“We trained hard but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganised.
I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganising; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralisation.”
— Petronius Arbiter
I’ve always thought that when it comes to watching films expectation can be a double edged sword. Go in with high expectations and so often you’ll be disappointed, go in with low or no expectations and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Baby Driver was a victim of high expectations the first time I watched it; I love Edgar Wright’s films, but Baby Driver left me a little flat.
I watched Baby Driver again this weekend and really enjoyed it this time. I still think it loses its pace in act two, and Kevin Spacey’s change of character and heart seems a leap too far, but it’s such a stylish and fun film.
In multiple scenes Edgar Wright uses the fantastic soundtrack to great effect, synchronising the action and movement with every beat – it’s as if the music is an extra actor.
Just check out the opening scene where Wright uses Bell Bottoms from The John Spencer Blue Explosion to great comedic, character building and car sliding effect.
But the scene that has had me rewatching it on YouTube are the opening credits where Baby does the coffee run – keep an eye on the graffiti and shop names.
How fabulous is that scene? Every element, including the lyrics appearing on and around the street, is timed to perfection. So much fun and explains why a heist movie has a choreographer in the opening credits.
As a life long Bond fan I’ve hugely enjoyed Daniel Craig’s time as 007.
From Casino Royale, which remained remarkably close to Ian Fleming’s first book, through to Skyfall, Spectre and upcoming ‘Bond 25’ which includes the amazing Phoebe Waller-Bridge amongst the writing talent .
Skyfall is both my favourite Bond film and one of my favourite films of all time. As the film that marked the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise I loved the references to Bond’s age, and this scene where Bond meets his new Quartermaster is just perfect.
“Were you expecting, an exploding pen? We don’t really go in for that anymore”
I love this stripped back version of Radiohead’s The Numbers performed by Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke and a Roland CR78 filmed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
