No matter how you slice it, Edgar Wright is a very talented, immensely creative director/producer/screenwriter/actor, responsible for a slew of memorable movies including the Three Flavours Cornetto film trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Ant Man and most recently, Baby Driver, one of my favourite films of 2017.
Filmmaker Karsten Runquist has shone a successful light on Wright’s prodigiously unique talent, examining all of his films with a particular focus on the protagonists in Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Ant Man, noting the various methods he employs to connect the audience with the protagonist, a critical element if there’s to be any emotional connection to the films:
“… what makes Wright’s main characters feel so relatable and likable is the misunderstanding coming from those around them in the story … Edgar Wright keeps in mind that every scene deserves full attention, because every scene is its own thing. When every scene is its own thing and the audience member is fully invested in what they’re watching, of course the feeling of connectivity between us and our protagonists is going to feel just that much stronger.”
The video essay thoughtfully examines how important it is to have this connection in any film because without it all you have is a possibly-addled narrative and bombs-and-explosions.
And really, who wants just that?
(source: Laughing Squad)