F1 directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruge is a film of simpler times. The makers for F1 have chosen to focus on the filmmaking more than its story, but the screenplay doesn’t fall short of theatrics and drama. For a story about racing and its team, there is much to offer from conflict between players, past emotional trauma to new beginnings and team bonding. F1 gives almost everything a 2000s film could present with even better direction and cinematography.
F1 begins with Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes stepping in as a nomad driver for hire at a Daytona racetrack for the overnight shift. He takes over the car towards the end of the line, but leads the game by the morning driver change. 5 minutes into the film, the makers clear the air that Sonny Hayes isn’t in it for the glory. Despite offers to stay on the team full time, Sonny picks up his cheque and moves on to the next one. Dubbed as “the greatest that never was,” he was Formula 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s.
However, one accident on the track that nearly ended his career and life, Sonny stays out of the limelight. Thirty years later he is dragged back into the world by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes played by Javier Bardem. As the owner of a struggling Formula 1 team Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to race for his team alongside a rookie Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce. For the rest of the runtime, the film explores how the team works with this new old timer changing the pace for the better.
SEE ALSO: Ballerina Review: Ana de Armas’ John Wick Spin Off Keeps Up, Keanu Reeves Comes To Rescue?
Kosinski’s decision to shoot during real F1 races pays off really well as the audience gets to experience the thrill of a real race. It also manages to bend the boundaries between real and fiction by changing the narrative of the F1 Grand Prix of the previous years. Like any sports drama, F1 also follows the same formula, but the shots of the racetracks are more than enough to keep you glued to your seats. On the other hand, performances by Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem and Damson Idris are charged with good chemistry.
Sonny and JP are shown as the polar opposite and the emotional character acrs for both of them that brings them together, is one of the most satisfying moments for the film. Fans Hugh Jackman’s Real Steel would definitely enjoy the lighthearted moments and heavy drama in F1. But the screenplay does not falter, plenty of subtle storytelling explores deep-seated flaws and strength of the characters, and technical details about the Formula 1 world, without spoon feeding the audience.
SEE ALSO: Panchayat Season 4 Review: Small Town Charm Missed As Politics Takes Forefront Again
The soundtrack as well as the cinematography are enough to pull you back to the theatre again.The film is also filled with amazing cameos from real life stars of the sport which adds another layer of dept to the film.
Overall, F1 is one for the times and should be looked at not just a commercial film but preserve its filmmaking process.
Cover artwork by Patrick Gawande/Mashable India