Baby Driver Review

01 Aug, 2024

I tried to write an organized review of this movie like a proper film critic and it didn’t go very well. So instead, I have adapted it into a scrappy brain dump on all my thoughts regarding it—very unprofessional, I know. But I suppose that’s what this blog is supposed to be about. I also couldn’t be bothered to explain the plot so go look up a synopsis or something. Please bear with me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcbcLwf6HP4

Rating: ★★★★★

Personally, I am not a very big fan of action movies. Perhaps it is due to my dislike of gore and/or lack of interest in the action thriller subgenre. However, there’s something about Baby Driver that is extremely captivating to me.

I would like to mention the film’s use of “one-take” shots. They mostly center on Baby, the movie’s titular character. I think they’re (a) cool and (b) maybe represent how Baby is…a really good driver (understatement). It’s as if the shots match his fluidity behind the wheel and how he’s able to go with the flow and adapt to different situations, as exhibited within the film’s opening heist. I think it’s a very novel idea, how this use of cinematography adds not only to the fast-paced feel of the film but references character traits.

I absolutely adore the integration of music in this film. I think most forms of visual media treat the soundtrack as an afterthought, but Baby Driver cannot exist without its soundtrack. While I do not find myself emotionally attached to any of the tracks featured in the film, they add so much depth and complexity to the viewing experience. Music is such an integral part of Baby’s day-to-day life due to his tinnitus; he combats the ringing noise in his ears with music. There are also scenes where Baby’s music selection is referenced directly in character dialogue. By having this music play almost constantly in the film, we get to see this extension of Baby’s identity and (literally and figuratively!) get inside his head.

My favorite part of this movie is when Baby’s crew needs to get firearms from a dealer but the two parties break into a fight. I’m normally not one for fight scenes but somehow, the way shot cuts and firearm SFX are synced up to the backing track satisfies an itch in my brain I didn’t know existed. My point is that this film has very good cinematography (at least in the eyes of someone without a film background).

I don’t know if many action films have romance sub-plots but I liked how the Baby/Debora arc added to the overall narrative instead of just diverting from it. It was actually essential to driving the plot instead of being added later on just for kicks as I feel like that happens frequently in a lot of media.

Also, I would like to shout out the usage of Monsters, Inc. quotes. That was pretty silly.

The page I made for this in my notes app has the phrase “SPUNK!!!” on it three times so that seems fairly important to mention. I can’t describe it but there’s some sort of extra energy Baby Driver exerts that I favor. It’s dynamic, intense, and most definitely worth your watch.