In recent years, we’ve often bemoaned the lack of unique voices in Hollywood, and it’s been tough going to the movies to ultimately see the same rehash of that same superhero movie over and over again (except for Logan which was superb). Very few filmmakers can claim to have a truly recognizable style, but Edgar Wright is one of those rare directors that does.
Wright, the man behind the cult films Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End (also known as The Cornetto Trilogy), is a director famous for his keen sense of editing, and who always manages to infuse his films with an insane rhythm, fueled by his own brand of oddball humor. Even when he left his sacred British grounds, he gave us Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, a film that wasn’t like anything else out there.
For lack of a better word, Edgar Wright can be considered a genius, which is what makes his new film, Baby Driver, one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Having just premiered at South by Southwest, the early reviews tease a film unlike any before it. As critics tend to be quick to draw comparisons, they are currently calling it “Edgar Wright’s Drive” or “Wright’s La La Land.” However, that’s probably only because we (as humans) have difficulty accepting something new, and putting a label on it or making comparisons makes it much easier to digest.
Baby Driver tells the story of a young getaway driver named Baby who suffers from tinnitus, and hence constantly listens to music to avoid feeling annoyance or pain. He gets in with a bad crowd and logically bad shit ensues. In fact, jusdging by the trailer, very cool looking bad shit.
Wright has said he wanted to make an “action movie that was powered by music,” cutting every action piece in the film as a musical number set to what the titular character is listening. Knowing of the wonders Wright can do with music and editing (such as the use of Don’t Stop Me Now in Shaun of the Dead?), if that doesn’t sound exciting to you, then you’re probably dead inside.
This time, however, the British director is working with an entirely new cast, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us. Ansel Elgort plays Baby (he’s the one who has an incestual relationship with Shailene Woodley), and Jon “Don Draper” Hamm, Jon “The Punisher” Bernthal, Kevin Spacey and Jamie Foxx complete the merry band of thieves that get our protagonist in quite a heap of trouble.
Baby Driver releases August 11th, and we’re confident it will to send The Fast and the Furious franchise back to directing school. Hopefully, audiences will be fully on board with what will probably be one of the most unique action films of our time.
If you’re as excited as we are, then you can watch the trailer over and over again right here.
