It’s been a while since I had been to the cinema. I had last stepped out in April to catch “The Working Man” with 2 incredible mates of mine. When I saw the roll out for “F1: The Movie” start, I knew that this was the movie for me, right from the teaser phase where when you open the Apple Music App or \Web Player, the F1: The Move soundtrack appeared on the home page. So, I hit up the cinema last Monday.
Released on June 27 by Apple Studios, “F1: The Movie” tells the story of racing legend Sonny Hayes (played by Brad Pitt) who is coaxed into leading a struggling Formula 1 team and while at it mentoring a young hotshot driver Damson Idris (who acts in the role as Joshua Pearce) as he chases one last chance at redemption.
Having been a supercool driver in his prime but somehow lost his way in a near-fatal crash 30 years ago, Pitt (Sonny Hayes) freelances as a race-car hombre, drifting around in his campervan, signing up for races where he can, wowing the young kids with his crazy attack strategies and wily cunning. His turning point is however when his old driving buddy Ruben (Javier Bardem), now an owner, is in desperate need of some special old-school magic to revivify his failing team and reaches out to Sonny and offers him a slot to drive for them, despite the nervous disapproval of pointy-headed board member and duplicitous creep Banning (Tobias Menzies). Amidst this, Hayes experiences pen disdain of mercurial young driving star Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) who refers to him as “old man”. Was Sonny going to exasperate and yet excite Ruben by breaking all the rules? Oh but yes. The team’s technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon) fully owns her role, while both maintain composure at the helm of the design of the cars the team drives in the film, she also plays a major role in creating a bond between Sonny and Pearce. Reminds me of a scene from the song “Collabo” by P-Square and Don Jazzy where the female character in the music video invited all of the guys (Paul and Peter of P-Square as well as Don Jazzy) on a date minus their knowledge, so each showed up dressed to the nines and with flowers. In the context of F1: The Movie, Kate invites Brad and Damson on a double date, as a way of ensuring they create and forge a working relationship if APXGP is to be victorious as their success is dependent on them.
The other feat that makes the Formula One melodrama features cameo appearances from real life Formula One A-list racers Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton (who is also credited as a producer), real life F1 commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft, Mercedes’ Team Principal Toto Wolff, among others.
Brad Pitt has been at the helm of Hollywood and film for the past 3 and a half decades, starring in major hit blockbusters like Inglourious Basterds, Tree of Life, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Ocean’s Eleven, Moneyball, to mention but a few. In what seemed like Pitt (Hayes) mentoring Damson Idris (Pearce) in the scenes in the F1: The Movie to me looks like a veteran paving way for the future, as we have to agree Damson is the new face of Hollywood. This is significantly visible in castings in movies; Outside the Wire, Snowfall, Casualty, The Twilight Zone, Children of Blood and Bone, The Commuter and now F1: The Movie.
When it comes to character development in the film, Brad was presented as the stoic, composed, and laid back father figure-ish in the movie, whereas Damson is the young star, playful, all about the press, appearances, and swag. It was really well intentioned in that, at the close of the film, we get to see them forging a way forward and eventually driving their team to victory. It also pointed to what happens when resilience meets the hunger and will to dream, which is something we live, through the story of Sonny Hayes.
F1: The Moviealso delivers on the music. “F1: The Album” features artists from various musical backgrounds, including Don Toliver, Doja Cat, Ed Sheeran, Tate McRae, Rosé, Burna Boy, Roddy Ricch, Raye, Chris Stapleton, and Myke Towers. A personal standout is “Don’t Let Me Down” by Burna Boy and it has been a fav, even before I could watch the film.
The Joseph Kosinski directed movie is on its way to becoming the highest-grossing movie of the year title, thanks to a notable $397 million on box office against its budget which was about $200Million.
Watched F1: The Movie yet? What did you think of it? Personally, I do rate it at 11/10. It’s Perfect!