Baby Driver - A Lesson In Storytelling

This week's video essay is a look into Edgar Wright's storytelling. It's an analysis of Baby Driver that breaks down the chase scenes, the screenplay, and the structure of the movie.
A pun I thought of as a title but chose not to use:
Baby Driver - A Lesson ScreenWRIGHTing
/ jackmoviereview
Interviews and such I found interesting:
Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg on writing
• edgar wright and simon...
Scriptwriting Tips From Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright And Nick Frost
• Scriptwriting Tips Fro...
Kevin Spacey and Edgar Wright interviewed by Simon Mayo
• Kevin Spacey and Edgar...
IN THE FRAME: Edgar Wright - Baby Driver
• IN THE FRAME: Edgar Wr...
Why Be A Film Director? - EDGAR WRIGHT
• Why Be A Film Director...
As always, I hope you enjoyed, like I said, no new film dissection next Saturday, but coming soon: a discussion of a great script by Aaron Sorkin. Now that I think about that statement-saying a great script by Aaron Sorkin is like saying a script by Aaron Sorkin...
Special thanks to Christian for Voice Over post processing, check out his channel here:
/ @truefilm1556

[@Rob_-dv6ei]

I realise that in most of the scenes when he is heisting he wears sunglasses, whereas he doesn't around his girlfriend. When he kills Bats after seeing the bank lady recognise him his sunglasses are half broken - his personal life has destroyed his criminal life.

[@QUAD00DLE]

After the third heist goes south, when Baby's ipod gets ahot away, he places his fingers to his neck and uses his pulse to minimize the tinnitus...........THAS GREAT WRITING!!!

[@manchmalpfosten8133]

Holy christ, i was wondering what he was doing there, i almost thought he got shot and was pressing down on the wound. But THAT is beyond next level.

[@patpark3r]

Whenever somebody takes out baby's earbud one of the speakers will stop playing background music. Love little details like that.

[@Max200012]

Really?

[@redhorsepapi]

you can also hear a tone from his tinnitus thingy

[@nikola2811]

This movie is amazing, I'm just sorry that the mainstream audience doesn't acknowledge it as well. Everyone is always complaining about a lack of original films and then one comes out and barely crosses 100m in US. Anyway, I can't wait for the next Edgar Wright film

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Definitely, I feel like the movie did pretty well for an R rated movie.

[@jamstonjulian6947]

The execution was original, to a point. The story was very unoriginal and half-baked.

[@SouthSideChiTown]

Another very good movie is Revolver with Jason Statham, by Guy Ritchie. If you want to get the full effect and meaning of the film, buy or rent the DVD and in the special feature section Play the movie with the director's commentary in the background explaining what's really going on. The full meaning of what the film is trying to communicate will blow your mind.

[@Ben-ng3og]

nikola2811 This film is great but it’s not underrated it’s pretty mainstream just not on the level of something like a marvel film (in popularity that is)

[@defsouul3127]

Thirbo it was cliché but on purpose, it was Edgar Wright’s take on a classic action film. Perfect happy ending and everything. The focus was more the style and music, plot second

[@kathiravanganesh5618]

Edger not Award winner but he is people's heart winner

[@StenSturesKanal]

Kathiravan Ganesh Awards are meaningless, just needless backslapping.

[@kathiravanganesh5618]

Mankel Löv yes thank you

[@DracoCullenThe7th]

at this rate it isn't impossible he does!

[@xHylianWolf]

He’s a king with no crown

[@swapode]

Sadly the whole award thing isn't completely meaningless. All of his movies combined haven't made the money a single popcorn blockbuster does. Luckily baby driver accounts for about half that but if the next movie should be a financial flop Wright may find it quite difficult to find funding. Awards make money.

[@zellcaraway9262]

Something cool about this movie is that if you watch it with headphones, in the first scene where he gets everyone coffee, and he has one of his earbuds taken out, you can hear the music in the same ear that he would be hearing it in.

[@jasminewat2662]

Yeah you don't even need headphones you just need a stereo sound system

[@Emeraldpunch]

The best foreshadowing is when baby has the wind-up car fall off the table, like what happens later when a "wound-up" Buddy is pushed off of the parking garage

[@seanlaffey3633]

Edgar Wright always does stuff like that and I never realize it until my second or third watch.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@seanlaffey3633 edgar wright is like Christopher Nolan but not as complex.

[@n0nsticknick]

Baby saying "Yeah, yeah, yeah" in sync with the music in the coffee shop is one of my favorite little moments

[@nastyboy2325]

Edgar always was and always will be a movie genius.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Definitely, if he puts his name on a project, I'm probably going to be excited for it!

[@Gibbysaurio]

Death note.

[@speedgrump5515]

My second time watching I noticed that all the quotes on the television at the start are said through the movie. Two examples being the monsters inc line" Nothing is more important than our friendship" and the office line" they grow up so frieken fast" used in the bank when baby got Sam's age wrong.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I love stuff like that!

[@aidan8619]

I've seen this movie at least 10 times now. I love it to death.

[@JackOLanternBob]

I just found it at Walmart for a few dollars. I'll probably watch it 10 more times now

[@itsjaiden7521]

I’ve seen it probably 30 times or more with my grandma and the first time she didn’t like but 20 times more she’s in love

[@ReverendDudeKyle]

I fucking love Edgar Wright

[@TheButterShowThatsMe]

However the exposition machine aka Kevin Spacey was badly handled.

[@ReverendDudeKyle]

Jon Snew it's not the best Edgar Wright film, I agree to a point

[@karlkarlos3545]

ContentOverStyle Actually, I think it is.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

You and me both!

[@ReverendDudeKyle]

Karl Karlos I do love the film, however Scott Pilgrim is tied for my favorite movie of all time, and I like Hot Fuzz a little more too, though I may put Baby Driver before Shaun of the Dead... World's End I dunno where to give it a spot

[@TheAliceQuo]

I loved how he was able to use such a small portion of the film to make us care so much about the love interest. It seems fast at first but by the third act you already feel like Baby and Deborah have known each other for months. Expert story telling and character development.

[@dotcomGone]

man you film geeks on KZbin are passionate--Subbed!

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Awesome! Welcome to the team!

[@OoleoleoleO]

So did anyone else notice how when he goes on his date and drops the girl off, as soon as she get's off the car the beeping begins? I really liked that detail

[@RichardServello]

Finally got to watch Baby Driver. Damn what a great film. Absolutely loved every second. Edgar Wright really is a great storyteller and filmmaker and this is his most mature piece to date. Music being such a central theme is appropriate since this is like a well orchestrated concerto

[@JacksMovieReviews]

WARNING: This video is NOT intended to glamorize Kevin Spacey. He and his actions are absolutely horrendous and should be looked down upon with the utmost disgust by every sensible human being.

[@ari4758]

What did he do? I haven't heard about this

[@ari4758]

Deiviux90 Fucking hell, what a freak

[@Sqwivig]

What does the movie have to do with Kevin Spacey?

[@Sam-iu8nb]

He played the boss in charge of organising the heists.

[@dylanmorgan2752]

+Big Box why link him to the sun newspaper page? They’re fucking liars and scum who have ruined the lives of many people with their disgusting articles. They’ve hurt far more people than Kevin Spacey could in an entire lifetime of debauchery. We never forgot, fuck the sun.

[@briand5170]

I liked the change in his shirts throughout the movie as his life changes like from the dark shirts to the light ones when he is happy or in the middle with gray or unhappy with black

[@DumbIdeaPresentedStupidly]

I love how this movie knows exactly what it is. It's a heist movie with tropes with seen before but done with so much love that its fucking great.

[@eppurse]

Elgort studied ballet for five years, and his entire performance in and out of a car is a dance. In a discussion about Gene Kelly's Singing in the Rain segment on Facebook this very opening came up as a continuation of Kelly's inclusion of ballet in movies

[@renzokukenleneyoyo522]

Due to his clothing and demeanor Baby always reminded me from the get go to what a young han solo would be in the normal world before going full smuggler

[@greeninferno1339]

1:14 2nd section, 3rd line. "It's very loud. It's awesome." 3rd section, 5th paragraph. 2nd and 3rd sentence. "Again. It's awesome."

[@yPGzRicardo]

I liked that Blur's "Interlude" starts playing at about the mid point of the movie

[@whiplash9548]

Best movie of the year so far

[@WalterFalter]

thank you to the great person, who wrote the german subtitles

[@JacksMovieReviews]

You can give him a thank you by subscribing to his channel! kzbin.info/door/ZOBWhdbR8Z-pOVBsm64t1w

[@truefilm1556]

+ BluepowerHD - Vielen Dank für die lobenden Worte :-) Weitere deutsche Untertitel sind in Arbeit :-) = Thank you for the praise. :-) More German subtitles are in the works :-)

[@kiwikawaii688]

In the opening title sequence the lyrics of the song are hidden through out the scene. They look like graffiti and flyers. It's a blink and you miss it detail and I love it so much.

[@bogdangaziuc8425]

I'm really curious of how he would do a marvel movie. I think that would be a smart move for the MCU. Since they've fired James Gunn it would be interestin to see Edgar do guardians of the galaxy volume 3

[@Sc0rpJoe]

Edgar Wright was responsible for Ant-Man, he wrote the whole script and co-produced the movie, but due to creative differences with some people at Marvel Studios he stopped directing mid-way through production, yet his influence in the movie is still very noticable

[@nathanslay6342]

I love, love this movie!! It’s incredible and one of the best 2010s films!! Sooo great!!

[@bigboycheesepuffs9644]

Still can’t believe Feige and Disney wouldn’t let him Direct Ant man(though I still really like that movie)

[@paulakroy2635]

They just want fast food movies except for James Gunn

[@geoghoul]

Great video I fucking loved this movie. I watched it 3x in the theater . Could you please put the screenplay in the description, thanks

[@gladiens2574]

I was just about to comment - where on Earth did he manage to find the screenplay!?

[@ajvlogs957]

If you type in 'baby driver screenplay pdf' into google, go to the second link (a Reddit link) and it's the second link in that forum

[@scotchtape7189]

Gerardo Gonzalez I

[@JoeSarasa]

Not the final version, that's a shame. It's dated 2014

[@seomorrow]

drive.google.com/file/u/1/d/0B4Ekj73Cv8QwZU92UVJqSWpiVFk/view

[@mistamemewide]

Edgar Wright is a mastermind of cinema.

[@Siptom369]

This is a masterpiece in all ways

[@MMK77344]

I love how much detail everything has, there are so many intricate details that are important to the movie.

[@5finger4head53]

My favorite little detail is the scene where he shoots buddy at the diner, and the music playing is synced up with the sounds in the ambient environment.

[@RodneyMullensNo1]

You deserve far more subs man, great quality stuff

[@jamesgarcia6153]

You can see Edgar wright in the window of the music shop when Baby goes to get coffee

[@tturnquest1]

Thanks JackMovieReviews. This video is what I need for my story I am working on.

[@Advent3546]

I swear I find a new film analyst channel to subscribe to every other month. What a time to be a movie buff.

[@MusOfficial323]

My favorite detail was that the television near the beginning of the movie pretty much tells the whole story of the movie with baby quoting lines from the TV in various places and scenarios on the TV shows coming up in the movie.

[@miss.brun0]

Giving you a sub for the awesome video!!! Also, a detail you may have missed: As Baby is ordering his coffee after the first chase scene, we are given an over-the-shoulder medium shot from behind the barista as Baby tells the barista his name. Behind Baby, you can see graffiti on a wall slightly blurred out by the depth of field with a black heart encompassed by blue, wave-like patterns. The camera pans to the right as the barista rolls his eyes to fetch the order, and Debby comes into the shot from outside the cafe. The camera follows her, panning to the left, passing by the same wall, but the heart that was once black is now red. :)

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you! welcome to the team! Also great detail-I didn't notice that!

[@miss.brun0]

I didn't either!! I saw it in a video a while back. I saw that movie 10 damn times while it was in theatre and I still didn't see it xD

[@Superstarlight867530]

Great video & analysis of the film 😎. It’s one that is particularly meaningful to me as my brother Paul was one of the two editors on Baby Driver (& has in fact been working alongside Edgar on all his projects as far back as the TV show Spaced). The *years* of intense pre-, on set, and post-production work that went into BD would truly astound you (or at least make you want to have a lie down!) Am v pleased you enjoyed the film so much & produced an excellent video that reflects this.

[@Trolldemort48]

I watched this video, and I thought, "wow, this video is pretty great." Then I watched your Star Wars TFA video, and I thought, "Okay, this guy is freaking awesome." It's so refreshing to see a deeply analytical movie channel defend TFA when half of KZbin seems intent on insisting it's garbage. Then I saw you made a video on Westworld, and I watched it, and your channel is now one of my favorites already. Your videos are fantastic, and you definitely earned a sub.

[@metalmanny666]

I loved the way the song Hocus Pocus was used in this film. Great video.

[@Albanez39]

This film proves that blockbusters can be great, even if few blockbusters are...

[@simonhylander1945]

Well you know... its definitely not a style of film for everyone. Also not exactly a blockbuster

[@ruddiato]

You should have more than 36 thousand subscribers, u break down movies wonderfully

[@tylapple]

Really glad I stumbled along your channel! Subscribed.

[@Luckylukeproduction]

ONE OF YOUR BEST VIDEO. GREAT JOB

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@FIlmXFilms]

Sweet, been waiting on a good Baby Driver analysis!

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I hope I was able to fill the quota!

[@olliemakesvideos125]

I want Baby’s universally long headphone chords.

[@Fireeater-rl4ep]

Great work. I got some great tips on filmmaking.

[@StephCanCookSorta]

Just watched this movie for the first time the other day and I love it. My favourite little bit was in the first chase scene how griff pointed forward only for baby to reverse, I thought that spoke a lot about his character and how he would deal with his troubles through the movie.

[@Dsurvivor21stCentury]

When I'm doing stuff around the house and need background noise I always put one of your videos. There's something soothing about your voice. Also, do you have any plans to make longer film dissections like you did with Shame? That was one of my favourites, I know it's a lot of work but it really does show.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I'm glad you enjoyed! I did one earlier this year on Paul Thomas Anderson. The trouble is those take 3-4 times as long as regular videos to make. There may be more coming soon, but no immediate plans...

[@ECCvideo78]

I didn't expect this movie to hook me that much. I really had a fun time !

[@Cyliano]

I love that when Baby is changing through channels, it foreshadows some scenes, like when the tv says that the matador had his chance on horseback, but he must now face the bull face to face on foot, which mimics his final encounter with the red faced Buddy

[@Zentagon]

Good vid bro. Enjoyed your look at how the storytelling sets things up

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed!

[@alexandersupertramp7191]

best movie ive seen in a long time, this is the kind of film that will remain timeless.

[@DrMan-nh3bg]

I literally just finished watching this movie. It's brilliant! Edgar Wright is brilliant!

[@benjaminsilva5594]

Edgar is TOP 5 best directors for me

[@helenarosno]

This movie assured me that art hasn’t died yet

[@TheMosayat]

legitimately one of my top favorite movies of all time

[@Dannyseligman]

Edgar Wright as always been my favorite director, and Baby Driver is quickly becoming my favorite movie

[@orcalove2317]

I've seen this movie over 50 times... best movie ever

[@jordanrockwell]

Excellent video! Edgar is one of the only filmmakers using visual comedy. Onward!

[@JEMurl]

Thanks-Jack!

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you for watching!

[@martinmachl]

I really loved the use of color!

[@matthewmcneany]

I've kinda come to the conclusion that Baby Driver is the film with the best technical production ever. It's not the best story ever told but it's the best way any story has ever been told through film, nothing but nothing in the film seems to have been accidental or incidental.

[@skywarp2269]

You can also see how Debra and baby are always on the same tempo to the song. I love the use of tempo,, great writing.

[@Welcome2Slaggers]

one of the first scenes Baby has with Debora, there's instrumental music in the background by The Beach Boys and the title of that song is 'Let's Go Away For a Little While'; even the title of a song without words is relevant to the storytelling of the film

[@TheGamerozi]

What a great video - subscribed. Another great detail is that Baby‘s shirt colour is changing throughout the film. So it starts in a flashing white tone - gets darker and darker to a grey tone - then jumps back to white after he was his time in prison. I‘m very eager to find out about more details

[@gemma9507]

I subscribed great info and thanks for ur honest thoughts

[@VoorDeFilm]

Amazing video. Thanks.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@revy2294]

Edgar Wright is one unique story teller!

[@AndradeFacu]

love your videos, keep it up! suscribed :)

[@PopeOfTheBullpuptistChurch]

Baby Driver is just so much more fun to watch than other modern movies.

[@jackharper8370]

Hey I love your stuff. Have you considered doing reviews/analyses of Trainspotting 1 & 2?

[@lauriinki9694]

You got me to watch the movie today. Thank you:)

[@jflores85]

Ansel Elgort should have been cast as Young Han Solo. His jacket almost looks like Han's vest from the original trilogy, him owing Doc is almost exactly like Han owing Jabba The Hutt, John Hamm is playing Boba Fett in an Audio book, and Han is supposed to be one of the best pilots (or drivers) in the Galaxy.

[@TheNickcharlie]

how do you only have 41k subscribers...one day justice shall be served!

[@CallMeMrRook]

I'm just about to watch BD and feel you have only enhanced my viewing of it, no giving away spoilers. Great analysis. Sounds like I'll be watching Again, bit like Brick which is an all time favourite of mine.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Glad you enjoyed and I hope you love the movie!

[@CallMeMrRook]

Jack's Movie Reviews heart pounding sheer work of musical genius... yes.. I will be watching this again

[@smpdevelopments]

Edgar is a master of his craft

[@anthonya.5600]

Loved this video! Just subbed

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thanks Anthony!

[@faselblaDer3te]

This movie is absolutely amazing. Anyone who has never seen an Edgar Wright film can never know what the medium is capable of.

[@ryanshotison3394]

If you listen before the music kicks in at the start, there is a high pitched whine that represents Baby's tinitus. It's another example of how we are experiencing the film from Baby's point of view, even to the point that we hear what he hears when music isn't playing.

[@Buzzardz_]

@jacksmoviereviews when Baby is at home flipping through the channels on tv, quotes from monsters inc, fight club, and little rascals show up. These are setups for dialogue that Baby repeats later throughout the film. (meeting debra in the diner, talking to gangster about HATE tattoo, and the more obvious one: to Doc)

[@pipinfresh]

I have a little bit of bias for Edger because I've been a huge fan of his since the first season of spaced back in 99 and love everything he dose. Baby Driver isn't his best work but compared to the majority of films coming out at the moment it's a masterpiece. It's just a shame people don't recognize it for what it is. A piece of brilliant film making which is both simple in its story telling ( it's not meant to be a complex character piece ) but also masterfully complex in its film making and execution.

[@GabrielleJoyxx]

I watched this last week and did a film review on it over on wordpress. Whilst I intially struggled to get into the film (possibly because action films aren't my preferred genre, and I initially found the plot a little complicated to follow), by the end I appreciated it much more. The last quarter of the film had me hooked, and on reflection, and viewing key scenes for a second time I realised how smart Wright was in the directing of the movie. (I noticed this after spotting the graffiti addition in the opening credits). I'm keen to watch the film through a second time as now I know the plot I'll be able to appreciate Wright's style more and spot the little details I may have missed earlier.

[@raiuricauaramos2893]

Your work is great! I'd really like to see something on mor horror movies, like Don't Look Now, Halloween or Scream

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I'm planning one for every week in October!

[@ReverationFTW]

Jack, you are fantastic. I'd absolutely love to see one on Lost in Translation - what do you think of it?

[@emiliefilms]

Loved this! I was just curious as to where you found a copy of the script? I would love to have a read of it!

[@taylorbankston5300]

This movie was a coincidence cluster fuck on my life, even came out the day after my birthday when it was originaly set for August. My friends call me crazy I think what Edgar write pulled was a act of god.

[@orfeas248]

Great video, as always! You should do a video on The Seventh Seal, Citizen Kane, The Shining or Inception!

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I have plans for one of those within the next month and a half...

[@orfeas248]

Oh, nice! Hope it's The Seventh Seal.

[@milkmunstr]

One thing I saw mentioned was that at the start of the movie Baby has a white shirt, but as the story progresses towards the climax and Baby loses control of his life, the shirt becomes grey. Then at the end when he's out of prison, his shirt's white again.

[@meatbyproducts]

Edger Write and David Fintcher are my two favorite directors. They both know what they are doing on a level no other director gwts.

[@erickpty]

The 1st scene where he is walking to get coffee while ( well ) listening his music, reminds me COME INTO MY WORLD by Kylie Minogue.

[@truefilm1556]

Just watched it: great call! I'm sure this kind of 'one take' walk with all sorts of stuff happening being choreographed has been done many times in music videos (and very likely movies) before and after. But anyway: great call!

[@erickpty]

Yeah, it have been done before, I guess. What put both apart from the rest is the graffiti on the wall. Great work by the way.

[@cometcourse381]

I would love to hear you talk about a Tsai Ming-liang film.

[@dantemoscato9352]

Great Video! I would love if you make a Wes Anderson's Rushmore analysis

[@_heavens_hell_97_64]

5:02 my favorite song

[@tomasfavetto5040]

One cool thing bout this movie is that in the beginning, Baby's shirt is white but as the movie gets more out of Baby's control his shirt gets darker

[@TehF0cus]

The fact I liked the most right after watching this movie without analyzing it was the fact that we had no clear villain as to speak of. This is something that happens rarely in such films. Even when people did bad things in terms of our protagonist, they were either things that we did not see coming or that were, from their point of view, completely understandable.

[@emmawinnie4431]

What are some specific examples of old film techniques and the movies they stem from that are utilized in Baby Driver?