Why Bernthal’s 115-Minute Action Thriller Makes Start-to-Finish Masterpiece Talk

Baby Driver’s high-speed story

Ansel Elgort plays Baby, a skilled getaway driver working for bank robberies organized by Doc, played by Kevin Spacey. Baby hopes to escape the criminal life, especially after he falls for Debora, a waitress played by Lily James.

But leaving the crew proves harder and more dangerous than he expects. Baby’s iPod-fueled soundtrack accompanies the film’s chases and action sequences, while Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm and Eiza Gonzalez play members of the criminal ensemble.

Wright’s heist influences

Baby Driver was Edgar Wright’s second production set in the United States, after Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. It followed his unsuccessful collaboration with Marvel on the original Ant-Man and showed Wright moving from independent comedy toward larger-scale action.

The film draws on earlier crime movies, including Vanishing Point, Heat and Point Break. Its references, along with Wright’s broader habit of saluting other films, give Baby Driver a connection to its influences without making it feel like a copy.

Bernthal makes Griff count

Griff is an experienced criminal responsible for the crew’s security. Bernthal gives weight to the character’s gestures and careful choices, making the relatively small role stand out among the film’s larger performances. Bernthal told FilmInk that he spoke with career criminals to better understand Griff’s mindset. He said portrayals often wrongly suggest criminals are uneducated or untalented, adding that people in the criminal world “run the full gamut.”

A lasting supporting performance

Baby Driver earned $227 million at the box office from a $34 million budget. The film also helped establish Wright as a director able to take his style from independent comedies into broader action.

The film offers a chance to see Bernthal in a smaller role than many of his later appearances. His restrained work as Griff provides a striking contrast to the movie’s more flamboyant characters.