a clever juxtaposition of sweet romance with fast action thrills, Baby Driver doesn’t miss a beat.

Images courtesy of Sony