At times, “F1: The Movie” feels like a sleek music video, with the action on screen perfectly synchronized with Hans Zimmer’s score, which blends into rock fusion as Page and Plant belt out “Whole Lotta Love” or while arena rock band Queen competes with the roaring thunder of Formula One racecars. Judging by the numerous sweeping drone shots, director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) remains fixated on the skies, supported by the obligatory airborne crash scene. You could describe the film as bombastic because it moves with force and confidence while the characters coast in the superficial lane. Still, the race scenes are thrilling, and there’s Brad Pitt.
There are shades of Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth character from “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” in his portrayal of racecar driver Sonny Hayes. He’s constantly in chill mode even though his better days are behind him—also similar to Colt Seavers in “The Fall Guy,” played by Ryan Gosling. Can we get all three characters in a film about a folk-rock supergroup, Booth, Hayes, & Seavers? Get Ryan Coogler to direct it to work that “seeing-double” magic he used to give us double Michael B. Jordans. An easy pitch.
Sonny is a nomad living out of his van and was once a rising star in Formula One during the 1990s. A crash derailed his career. His former teammate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), now runs the APXGP F1 team and is in need of a driver. Ruben’s team is in last place, even with hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
As you might guess, Ruben asks Sonny to join the team. Sure, three decades have flown by, but Sonny still lives life in the fast lane. It may not be Formula One, but he just won the 24 Hours of Daytona, set in an exhilarating scene featuring Led Zeppelin’s classic “Whole Lotta Love.” The soundtrack includes needle drops by Ratt, Burna Boy, Chris Stapleton, Tate McRae, Roddy Ricch, ROSÉ, Queen, Obongjayar, and the club banger “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver (feat. Doja Cat), which becomes the film’s signature track. Kosinski has a knack for choosing songs that enhance the soundtrack. “Top Gun: Maverick” featured tracks by David Bowie, T. Rex, and The Who, along with a new song by Lady Gaga.
Screenwriter Ehren Kruger highlights the rivalry between Joshua and Sonny, as the rookie becomes intimidated by the veteran driver. “I think it’s really wonderful that APX is giving second chances to the elderly,” quips Joshua during a press conference. The young driver has a close relationship with his mother, Bernadette (Sarah Niles), who is always nearby to offer support and keep her son’s ego in check. You could compare their relationship to that of Travis Kelce and his mother, Donna, but Joshua also comes across as a bit of a mama’s boy. I like Niles, but I would have preferred a love interest for Joshua (his Taylor Swift), but she (Simone Ashley) was left on the cutting room floor.
The standout person in the cast is Oscar-nominated actress Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) playing Kate McKenna, the APXGP technical director who designed the team’s Formula One car. I wouldn’t exactly call her Sonny’s love interest, but there’s some flirtation, maybe more. Condon is cast against type, which is why she’s excellent in the role. The Irish actress takes the spotlight in a room filled with Pitt, Idris, and Bardem.
Frequent Kosinski collaborator and cinematographer Claudio Miranda, who began as a gaffer for David Fincher on films like “Seven” and “Fight Club,” and won an Oscar for his work on 2012’s “Life of Pi,” should receive another nomination for his stunning visuals in “F1: The Movie,” which feature broad aerial shots and first-person perspectives, creating a fully immersive experience. Optimized for IMAX, Miranda used the Sony Rialto Camera Extension System to place the audience inside the fighter jets of “Top Gun: Maverick.” A prototype was used in “F1” to position the viewer inside the Formula One cars, resulting in some incredible shots.
The racing sequences are exhilarating, and fans of Formula One get treated to tons of cameos by drivers that include Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris. However, make no mistake, “F1: The Movie,” with all its thrilling action, remains a character-driven film. Unfortunately, the focus is just on one character, Sonny Hayes.
Those beautiful aerodynamic machines are no match for Brad Pitt’s boyish charm. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer squeezes every cent out of Pitt’s $30 million salary. The film begins with a “There’s no ‘I’ in team, but there are two in winning” mentality. It would have benefited from a stronger rivalry between Sonny and Joshua; instead, it becomes sappy.
We are also in familiar territory, as many similar themes were explored in the NASCAR version of this film, Tony Scott’s “Days of Thunder” (1990), starring Tom Cruise. The “Top Gun” actor was 28 when he played reckless Cole Trickle in the race car film, while his rival, played by Michael Rooker, was 35 years old. That closer age disparity for the veteran works better in a movie like this. Side note: Add Cruise’s character to the folk-rock supergroup I pitched earlier (maybe as the Neil Young). Making them Booth, Hayes, Seavers, & Trickle.
“F1: The Movie” is an entertaining Pitt stop meant to stimulate at surface level.
(3 stars)
Now showing in theaters
Related
Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.
Republish This Story
Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details.