Rating summary
Movie | | 4.5 |
Video | | 3.0 |
Audio | | 4.0 |
Extras | | 4.0 |
Overall | | 4.0 |
Baby Driver Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 6, 2017
Baby Driver wouldn't appear to offer much of interest if one were to just glance at a quick plot outline: a young skilled driver, under the
thumb of a dangerous criminal, is forced into duty as a getaway driver. He falls in love, wants out of the game, but he's forced back in, putting
himself and everything and everyone he's ever cared for in danger. Indeed, Writer/Director Edgar Wright's (Hot Fuzz) film has all the makings of a drive-by sort of movie, a film
that
might throw a few good car chases and violent shootouts on the screen but ultimately crack under the weight of its own unoriginality. But Wright
does
something amazing: he gives the movie, and its lead character, a unique pulse and take on life. The lead is a character whose life is defined by
music,
who lives by soundtracks of his own mixing and even his own making. The story is told through both the visual and aural mediums, each
complimenting and reinforcing the other, all the while shaping the character from the inside out, as if the music enters his ears, gets into his blood
stream, and rewrites his DNA with each new beat. Music as a critical storytelling mechanic isn't unique to Baby Driver. Cameron Crowe is an expert, the Guardians of the Galaxy films have made the soundtrack the lifeblood of the movies. Baby
Driver finds just the right beat, never feels self-aware, never crams the music in only because Wright seemed to like a song or had to stretch
to
make a scene work. Rarely does sight and sound compliment one another so well, so organically, with the character driven by his ears but
ultimately
guided by his heart.
Baby, yes, Baby, as in B-a-b-y (Ansel Elgort), is the best driver in Atlanta, and one would be hard-pressed to find one better than him anywhere.
He's
barely old enough to be considered an adult, he lives his life between his earbuds and functions fully only when fueled by his music. He drives with
the grace of Mozart and the edge of Hendrix. But circumstances have led him to work with Doc (Kevin Spacey), a
criminal and de facto father figure who has Baby under his thumb, forcing him to drive getaway for the various heists he plans and the criminals he
employs. Baby is working to pay off a debt owed to Doc, and he's just about done. He's eager to start a new life for himself with the small sums
Doc
gives him out of his cut. He cares for an elderly deaf man named Joseph (CJ Jones) and falls for a young waitress named Debora (Lily James) who
shares his passion for music and yearns to escape her mundane life. But just as Baby believes he's paid his debt to Doc and is free to go about
his
life, Doc forces him back into the game to pull off a heist at a post office. The strongmen on his crew -- Bats (Jamie Foxx), Buddy (Jon Hamm), and
Darling (Eiza González) -- react strongly to Baby, even as he proves his intelligence and ability to not only drive but recite and execute every detail
of the plan,
flawlessly. But their mistrust remains, and as the group grows increasingly violent, Baby hatches a plan to run away with Debora before he can be
dragged any deeper into lawlessness and life-threatening danger.
Baby Driver is contagious and fun, even considering the darkness that surrounds its characters and story. Violence, crime, heavily flawed
characters, past tragedies, dangerous present circumstances, and bleak futures are all keystone plot points in the film, but Wright finds a tonal
balance in his hero, a music lover whose life soundtrack not only defines a scene but sets a mood and counterbalances the darkness with
toe-tapping fun. But the film does ensure its characters face their demons and foes and are placed in unenviable situations as their lives and
realities and barriers and boundaries and hopes and dreams come crashing down, literally and figuratively both for Baby. All of them are much
more than the sum of their exteriors, some more fully fleshed out than others, but the film, for all of its bleak plot points, takes care to give them
all a voice, whether it's through music, their actions, or their relationships with one another. Few films enjoy such a fine-tuned balance of
deeply
personal characters, chaotic action, grim realities, and the hope that takes shape in love and understanding.
Ansel Elgort nails the title character, grasping with certainty and depth the role the music plays in his life, both as it propels him forward and as it's
shaped the path behind him. The backstory is simple but layered by complexity that has come since, both in his personal and "professional" life as
a getaway driver. He looks and feels natural behind the wheel; the audience never questions his talents, why he drives or how, his motivations, his
unique ability to focus and see the road and command the vehicle with a grace of a seasoned professional. He's supported by a strong cast that
melts into the background behind him, who certainly play key roles but never overwhelm the star, only enhance and move his story forward. The
film is also the beneficiary of quality action, including expertly choreographed shootouts and some of the best car stunt work the screen has seen in
some time. The film builds Baby as a natural behind the wheel, and Wright and company ensure that the moves fit his skill set without turning
either him into superman or his cars into video game props. It's all grounded in a tangible reality that heightens character awareness and further
hones Baby from beginning to end.
Baby Driver Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Baby Driver pulls onto Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer that doesn't often excite. Detailing
is fine, but never exemplary. The transfer picks up peach fuzz on Baby's face, adequately reveals the texturing of scars on his cheek and forehead, and
captures basic
pores and clothing textures with suitable ease but not substantial depth or nuance. The image occasionally pushes a bit smudgy, and environmental or
object details, like cars, building façades, or Baby's cassette tape or iPod collection, don't often find the sort of high yield crisp detailing one might
expect
the format and a new release to deliver. Colors are punchy but there's not often significant nuance or depth. A vibrant red car leads off the movie and
other
vehicles, blood, a glittery pink iPod case, and other color examples yield enough dazzle to please at a core level, but the palette often looks a little
washed out. Black levels push somewhat murky,
embrace a mildly purple shade at times, border on soupy crush at others, and are prone to noise; a dinner date scene around the 44-minute mark is a
good
example. Flesh tones don't show
significant depth or saturation. Noise and mild blockiness may be seen throughout. This was a tough one to numerically score. It looks fine in places,
looks rather poor in others. 3.0 might be a touch on the low end and 3.5 a touch on the high end; 3.25 is probably more representative of what to
expect.
Baby Driver Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
As is the Sony norm, Baby Driver's Blu-ray receives a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack while the companion day-and-date UHD release secures a Dolby Atmos presentation. The 5.1 track delivers a
quality listen. Music engages the stage to begin the film, with lyrics and instrumental details poking out of every speaker, individualized elements
playing within the greater harmonious presentation. Music doesn't alway offer so much pinpoint elemental positioning, usually playing with a fairly
standard surround engagement, quality width, back end and subwoofer support, and clarity that suits the film's music-heavy presentation very well.
Gunshots ring out with satisfying depth, whether muffled shotgun blasts heard at distance at the beginning of the film or more pronounced and
up-close shots during a robbery of an armored car later in the film. The final act does up the ante considerably, with much heavier bass, spacing, and
intensity than anything else heard in the film. Light atmospheric effects fill in some gaps. Dialogue is clear and detailed and always
well prioritized. This is a very good track, but it does lack the fullness and greater precision found on the UHD's Atmos track.
Baby Driver Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Baby Driver contains two audio commentary tracks, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.
- Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Edgar Wright opens with some humorous anecdotes on the difference between American and
British English and moves on to discuss project origins, music and its role in the film, research and outside help, inspirations, verbal communication,
story structure, locations, film construction, and more.
- Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Edgar Wright and Cinematographer Bill Pope begin with an interesting discussion of watching a
movie wafter working on it for a prolonged period of time and follow to speak on shooting specifics, locations, production design, actors,
photographic details, and plenty
more. The track is a little more technical than the previous, but it does cover similar ground. Wright mentions "the other commentary track" a
number of times, so discussions do circle back to things listeners have already heard. Still, both are well-rounded and informative.
- Extended & Deleted Scenes (1080p, 20:28 total runtime): First Heist, Kitchen Dance, Questions,
Laundromat, Pizza!, Bacchanalia, Gas Station, Cops & Robbers, Foot Chase, Killer Track,
and Behind Bars.
- Behind the Scenes (1080p): A six-part feature.
- That's My Baby: Edgar Wright (9:18): A look at project origins and development, Wright's qualities as a filmmaker, animatics,
combining music and visuals, and more.
- Mozart In a Go-Kart: Ansel Drives (5:52): The young actor learns to perform many of his own driving stunts in the movie.
- I Need a Killer Track: The Music (6:14): Exploring the role of music in the film and how it shapes the main character.
- Meet Your New Crew: Doc's Gang (10:55): A closer look at several of the film's supporting cast and the characters they play.
- Find Something Funky on There: The Choreography (6:08): More exploration of how music shapes the movie and how action is
specifically executed to match the music.
- Devil Behind the Wheel: The Car Chases (6:46): A detailed look at making several of the key car chase scenes.
- Selected Scene Animatics (1080p, 35:42 total runtime): Animated pre-visualizations for several scenes. Included are First Heist
Original, First Heist Pre-Shoot, Killer Track Original, Killer Track Pre-Shoot, Masked Raiders, Farmer's
Market Live Action, Farmer's Market Animated, and Foot Chase.
- Rehearsals & Pre-Production (1080p, 17:03): A collection of auditions, rehearsal footage clips, and screen tests. Included are Ansel
Elgort Audition, Annotated Coffee Run Rehearsal, and Hair, Make Up & Costumes Test.
- Music Video (1080p, 4:15): "Blue Song" by Mint Royale.
- Complete Storyboard Gallery (1080p): A monumental collection of storyboard images divided into four parts.
- Promos and More (1080p, 21:10 total runtime): Trailers and TV spots. Includes Theatrical Trailer, International
Trailer, Tekillya
Trailer, Chase Me -- Danger Mouse Featuring Run the Jewels & Big Boi, Mike Relm 'Baby Driver' Remix,
Mozart in a Go-Kart, Chase Me, Beyond, Skill, Head West, Finest Thugs, Beat, OK
Go, Innocent Male, Three Things, Finally, Stories, and Stories Extended.
- Previews: Additional Sony titles.
Baby Driver Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Baby Driver strikes just the right chord. The film overcomes core story cliché not only by way of its finely tuned and lifeblood soundtrack but
also its choreography, character depth, and performances. This is one of the top films of 2017. Its Blu-ray delivers a well above average allotment of
bonus
content, but video is troublesome and Blu-ray fans are shortchanged the much superior Atmos track found on the UHD. That UHD is a much better
presentation of the film, visually and aurally. This one is adequate, but anyone who can should spring for the superior edition. Obviously, the film itself
comes very highly recommended.