Blu-ray Review: Baby Driver

In Baby Driver, Ansel Elgort plays Baby, a highly skilled getaway driver struggling to be free of the life of crime he finds himself stuck in – especially once he falls for waitress Debora (Lily James). A nasty case of tinnitus means that he must keep earphones in (and music playing) most of the time just to keep the hum from driving him crazy.

Cue a film with dark and unsettling undertones, insane car chases – and a killer soundtrack.

Edgar Wright’s latest film is a stylistic adventure, jumping from tension and fear to excitement and wonder. The chase sequences are mind-blowing and the stunning blend of music and action offers a delightful awakening of the senses. Each song is beautifully interwoven with the scene, sometimes with lyrics casually dropped into the scene itself. Gunfire matches the beat of the track and the whole thing is like one big violent operatic work.

The cast Wright has assembled provides a fascinating mix of actors. Kevin Spacey is the man in charge, exercising his hold over Baby with quietly terrifying control. He portrays the type of man who doesn’t need to show how scary he is. People just know. Just as scary, but for very different reasons, is Jamie Foxx, playing a character so volatile you live in constant fear of his next move. The rest of the cast, which includes Lily James, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm and Eiza González, all bring their own level of charm and intrigue, too.

Gentle reprieves happen for Baby in one of two places. Firstly, there are his adorable interactions with Debora, where they talk about music and loss without really saying that much at all. Secondly, there are the moments when Baby is at home with foster dad Joseph (CJ Jones). Their scenes are incredibly sweet, as the pair communicate using sign language and Joseph picks up on the mood changes of his foster son by feeling the changing vibrations of the music he’s blasting out.

Though the action and the soundtrack might be what draws people to this film, one of the most compelling elements of it is that of perspective. Because this is Baby’s story and he’s doing all he can to just get the job done and get out of there with as little collateral damage as possible. He sits outside in the car while the rest of his assigned team do the dirty work. They return with the cash and he drives. Simple.

Of course, this work is anything but simple. People are hurt along the way. Gunfire surrounds him and, despite trying desperately to look away, he eventually sees things he wishes he hasn’t. As the audience, we feel his increasing unease. We also feel both the freedom he has while he’s behind the wheel and the fear and worry when he’s not.

Despite the darkness of the story, Baby Driver is riotous fun. Exhilarating, intense and action-packed, it’s a treat that is sure to get your pulse racing and your eyes widening.

Blu-ray & Digital Bonus Materials Include:
· Extended/Deleted Scenes – 20 minutes of extended scenes and a few moments that were dropped from the final cut.
· Mozart In A Go-Kart: Ansel Drives – Ride shotgun with star Ansel Elgort as he works with the talented stunt drivers to become the ultimate getaway driver.
· I Need A Killer Track: The Music – Explore how the film’s phenomenal soundtrack dictated both the writing process and all aspects of production on Baby Driver.
· That’s My Baby: Edgar Wright – Follow Edgar Wright’s vision of Baby Driver from its inception two decades ago, to its ultimate realization on the big screen.
· Meet Your New Crew: Doc’s Gang – Led by powerhouse Kevin Spacey, the cast assembled to form Doc’s gang is perfectly constructed with stars like Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm as well as up and coming talent like Eiza González and Jon Bernthal. Go behind the scenes to see this talented group at work as they bring these characters to life.
· Find Something Funky On There: The Choreography – With every frame of Baby Driver set to a specific beat it took precise choreography by the cast, crew and editors to create a cinematic dance like nothing that’s been done before. Hear from the choreographer and filmmakers on this groundbreaking process.
· Devil Behind The Wheel: The Car Chases – From closing down Atlanta’s interstates to creating eyepopping manoeuvres for a variety of vehicles, witness the amazing craftsmanship and sheer determination that made the film’s incredible car chases possible.
· Animatics – Check out over 35 minutes of the numerous pre-vis animatics developed by Edgar Wright as part of his meticulous preparation.
· Ansel Elgort Audition – See firsthand the audition that proved without a doubt that Ansel Elgort was the perfect choice for Baby.
· Annotated Coffee Run Rehearsal – Day one of production involved one of the film’s most elaborately choreographed sequences where every movement is carefully crafted. Check out the preliminary rehearsal and see the behind the scenes movement in concert with Ansel Elgort’s on camera choreography.
· Hair, Make Up & Costume Tests – In this stylized montage, witness the transformation of the actors through costume, hair and make-up tests.
· Mint Royale – “Blue Song” Music Video – This music video directed by Edgar years ago for the band Mint Royale showcases some early inspiration for Baby Driver.
· Complete Storyboard Gallery – See the elaborate storyboards developed for the film in this gallery featuring storyboards for the entire film.
· Director Commentary
· Filmmaker Commentary (Edgar Wright and Director of Photography Bill Pope)

DVD Bonus Materials Include: 
· I Need A Killer Track: The Music
· That’s My Baby: Edgar Wright
· Meet Your New Crew: Doc’s Gang
· Devil Behind The Wheel: The Car Chases
· Mint Royale – “Blue Song” Music Video
· Director Commentary
· Filmmaker Commentary (Edgar Wright and Director of Photography Bill Pope)

BABY DRIVER has a run time of approximately 108 minutes and is rated 15.