It’s lights out, and away we go! F1: The Movie brings the world of Formula One racing to the big screen. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, best known for crafting some of the most thrilling aerial sequences put to celluloid in Top Gun: Maverick, F1 sees the director take on a similar project, but this time, on the ground. He straps us into the cockpits of a racecar and fires up our engines, leaving us with a groundbreaking cinematic experience that soars high above its competition and leaves us with a truly epic summer blockbuster.
Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a racer-for-hire who the movie establishes early on as an impeccably skilled driver. Fast, brash, and confident to a fault, Sonny can pull off the 24 Hours of Daytona, so long as he completes his pregame ritual: a playing card from a shuffled deck stuffed into his pocket. Sonny has a long history with Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), the owner of APXGP, who wants Sonny to come drive for him. We have our classic Hero’s Journey structure here, from our call to action to the refusal of the call to the eventual crossing of the threshold.
Tried and true? True. But if this isn’t some of the most fun you can have at the movies, I don’t know what is. This is your classic sports movie, especially as Sonny faces off with a teammate named Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris). These two are wonderful foils for each other. Sonny is the older, wiser driver, while Pierce is a younger hotshot with a lot to learn. They grind each other’s gears in a way that works for humor, but also genuine conflict, as they find themselves in these races where they need to listen to each other.
In many ways, F1 does feel like Top Gun: Maverick with racecars instead of planes. Kosinski and writer Ehren Kruger reunite for another movie about an aging man who’s excellent at what he does, but is held back by a tragedy from his past, who must now work with a team of younger people, including one young man with whom he finds himself at odds. Both movies tell this story while delivering high-octane action sequences in high-velocity vehicles. Kosinski also reunites with Maverick cinematographer Claudio Miranda and composer Hans Zimmer to bring a rip-roaring cinematic spectacle to life.
Pulse-pounding and built for the big screen, F1 gives movie lovers everything they’d want out of a movie. This film is a must-see in IMAX or 4DX, particularly for those racing sequences where you’ll feel like you’re in the car with these characters. Kosinski directs these set pieces fantastically, always keeping everything dynamic in his shot choices. We have driver POV shots, shots with the cameras attached to the car, inserts in all the right places, closeups of Pitt, and the editing is tight, allowing us to feel the adrenaline in ways that real F1 races don’t always have the opportunity to capture.
You can feel the roar of these engines in a film that’s bursting with life. The film is at its best when you have shots that are designed to show that it’s really Pitt behind the wheel performing some of these stunts. Kosinski lets us get up close and personal throughout every race, keeping up the momentum and allowing us to practically feel the wind racing by. Much like other phenomenal racing movies from recent years like Ford v Ferrari, Gran Turismo, and Rush, the set pieces are a true highlight and worth the price of admission alone.
How’s the story? It works. One thing the screenplay does quite well is that even though Sonny starts off as an excellent racer, F1 always finds ways to put characters at a disadvantage. They’re always fighting to climb their way up, and you really do root for them. There are strong character moments when the film needs them, but the script sends a bit too long establishing Sonny’s backstory by having other characters watch documentaries/news about him. It takes a while before we see how Sonny’s past affects him through his own eyes.
And it’s all a bit predictable. There are a few moments where things go wrong, and you’re hoping the next race goes right, only for something to go wrong again. This works well, but the pacing can also be sluggish in a few moments. F1 ends up slightly overlong at over 2 and a half hours, but when you have Pitt and all his movie star charisma at the forefront, it’s hard not to have a good time. From powerful, thrilling races to just the right amount of character moments, this is a film that deserves to be experienced on the biggest screen with the biggest audience and the biggest tub of popcorn. It’s the perfect summer blockbuster for anyone who wants a good, old-fashioned time at the movies.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended the world premiere for our F1 review.
