Baby Driver

Rated: R for violence and strong language

Most directors have a tell, something that distinguishes them and lets you know when you sit down that "this is something by [fill in the blank]". Wes Anderson has coordinated color palettes and long tracking shots. J. J. Abrams has lens flares.

Edgar Wright has rhythm.

Just look at Scott Pilgrim vs. The World or any film in The Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End). All of them feature his unique brand of cut shots timed with witty banter, sounds, and music for a fully immersive experience. Baby Driver is no exception to this rule. In fact, it is one of the finer and more subtle pieces of this talent.

Take the opening sequence: a bank robbery. Baby (Ansel Elgort) is the getaway man for all operations run by Doc (Kevin Spacey). As his compatriots head into the building, Baby tunes his iPod to "Bellbottoms" by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. He proceeds to rock out in the car to the music, pausing to avoid the glance of a passing cop. The timing and the beats of the rest of the scene track to the music, and it sets the audience up for one hell of a ride.

Even the opening credits sequence where Baby walks to get coffee from the "Octane Coffee House" (very fitting name) features Wright's skill with subtle storytelling. While Baby listens to "Harlem Shuffle", lyrics from the song can be seen scattered throughout the scene in graffiti and on signs throughout the very long tracking shot. It's marvelous.

The cast is star studded enough to pull audiences, but it is not just a "big names" picture. Each actor delivers a unique, nuanced performance that helps create Baby's world. My favorite performances would be a toss up between the suspicious and rather batty "Bats" (Jamie Foxx), and Buddy (Jon Hamm). Both actors leave your heart juddering against your rib cage as you wonder just how far they are willing to go before they snap... and who will get hurt if they do.

Elgort's part is very much the silent lead, allowing us to see the world through his ears more than through his eyes. Left with tinnitus from a car accident when he was young, Baby listens to music nearly 24 hours a day in order to drown out the ringing left in his ears. Hints of the crash are told in PTSD flashback and musical interludes that help the audience understand why Baby is so silent. He also cares for his deaf foster father (CJ Jones).

I've mentioned the soundtrack a few times already, but the music is a character in and of itself. The whole thing is $20 on iTunes and features 30 songs in total. It's a highly eclectic collection of music that has everything from Simon & Garfunkel to Queen to Barry White to T. Rex.

It's not just a character study. It's a heist film. It's a love story. It's a thriller. It's a musical extravaganza.

Overall Grade: A-