My third favorite movie of the summer of 2017 is Baby Driver. Unlike my comments on the two previous movies, I don't have any serious criticisms of this movie other than the title, and that's really just minor. I think that probably some casual moviegoers might have been turned off by the title; judging by the mentality of the average American these days, I wouldn't be surprised if they got it confused with the animated stinker "Baby Boss." But if the title keeps you from seeing this instant classic, you're the one who's missing out.
The best thing about this film is the soundtrack, hands down. It took the genius of the original "Guardians of the Galaxy," which did such a superb job of wedding classic songs to stylized action, and ups the ante to the level of an entirely new genre: Action Musical. Each and every song in this movie is a character in and of itself while, at the same time, an integral part of advancing both character and plot. You have to see it to believe it. This movie will be nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Editing at the very least.
Baby, the title character, is played by young actor Ansel Elgort, who really should have been cast in the Young Han Solo movie; he would have been perfect...he even has that young Harrison Ford vibe in the way he walks, talks, dances, and carries himself on screen. This is a star-making role, and it is well-deserved.
He is paired with the luminous young beauty of Lily James, who plays Debora, a diner waitress who falls for the young getaway driver. I won't spoil any of the details, but Baby drives for Doc, played with characteristic perfection by Kevin Spacey, the leader of a series of heist crews, each of which is different. The one common denominator is Baby, whose tinnitus, the result of a tragic childhood accident, requires him to wear earbuds most of the time to counteract the ear pain. This is the element that brings so much of the music into play.
The supporting cast is just as good. Small roles by Jon Bernthal (Shane from "The Walking Dead") and Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers are fun and memorable, but the real menace comes from the married Bonnie-and-Clyde duo of Buddy (Jon Hamm, "Mad Men") and Darling (Eiza Gonzalez), who play a major part in the last act of the movie, and Jamie Foxx, whose celebrity belies the fact that he's a damn good actor, and in this movie, a terrifying mix of dangerous and crazy.
I don't want to give away any more details; you need to run out and see this movie before it leaves theaters. Trust me, it's that good, and good enough to make #3 on my summer movie list.
No comments:
Post a Comment