BABY DRIVER: C
Interesting characters brought to life through strong performances by talented actors in a rather weak script, full of contradictions.
I found the main character of Miles "Baby" played by Ansel Elgort to be a gripping study full of a decent mixture of exposition, present dilemma and the uncertainty of future. We all operate based on past events, present situations and the fear/hope of tomorrow. I appreciate the reflection of this particular slice of life that "Baby" gave.
Although underutilized I found the role of Bats, to be one of the best that I've seen Jamie Foxx ever play in. Sometimes actors have niches. After watching this I think Foxx may have found his.
I'll be politically incorrect for a moment as well as historically significant in the same breath. Kevin Spacey gave a strong performance as well. Ironic that what is likely to be his last role in a major motion picture, he plays a slime ball that he'll most likely be remembered for.
Enough with the praise. Now for the criticism.
It felt to me like part of the script was revised with rewrites, but they forgot to go back and revise other parts of the script to make the choices that characters make, make sense.
"Baby" is concerned for the health and welfare of his beloved girlfriend Debora, and puts her safety first, only to later put her in jeopardizing situations.
Doc menacingly threatens his life, and the life of Debora if he refuses to do the job. We're given information within the dialog that knocking off "Baby" or harming/killing the most important person in his life would be no big deal to him. Yet less than an hour later, "Baby" purposefully causes the job to fail, costing Doc what could have been millions of dollars, killing two of his best employees and we're supposed to buy that Doc would give him a bag full of money, and sacrifice his own life protecting him?
The film ending as soon as it got interesting was also a huge problem in the script. As the stakes rose, it felt as if the film were going to go into an exciting game of cat and mouse between "Baby" and a vengeful "Buddy." Instead we're given a sped through final confrontation, highlighted only through special effects and a semi-cool death scene.
Lastly, it seemed as if the story broke the cardinal rule of having a main character go through significant changes. "Baby" was the same person at the end of the film that he was at the beginning. Yet the more I thought about it, I think the film's goal was to transform the opinions of its audience. To appeal to an audience that sat down with unshakable thoughts of how and why someone turns to criminal activity and stood up with a completely new perspective. Fine to make your point, but it seemed a tad subtle for as strong of a conviction as it seemed to be.
Substance sacrificed for style, in this mediocrity of action.
