Baby Driver, 9 years later: Jon Hamm’s near perfect action film still stands among the best ever made
A getaway driver’s dilemma
Baby Driver follows Baby, played by Ansel Elgort, as he works off a debt to crime boss Doc, played by Kevin Spacey. A talented getaway driver, Baby helps with heists and bank robberies while keeping his distance from the criminals around him.
Baby’s relationship with waitress Debora, played by Lily James, gives him a vision of a more ordinary life. But one more job raises the danger and puts his driving skills to the test.
Music shapes the action
Music is central to Baby’s character and to the film’s style. It offers him solace from a painful past and helps connect him with people including his foster father Joseph, played by CJ Jones, and Debora.
The action is often synchronized with music, lending scenes a theatrical quality. Wright’s sweeping shots and cinematography add a distinctive flair to the heists and car chases.
Buddy’s turn changes the stakes
Jon Hamm plays Buddy, who begins as a friendly figure toward Baby but grows more hostile as the criminal operation unravels. That shift turns a supporting character into a more threatening presence.
As events take a darker turn, Buddy’s violence reveals the fragility of the gang and his willingness to seek revenge. The film combines that escalating conflict with its music-led action, giving its story a dynamic feel.
Key points
- Baby Driver follows a getaway driver trying to leave crime behind for a life with Debora.
- Edgar Wright’s style and music-synchronized action give the film a distinctive character.
- Jon Hamm’s Buddy shifts from friendly associate to violent antagonist.
- The rising danger exposes the criminal gang’s fragility.