'F1: The Movie' Review: A Ferociously Entertaining Blockbuster
Director Joseph Kosinski aims to have lightning strike twice after Top Gun: Maverick with F1: The Movie, a ferociously entertaining blockbuster that should prove to be the ultimate crowd-pleaser this summer.
F1: The Movie centers on a seasoned racer named Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who is tapped by his old friend to drive for his struggling Formula 1 racing team in order to maintain ownership of the team and turn their luck around. Joining Pitt in the sports film is Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon, and Damson Idris. Fortunately, this talented cast isn’t remotely wasted and is supported by a sharp, breezy script from writer Ehren Kruger.
Pitt’s charm and endless charisma as an actor are on full display here, oozing cool from every age-defying pore as he imbues Sonny with a firm confidence and wayward aura that makes him an easy character to not only like, but root for. His new teammate Joshua, played by Idris, holds his own on screen with Pitt, the two elevating one another and bringing out some of their best work. Their friction and eventual kinship isn’t exactly shocking, but the two sell their relationship wonderfully. Even better, both characters are effectively fleshed out so that the audience is able to become emotionally invested in their respective and collective stories. Bardem is also sublime here, taking the thankless role of an F1 team owner and elevating it to new heights, bringing gravitas, charm, and enough kinetic energy to make him a standout throughout.
However, it’s the direction from Joseph Kosinski and the overall cinematography that are the MVPs. This is an immaculately crafted film with dynamic and truly impressive camerawork that makes the audience not only feel as if they’re in these Formula 1 racecars, but get a sense of the ferocity of these monstrous vehicles as well. Adding to the overall immersion is the terrific sound design that attacks the senses with a tenacity that is impossible not to feel and become enveloped by. This is muscular, bravura filmmaking at its finest, Kosinski continuously showcasing why he’s one of the best and most underappreciated blockbuster filmmakers working today. Composer Hans Zimmer’s bombastic, emotionally charged score is just the cherry on top of this motor oil-drenched sundae.
Fortunately, this is a blockbuster that isn’t afraid to ease on the gas and flesh out its cast of interesting characters in order to throw some hefty emotional punches. While the story may be a bit too predictable, every character gets a scene or two to shine, registering as far more than two-dimensional caricatures. Not only that, but the film effectively demonstrates how dangerous of a sport F1 is, how every lap brings with it unpredictability and a palpable sense of fear and danger. It’s a sport that not just anyone is built for, one that not only tests a person physically, but emotionally as well. The visceral emotional undercurrent of the film becomes just as enthralling as its spectacular racing sequences. It’s the marriage of the two that makes the film feel singular and like a significant step above the countless other entries into this genre.
However, the film isn’t without its minor setbacks that notably hold it back from true greatness. First and foremost, this is a sports drama that mostly plays it safe, sticking to the tried and true formula that many films before it have embraced in order to achieve success and acclaim. As a result, there aren’t many narrative swerves or surprises that knock the audience off-balance. Instead, the story plays out in a very conventional manner, leaving the audience wondering what could’ve been with a few re-writes. Also not doing the film any favors is its beefy runtime, clocking in at over two and half hours. With a story as predictable as this one, the film often feels like its spinning its wheels, pun absolutely intended, as its telling this story and reaching its inevitable, highly predictable conclusion. With a few trims to the cut and revisions to the script, this could’ve been a far leaner and more refreshing story.
F1: The Movie is a spectacularly entertaining summer blockbuster that yearns to be seen on the biggest screen possible. What it may lack in the storytelling department, it more than makes up for in its nearly endless entertainment value, stellar performances, and masterful direction. Audiences craving electrifying big screen entertainment should look no further than this sports film.