Movie of the Week: “Baby Driver”
Ballet on wheels
I have to confess that when I read the synopsis of “Baby Driver” (USA, 2017) I was not very interested, and did not try to know more. After all, movies of assaults with pursuits with cars at high speed, we already had this to the exhaustion in the series “Fast and Furious”.
But by watching the opening scene during a film editing course, I discovered that I was looking it from the wrong angle. Of course, it’s a movie of assaults and persecutions, but it’s beyond all a musical – and with an amazing rhythm!
Forget about nonsenses like “La Land”, “Chicago” and “Moulin Rouge”. In this movie, the music is an extra protagonist, and the dance too. Dance? Yes, in this movie everything dances, actors, cars, scenery, washing machines, camera… But nothing that reminds us of any traditional musical.
The protagonist is Baby (Ansel Elgort), a boy with a tragic past, having lost his parents in a car accident that was marked in his mind and in his body. He has a hearing problem, a permanent buzz that can only be alleviated by listening to music all the time.
Extremely skillful driver, Baby pilots the cars for flight in the bold assaults planned by Doc (Kevin Spacey). For stealing a car from Doc when he was younger, Baby is forced to use his skill at his service until he repays the debt.
Like every young man, Baby dreams of a better future, and these dreams become more beautiful when he meets the beautiful waitress Debora (Lily James), who is also attracted to him.
But, Baby’s plans take a cold shower when Doc forces him to continue driving in the assaults. His colleagues in this new action are the dangerous Bats (Jamie Foxx), and the couple Darling (Eiza González) and Buddy (Jon Hamm). But everything takes a dangerous turn when they begin to suspect that Baby would have his own goals.
Among the many qualities of the movie, certainly the most important is the choice of the cast. Ansel Elgort, one of the most promising actors of his generation, had already starred in “The Fault in OurStars” (USA, 2014) and in the “Divergent” series (2014, 2015, 2016). With an attitude of alienation mixed with twinges of sarcasm, the character Baby makes humor almost always silent, with its multiple sunglasses and Ipods.
The rest of the cast has excellent performances, especially Kevin Spacey as the criminal brain and Jamie Foxx as the merciless murderer. But another good surprise is the character of Jon Hamm, one moment very understanding and companion, and in the other, a vindictive and unforgiving angel.
But, as I said before, the most impressive character is the music. Present in every moment of the film, it dictates the rhythm of it. Unlike other action movies, which has a shocking initial scene, something in between and an exciting climax, “Baby Driver” has a mind-boggling rhythm … all the time!
The use of music in “Baby Driver” is made through a perfect marriage of sounds, images and photography. Everything is synchronized through the fantastic edition of Jonathan Amos and Paul Machliss, who have already edited “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”.
Using the idea that the protagonist must always be listening to a song, we become accomplices of him, and all the action unfolds in the rhythm of the music, not the other way, as usual. At othe time the song lyrics are distributed along the street, while Baby walks in a kind of solo dance. He also records his encounters and mixes them, transforming parts of his life into music.
And as one might guess, the film’s soundtrack is fantastic, covering a huge range of songs from composers such as Enio Morricone, Dave Brubek, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, and many others, with the interpretation of another myriad of singers.
The plot also shows a concern to show how important it is for a person under formation to pursue good values. It is from the cruelest character that comes the warning that one day Baby might cross the border from which he could no longer return.
“Baby Driver” is a product for multiple audiences, even action movie fans or lovers of multi-generation American music. And it certainly is a movie to be discussed in every film school because of the innovative edition and the excellent harmony of images and sounds.
Original Title: “Baby Driver”