Killer Car Chases... "Baby Driver"

Baby Driver (2017)

Rated R

Starring Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Kevin Spacey, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm, Eliza Gonzalez, Jamie Foxx,

Written and Directed by Edgar Wright

The Story:

Baby (Elgort) is the getaway driver for a crime boss (Spacey). He's trying to work his way out of debt, one job at a time, hoping to buy his freedom. But when his girl (James) needs medical attention, Baby's got to go back to the one thing he was good at. Maybe with one more job, he'll finally be free, and can be with his true love again. Of course nothing can be that easy, right?

I love a good heist film, possibly more than many others do.

However, Baby Driver and I never really clicked.

Perhaps I listened to all of the other critical hype that made this out to be a cinematic masterpiece.

Meh.

:)

It was alright.

You know how in most movies, during a certain scene they'll give you a killer soundtrack to lay over the action?

Imagine that is done with every scene of the film, for 90 minutes.

Granted, yes, there are breathers in between the musical interludes, but that seemed to be the selling point of this movie:

We will make an action film that every action scene will have a cool song attached to it. We'll also do the same for much of the narrative as well.

Gotcha.

Now, don't get me wrong: the car chase scenes in this film are phenomenal.

However, once everyone is out of the car... that's when the attention begins to wane.

Or more specifically, when the supporting cast isn't featured, and it's just Baby and Debora.

Sorry,  again, just calling it like I saw it.

I also will not be one of the cool kids in the corner that's conflicted over this movie because Kevin Spacey is in it.

Kevin Spacey the actor is, was, and always will be, amazing.

Kevin Spacey the human being, he's got some problems.

I figure if I'm not going to overly praise a critical darling, I may as well go all in with my review.

:)

Final Grade: B-

If This Is Truly "The World's End", Then I'm Crawling Back Into Bed!

The World's End (2013)
Rated R - Language

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

Directed by: Edgar Wright

The Story:

Gary King (Pegg) is trying to reunite his five friends to go on the mile long pub crawl that they tried and failed to finish 20 years earlier.  They all reluctantly agree, and return to the town of their youth.  Only things seem strangely different.  It appears that the townspeople have been replaced by robots who are trying to take over the world!

Can 5 drunk Brits save the world?

5 Of Your Finest, Please?

Well, probably, but maybe not *all five* of them.

Oooo...cryptic!

Apparently the trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) comes to an end for Frost, Pegg and Wright.

But really, the term trilogy is less than correct, more like 3 films that these guys all worked on together, as that is really the only thing the films have in common.

That said, I'm sorry to say that it went out on less than a grand note.

Let's face it, it was all downhill from Shaun of the Dead which was hilariously brilliant.

Just Try and Blend In!

The problem I had with the movie?

The pacing.

Your Complaints are Invalid!

The World's End simply takes too long to get started.  It takes forever to get the boys back home, and then it picks up, and begins rolling at a breakneck pace towards the conclusion.

With the revelation of the robots, you'd think they would have wanted to spend more time in the town as the boys rush from pub to pub.

That said, it's still not that bad of a movie, so if you really liked either of the other 2 films these guys have worked on, you're going to like this one.

Promise!

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I suppose I could watch it again after some time has passed.  My opinion might change about it.  I was less than inspired by Hot Fuzz, but having caught pieces of it again lately, it seems like it was better than I remember, so we'll see what happens.