Baby Driver

This is the perfect example of why you do not write the soundtrack of the film into the screenplay. I would give Baby Driver a 4/10.

This film had a really interesting and unique take on the criminal underworld; introducing some colourful characters and some moments that had high levels of tension. You felt like the film struck it's own original tone really well which is impressive in and of itself. The editing for the film was the real stand out; every beat perfectly synced up with the soundtrack and what you see onscreen, creating an impressive visual pace.

Kevin Spacey, who played Doc, is a stern yet disturbingly calm crime boss in this film; the impact and control he displays in the scenes he's in is quite impressive. Jamie Foxx, who played Bats, is an absolute maniac to watch; his fast quips and unpredictable violence and aggression mark him as one of the standout roles. Brogan Hall, who played Samm, gives a performance that reflects against Spacey quite well; the manner in which he dishes out lines which would otherwise be quite harsh is disturbingly good.

However the best performance came from Jon Hamm, who played Buddy. Hamm is the charismatic member of this band of criminals, rugged yet suave and compassionate to those around him as long as his interests are being served. You see him as a kind figure, one of the few willing to support and understand Baby and by far the more positive member of the team. His affectionate lust towards Gonzalez feels very intense and comes to a satisfying head with her death, sending Hamm into a vicious downward spiral. His dark turn to venegance makes him unpredictable and exceptionally dangerous; of all the threats in the film he becomes the one that you would fear the most.

The film banks a lot upon it's soundtrack which honestly is a bit underwhelming for what it is, with the exception being possibly 'Tequila'. Most of the important sequences of the film feel tailored towards a song rather than a character or advancing the plot and you can't help but feel that Edgar Wright is making a feature for himself as opposed to a wider audience. The story itself is riddled with plot holes and is a disappointment to watch unfold; often characters would feel one particular way and then suddenly change their mind out of nowhere, such as when the gang still lets Baby join the heist after discovering he's been recording them for years or when Kevin Spacey refuses to help Baby until he decides to join the fight for love. I also had to really grapple with character motivations in this film; Baby is a getaway driver but was scarred by his parent's car accident earlier in life which doesn't really make a lot of sense, also the way Baby seems to love Debora due to a comparison to his mother is quite strange. The cinematography for the film is a let down, the action/chase scenes look far worse than the moments where dancing and lip-sync is occurring.

Ansel Elgort, who played Baby, isn't really leading role material; you struggle to connect with him and he never grabs your attention in the scenes that he's in. Jon Bernthal, who played Griff, doesn't really have a lot of presence in this film; Bernthal plays the usual disgruntled tough guy role but it's nothing unique. Eiza Gonzalez, who played Darling, is really only in this film to be killed off and to send Hamm into a manic vendetta; Gonzalez doesn't intimidate and feels disconnected from her criminal role. Lily James, who played Debora, is the sort of role that's written in to be a love interest; James' has little chemistry with Elgort and the entire relationship feels awkward and forced. CJ Jones, who played Joseph, is quite a nice role that feels completely out of place in this film; Jones' is a father figure of sorts to Elgort but you don't really feel or understand the connection there. Flea and Lanny Joon, who played Eddie and JD respectively, are background performances in this feature; this pair are almost immediately eclipsed once Foxx appears onscreen. Paul Williams, who played The Butcher, is a weird witticism of the film that felt like a favourite of the writer's which hasn't translated well to screen; Williams gives a go at giving this role a bit of impact but The Butcher is a bit of a lousy minor role.