BABY DRIVER - Movie Review

Title: Baby Driver
Running Time: 113 min
Director: Edgar Wright
Writer: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm,  Jamie Foxx, Eiza González, Jon Bernthal, CJ Jones

Review:
There are only a few directors who can leave a fingerprint as unique as Edgar Wright. The creator of "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" and the so-called "Cornetto-Trilogy" (including "Shaun of the Dead", "Hot Fuzz" and "The World's End") has made a name for himself by putting certain trademark elements into almost all of his films. Firstly, he puts everyday normal people into outrageous scenarios. Not only does this create humor, but Wright actually uses these ludicrous events to support his characters' personal growth. Secondly, he has a slick and inventive way of editing as well as framing his scenes. Thus, he can create comedy, excitement and style almost completely independent from the words in his script. And lastly, Wright fills his films with a lot of details, foreshadowing and pop-culture references, so that you can pick up something new every-time you rewatch it.
By now, it has been four years since the director brought his ideas to the big screen. After he left Marvel's "Ant-Man" project very publicly, the world was wondering what this film-maker would come up with next. "Baby Driver" is the answer to that question. And a damn great one too. Although it isn't as distinctly Edgar-Wright-ish as you might expect.
The movie revolves around Baby, a young getaway driver who has had an accident as a child that left him with a tinnitus. To drown out the squeak in his ear, he listens to music, an art-form that has always played a central part in his life. For Wright's standards the basic plot is unconventionally conventional: Boy is in the bad guy business, boy meets girl, boy wants to get out of the bad guy business to drive off into the sunset with girl, boy has to do one last job. So far so simple. It is a classic Hollywood tale. Wright however gives it enough little twists and turns to make it feel like a fresh homage rather than a resort to cliché. But what actually truly elevates this story is the musical element mentioned above:
The soundtrack consists almost exclusively of licensed pieces of music and features fantastic songs from Queen's "Brighton Rock" all the way to a cover version of "Tequila". It is much more than a great listen, though. While in other films the action is simply accompanied by the music, here, it is the other way around. The music dictates the action. Yes, everything that happens in "Baby Driver" is in perfect sync with the songs you hear. The stunts, the driving, the gunshots, even the beeping of ATMs in the background. Whether it is putting down a coffee cup or tapping someone on the shoulder. Everything fits the rhythm. You know these moments you sometimes have, when you walk through the streets with your headphones on, when you imagine this was the soundtrack to your life? That's what this movie is all about. But it's more than just a gimmick. Often times it is subtle enough that it isn't too on the nose (although you never not notice it), and moreover, it serves the purpose of reflecting the protagonists view of the world. When he has to restart a song in the middle of the action, you know that this is not going how he had planned. It's an ingenious character moment.
By itself, this whole element would already make an entertaining motion picture. If you then take a look at the cast, the entire film steps up its game even further. Everyone seems like they had a blast on set. Oscar-Winners Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey are excellent (it becomes clear Spacey has perfected his typical arrogant and powerful mastermind by now), but also Jon Hamm gives his character an unexpected depth through his performance. And then of course there is our leading man, Ansel Elgort, who is as charismatic as he ever was. He has to carry most of the film and fulfills his task masterfully. You believe his passion, his coolness and his pain. While I am curious to see what Alden Ehrenreich has to offer, I immediately thought it to be a shame that Elgort didn't get the role of young Han Solo as soon as I saw the first 6 minutes of "Baby Driver".
The whole film is an exhilarating ride that you can appreciate more and more every time you watch it. This movie has action, humor, romance and maybe the greatest car chase sequences of the decade. Edgar Wright proves that he can deliver an endlessly creative product even when he plays around with a classic Hollywood formula. Meticulously crafted, brilliantly edited and perfectly cast, this music-video-motion-picture-hybrid is one of the best films of the summer. Buy the ticket and take your friends. You won't regret it.

For Fans Of:
Hot Fuzz (2007)
RocknRolla (2008)
The Town (2010)
The Italian Job (1969/2003)
Victoria (2015)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Fast Five (2011)

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SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING - Movie Review

Title: Spider-Man: Homecoming
Running Time: 133 min
Director: Jon Watts
Writers: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, John Favreau, Jacob Balaton

Review:
Cinematically speaking, Spider-Man has had a bit of a rough road for the past decade. After Sam Raimi's first two incarnations of the web-slinger soared at the box office, the series did a huge nosedive with a franchise killing third installment. "Batman & Robin" - Style. But Sony didn't wait long to reboot the series and cranked out two brand-new films, this time with Andrew Garfield in the Spidey suit. The fans however neither liked seeing the all too familiar origin play out the same way again. Nor did they appreciate the convoluted story-line that was very clearly just geared towards fast-tracking an extended universe. So when the films disappointed critics and audiences alike, Sony turned to the mother ship of comic book franchises: Marvel Studios. Yes, the Spider-Man found a new home in the MCU. And although the general public seemed hesitant to get excited about yet another take on the wall-crawler, most people were wooed when they first saw Tom Holland in costume and in action in "Captain America: Civil War". So can "Spider-Man: Homecoming" successfully build on that momentum? Or is the time for Spidey solo movies well and truly over?
It certainly is not! Marvel Studios have proven their sure instinct for their audiences taste once more, because Spider-Man incarnation feels fresher than ever. The film-makers skipped the origin story and  jumped right into Spider-Man's life after the events of "Captain America: Civil War" (awesomely recapped through a "Spidey Blog"). Although the character is send back to high school for the third time in a row, this time the setting is actually part of the story. Instead of having a 30-year-old play a Spider-Man that just happens to also go to school sometimes, Tom Holland really looks the age. Furthermore, Peter Parker actually has to deal with the problems a teenager with superpowers might have. This makes the whole film more personal, something that the comics were always about. Because unlike the Avengers, Spidey is not the one that saves the world from total destruction or fights intergalactic wars. He is a street-level hero. It is not for nothing that they call him the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Marvel Studios understands this, and instead of putting him against some big flashy inherently evil villain, they chose The Vulture: A regular in the comics, that the film-makers made into an equally "small scale" counterpart, with an unexpected connection to Peter. In addition they gave him an origin that does not online tie into the MCU, but also kind of expands it.
But of course we can't talk about the world-famous web-slinger, without also talking about the man who plays him. Because what elevates the film even further is Tom Holland's excellent performance. It is a match made in heaven, as Holland nails both, the Peter Parker and the Spider-Man side of the character. He simply IS the slightly awkward but witty super-hero and to me his casting is almost on a Micheal-J.-Fox-in-Back-To-The-Future-Level kind of perfection. Not only does he hold his own opposite of Robert Downey Jr. (who is much less in this film than I had feared), but he sells every single emotion. He's cocky, fearful, awkward, frustrated, insecure, fascinated, lovestruck, and fully embarks in the roller coaster of feelings that a teenager has. As a long time fan, it was pure joy to finally see a movie version of this character that seems like he jumped right out of a comic-book.
There is an argument that can be made that Sam Raimi's classic version was a more serious movie with a little more gravitas. And it is true that this incarnation is a little lighter. But with its 80's comedy vibe, well-rounded story and absolutely fantastic lead actor, there is no doubt this Spider-Man film is an immensely entertaining motion picture. It knows exactly why its main character is so appealing and utilizes this to its full potential. A blast for every Marvel fan and an definite must-see for every Spider-Man fan.

For Fans Of:
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Back to the Future Trilogy (1985-1990)
Chronicle (2012)
Iron-Man (2008)
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Breakfast Club (1985)

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REBIRTH - Netflix Review

 Title: Rebirth
Running Time: 140 min
Director: Karl Mueller
Writer: Karl Mueller
Starring: Fran Kranz, Adam Goldberg, Nicky Whelan, Kat Foster

Review:
Netflix has become bigger and bigger over the last couple of years. So much so, that the streaming service evolved into a production company that constantly delivers new content. Between acclaimed shows like "House of Cards" or Marvel's "Daredevil", you can also find a number of independent films in the Netflix original collection. It only seems appropriate, to pick out one of these productions every now and then, and give them the same review treatment as cinematic releases. First up is Karl Mueller's second directorial outing:
"Rebirth" is a psychological thriller that evolves around the everyman Kyle, a suburban father who works for the social media department of a bank. When he gets a surprise visit from his old college friend Zack, the latter tries to convince him to take part in a wild self-actualization program called Rebirth that is coming up the following weekend. Despite only having these few vague information, Kyle signs up. Soon he enters a bizarre rabbit-hole that seems to lack order, sense and any kind of reasonableness and is more messed up than he initially thought.
The film is certainly an experience. You really get to see the story through Kyle's eyes and thus are just as confused as he is throughout the entire film. Numerous times you will wonder what the hell is going on and will laugh at, be weirded out, or be intrigued by the absurdity of the events. Whether you enjoy this ride or not probably depends on your ability to endure such a cluelessness. Because it does get a little exhausting at times that you don't even seem to get a little bit closer to finding out what is actually going on. But the film manages to pull you back in at a few points. Of course all this confusion calls for a big reveal at the end, and while you'll find the initial explanation of it all a little underwhelming, the film dares to say "but wait, there's more" just a few minutes later. At first I wasn't quite sure if the ending worked for me, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it and the more it kind of creeped me out.
While the social satire the film attempts doesn't entirely work, the film is still fun to watch. In this regard, it especially benefits from Fran Kranz's sympathetic portrayal of Kyle. The 35 year-old actor has given great performances in films like "Cabin in the Woods" or "Much Ado About Nothing" and especially his comedic chops should be utilized much more by Hollywood. Additionally, the film has a cool visual style as it frequently plays around a little with things like the color pallet or long takes.
All in all, "Rebirth" is certainly not a perfect film, but entertains you well enough. Maybe not a film for watching alone, but I do recommend it for a movie night with a few friends. Because despite its flaws, it sure has the potential to start up a conversation.

For Fans Of:
The Game (1997)
Fight Club (1999)
Legacy (2010)

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