Review of Baby Driver (2017) by Garry A — 11 Nov 2017

Finally, finally, managed to catch this, and, in a nut-shell, it was a big ol' load of 'meh'. That assessment comes from a viewer who has been a massive Edgar Wright fan since 'Spaced' and pretty much loved everything he has produced. It is clear that his films lose a little something when he doesn't have a co-writer to bounce ideas off, as the story is vapid, the romance sub-plot is underdeveloped and the less said about the final act the better. The saving grace is the sound-track and editing - superbly done, I must say. The choreography between the two, especially during action scenes, is nothing short of spectacular.

That said, I do wonder if my disappointment stems from feeling remarkably uncomfortable every time Kevin Spacey appears on screen, given the recent revelations that have surfaced in regard historical behaviour. It raises the question of; can you ever separate the artist from his art? Is it wrong to watch a film produced or starring someone who has committed insidious acts in his or her past? Given the extent or scale of nefarious behaviour in Hollywood, it is pretty much a given that one would never watch a film again if taking such a stance. Never mind listen to an album, or even read a book.

It is an interesting question to debate, but either way, here it doesn't detract from the film's shortcomings, nor does it mitigate my own disappointment, given the hype the movie has attracted since launch, and my long term respect for Wright's work.