Monday, July 10, 2017

Baby Driver (2017)

This story of a young getaway driver who choreographs his life to the tunes on his iPod is a must-see for anyone who is okay with violent action movies. Thoroughly entertaining, it sets car chases, gun battles, and even walking around town to the rhythm of whatever is playing. A lot of the dialogue has a certain rhythmic effect, too.

The immensely talented 23 year old Ansel Elgort (last blogged for Men, Women & Children; I didn't see The Fault in Our Stars nor the Divergent series) doesn't sing, but he lip-syncs and dances (he had early ballet training) in the title role of Baby, a perhaps-on-the-spectrum kid who is never without his earbuds nor one of his devices. One of several articles I read tells me that the art director bought over two thousand iPods as props for the movie and the back story is that Baby took all but one from the many cars he steals. The adorable Lily James (most recently in these pages for Burnt) is Baby's love interest. Starring as the big bad boss Doc is Kevin Spacey (last blogged for for Elvis & Nixon), the perfect actor to lead ragtag groups of crooks with withering put-downs.

I say groups because the crooks come and go but Jon Hamm (Mad Men was still airing when The Congress came out and he occasionally pops up in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) is terrific in the part of Buddy (written for him) as is Jamie Foxx (most recently in these pages for the unfortunate Annie) as Bats.

Director/writer Edgar Wright's (last blogged for starting work on Ant-ManScott Pilgrim vs. the World also used a lot of music but this is practically a new genre. Like a James Bond movie, there's an entire chase scene before the opening credits so do not be late.

I counted 41 songs as the credits rolled last week and imdb lists 43, but this site lists 71, with clips. Be forewarned, there are a few spoilers in the text of that list of 71. Bellbottoms by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is in the opening chase and was one of Wright's inspirations. I loved hearing Dave Brubeck's Unsquare Dance and The Allman Brothers Band's One Way Out, and you will not forget the scene with Tequila by Button Down Brass. We had forgotten that Simon & Garfunkel had a song on their Bridge Over Troubled Water album called Baby Driver, and it plays over the end credits.

Another way you can listen to some whole tracks, besides using my links above, is from this review. There are some spoilers in the review, but skip to the bottom of the page for a link to a spotify playlist of thirty songs.

Steven Price, who scored Gravity, composed the music that no one will remember due to the songs.

Everyone who has told me they've seen it has loved it. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes are averaging 97 and audiences 90%. It was the first of the movies listed on an NPR segment (you can play it with the red button at the top of this link) about non-sequel summer movies and is well worth your time.

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