Dog’s Movie House: “F1: The Movie” Energizes Familiar Tale With A Fresh Coat Of Cinematic Paint!

“F1: The Movie” is primarily about Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) a fiftysomething racer living out of his van and trecking all over the place to hire himself out as a driver for whatever race he can find. After helping his team win the 24 Hours At LeMans Hayes is approached by his old friend (and track adversary) Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem). Ruben wants Sonny back in Formula 1, a job Hayes hasn’t done for over 30 years (for reasons that become evident later in the film). Among Hayes tasks are to be the teams second driver and to mentor a talented yet arrogant rookie named Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris). The team hasn’t won in three years and Ruben is faced with losing his racing team if he doesn’t get a win during the last half of the season. It’s up to Hayes to teach the young buck some new tricks while at the same time racing at the highest (and most dangerous) level for the first time in over three decades.

It all sounds very familiar right? Most sports movies follow the same underdog formula down to the letter. Knowing that going in will help you enjoy “F1: The Movie” all the more. While Kosinski and Ehren Kruger’s script hits every trope and sports movie cliche during the course of the film’s two-and-a-half hour running time, it’s the style in which Kosinski presents the story that deserves attention. Using similar ambitious camera work and special effects that he used in “Top Gun: Maverick” Kosinski creates one of the most immersive racing films ever put on the screen. It feels like your actually in the cars with the various drivers and almost every overhead scene zooms in to ground level so you get a real sense of how fast these four-wheel rockets are going. Sometimes it feels more like an advanced theme park ride than a film, and that’s a good thing.

“F1: The Movie” also dives deep into the Formula 1 driving culture and details involving the sport, It’s a rich man’s game and even the lower end teams have top-notch research and testing facilities. The film leans heavily into the jargon and details of racing, so while it’s visually easy to understand, some of the dialogue will sail right over the heads of all but the most ardent racing fans. That said, the script doesn’t talk down to the audience and that gives “F1: The Movie” an atmosphere of authenticity that really helps the film cook. It also helps that the film casts real drivers such as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in key roles during the race (Hamilton was one of the movie’s producers). Everything feels real and the movie is more exciting for it.

As for the performances, Brad Pitt is perfect as the grungy but still capable Sonny Hayes. His still handsome features, now lined with experience, show a roadmap of adversity and hard living, yet Pitt also manages to find the humor in his character (His non-responses at the press conferences are a hoot reminiscent of Greg Popovich). Bardem is Pitt’s match as the former rival turned racing team owner, and the chemistry between the two keeps the familiar story from veering into eye-rolling camp. Idris does what he can as Pierce, but his character is somewhat pigeonhold by the cliched script. His performance is not quite as convincing as the others, although that’s no fault of his. And finally, Kerry Condon is a hoot as technical director Kate McKenna, the first female director on the circuit. She’s a fighter and smart as a whip, and her dynamic with Hayes is one of the better narrative threads in the movie.

Overall, “F1: The Movie” is a little more spectacle than substance, but Kosinski, his actors, and the rest of the crew create such an immersive experience that that there’s really very little to complain about in terms of entertainment value. This film is why movies should be seen on the big screen! If you get a chance to see this on the IMAX screen, please do it. You won’t be disappointed! 4 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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