I'll also add that there are numerous behind-the-scenes videos, interviews and discussions from the production of the movie that are worth checking out.
(I can include some here in the comments if anyone is interested.)
Photography courtesy Apple TV+
Is “F1: The Movie” the best racing movie ever? After seeing the picture and listening to the online pundits over the holiday weekend, my opinion on the matter: While you might not want to hear this, you and I aren’t like most people. We’re not exactly the film’s target audience.
Considering how much money was sunk into “F1: The Movie” (IMDB estimates a budget of $200 million), one of the most important goals was likely to deliver a product that could be sold to the most people.
How realistic is the film? (Looking at you, “Driven.”)
The movie excelled at capturing the sensation of a race car’s speed, something that was no doubt aided by the willingness of actors Brad Pitt and Damson Idris to actually drive the Formula 1 cars of the fictional APX GP team at speed–perhaps not 100% speed, but speed nonetheless.
(Side note: Since real Formula 1 cars are insanely cost-intensive to maintain and operate, production opted to instead use slightly less expensive Formula 2 cars rebodied as F1 machines.)
Several of the best moments from the film take place inside the cockpit of a Formula 1 car, and frequently there were moments where I pulled myself back from the edge of my seat and thought to myself, “Oh yeah, this is why I like race cars. This is why I pursued the job that I did.”
Of course, there were instances during the film where I said to myself, “That’s not how that works,” or, “The FIA wouldn’t allow that,” but it’s also worth pointing out that “F1: The Movie” is a massive, uber-expensive summer blockbuster assembled by some of the heaviest hitters in the industry.
So yes, there’s a degree of artistic license applied to the story and the action appearing on the screen.
Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce (left) and Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes (right).
I do have two complaints about the movie, however.
I would have loved to have seen more of the other drivers involved in the film, though a few of the team principals did make some notable appearances–like the all-too-fitting cameo of former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner. (Don’t worry, you’ll know it when you see it.)
I would have also preferred to see the female characters in the movie do more than fall into female character tropes.
Yes, some of the most important characters in the film are played by women–like APX GP technical director Kate McKenna, played by Kerry Condon–but their actions over the course of the movie sort of undermine the importance the characters play in the overall story.
That being said, I sincerely hope “F1: The Movie” brings more fans into the fold.
I don’t care what it is that ends up attracting more people to Formula 1–or any motorsport, for that matter–whether it’s the intense racing and the high-end tech or something more superficial like the bougie lifestyle or Carlos Sainz’s hair. (Seriously, have you seen how nice that man’s hair is?)
Formula 1 or not, the more people that watch races and get involved on and off the track, the more likely our hobby of playing with cars will survive for future generations–and that’s one of the most important things, right?
Love to hear what the rest of you thought about the picture.
I'll also add that there are numerous behind-the-scenes videos, interviews and discussions from the production of the movie that are worth checking out.
(I can include some here in the comments if anyone is interested.)
I think the thing that has been bugging me about it is that its not based on a real story. All the best racing movies I have seen are based on real events. Sure they might not be 100% accurate and made more dramatic for effect, but ultimately they are grounded in real drama. I haven't seen it yet, but all the trailers feel... inauthentic. Hopefully the film comes off better.
In reply to theruleslawyer :
I hear you, though I'll encourage you to watch the film.
While the plot of the movie isn't not based on a single real event–without spoiling the story–some very real moments did inspire a few plot points.
Colin Wood said:I'll also add that there are numerous behind-the-scenes videos, interviews and discussions from the production of the movie that are worth checking out.
(I can include some here in the comments if anyone is interested.)
Yes please!
In reply to theruleslawyer :
I wouldn't say that bugs me about it, but I do think that there are more than enough drama filled but little known real racing stories worth telling that there's no actual need to make one up.
My daughter just finished reading Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler's Best. She was adamant that it deserves (and has all the right ingredients) to be made into an a-list movie, and I couldn't help but agree.
dyintorace said:Yes please!
I'm going to put some links instead of embedding so it doesn't gum up the thread:
https://youtu.be/EI9ZdeCZ_a4?si=XKkxqLRmnqeNekOE
https://youtu.be/m4BPx66Byds?si=bi0PCeFDth52nEg0
https://youtu.be/UaklCDha5-I?si=FRtq0ghiwnxQDs2I
https://youtu.be/-9Aclp3cugM?si=ZgqL8auB3bRpgl1k
Driven5 said:In reply to theruleslawyer :
My daughter just finished reading Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler's Best. She was adamant that it deserves (and has all the right ingredients) to be made into an a-list movie, and I couldn't help but agree.
Yes, a well researched & written story that I had never heard before. Definitely could make a good movie.
I think the stories have been played out with documentaries as it is. the Lauda / Hunt story wasn't really portrayed properly in Ron Howard's movie Rush. And for me it just didn't make a great movie. Lauda and Hunt were quite close and really pushed themselves during the '76 season. considering they raced in F2 and often shared accommodation while racing, its hard to not be respectful to each other on and off the track.
As far as visuals, its hard to beat the Garners/Frankenhiemer Grand Prix epic, the story lines are a bit thin but the action for its day was phenomenal.
I wish they could do a movie of Gilles Villeneuves life based on Gerald Donaldson book. its an incredible story of the man and all who were around him during his career. its one of the best reads about the man and the industry during the ground effects/turbo era. well worth the read.
In reply to theruleslawyer :
Watch the 1966 movie "Grand Prix". Still the gold standard. It is also a fictional story that uses a compilation of real events that occurred over several seasons to tell a movie worthy story. "F1" does the same.
stealthdeburgo said:As far as visuals, its hard to beat the Garners/Frankenhiemer Grand Prix epic, the story lines are a bit thin but the action for its day was phenomenal.
Many racing sequences in the F1 movie felt very much like modern takes on Grand Prix.
I'd say there are quite a few parallels between the two films, stylistically, of course.
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