Joey Magidson
A summer blockbuster like F1: The Movie shouldn’t feel as novel as it does. Hollywood used to put out big sports films all the time. Summer used to always be home to epic star vehicles and crowdpleasers like this one. However, that’s not what we get anymore, so the movie enters into a marketplace hungering for exactly what it offers. As an added bonus? The flick is one of the best of the year so far, so it’s supreme entertainment, to boot.
F1: The Movie has a very Top Gun: Maverick vibe, which is not accidental, considering the crew below the line is largely similar. Now, that’s a compliment, since that film is among the most successful in recent memory, both in terms of the craftsmanship and execution on display, as well as its overall embrace by the cinematic community. If this flick does half as well, all involved will be pleased. Now, substituting Formula One cars for fighter jets isn’t exactly the same thing, but when the racing starts, you’ll be just as swept away.
Once upon a time, Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was a hot shot race car driver with expectations of greatness. Then, an awful accident pretty much ended his career. These days, he’s retired, showing up at various racing events for one-off gigs. He’s still got the talent, to be sure, but he’s very much a wandering nomad. Then, old friend and former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) finds him at a roadside diner. Ruben has become an owner of a Formula One team and it’s not going well. In fact, it’s so bad, he needs Sonny’s help or he’s going to lose everything. Sonny resists at first, but the allure of racing these high end machines is too much to ignore. So, he joins up.
Quickly, Sonny finds out just how bad things are. Their car is, as they all acknowledge, a “shit box” at best. They’ve never even scored a point, which if that continues, will lead to the board replacing Ruben. The one thing they have going for them is hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who has all the talent in the world. Initially, Joshua and Sonny lock horns, without much success on the track. However, as the season progresses, they begin to bond, Sonny grows close to the team’s lead car designer Kate (Kerry Condon), and success may well be attainable. Then, Sonny’s past threatens to derail it all.
Brad Pitt is in full movie star mode here, with charisma to spare. There’s a swagger to his work here that’s just A-lister 101. His chemistry with Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon, and Damson Idris also makes for some really fun moments. Bardem is mostly on hand to spar with Pitt, while Condon elevates what turns into a love interest role. Idris, on the other hand, is a co-lead and has just as engaging a story. Together, once they become a team, things really start zooming along. Supporting players include Callie Cooke, Lewis Hamilton, Samson Kayo, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Shea Whigham, and more.
Director Joseph Kosinski and screenwriter Ehren Kruger (they both share a Story By credit) take what worked for them in helming/co-writing Top Gun: Maverick and apply it here. The cinematography from Claudio Miranda is intense and visceral, while the score from Hans Zimmer raises your pulse. Together, they work in concert with Kosinski to make the racing sequences absolutely stunning. You really feel like you’re right there with the driver. It’s quite the achievement. Script-wise, it’s pretty much what you expect, without much in the way of surprises, but it’s done so well you won’t care. One could argue that the film runs a little long, but this is a small issue, at most. Everyone involved is operating in harmony to create an incredibly pleasing viewing experience.
F1: The Movie is a thrill. Even if the slightly over two and a half hour running time is on the bloated side, there’s so much fun on display. This is very much why you go to the movies. Without question, the film deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible, with the best sound. Treat yourself to a real cinematic experience!
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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