Vroom, squeal, whiz, crash, ahh…These are the kind of words that come to mind when I think of this new film starring the ever-beautiful Brad Pitt.
F1 has a basic premise. Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is a man who can drive anything and proves it when we first meet him, and he’s helped his team win the Daytona 500. As he walks away from all that is given to the victors, he’s surprised and approached by his old friend and fellow Formula 1 driving mate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem). Ruben is now the owner of a struggling Formula 1 team named APX Grand Prix. If he doesn’t make a good showing this season, he’ll lose everything he’s worked hard to build.
He asks Sonny to come out of retirement and help mentor the team, and a young driver named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). He’s a hothead who loves his mother, Bernadette (Sarah Niles), and all the fame that comes with being a driver at this level. Sunny agrees to take a look at the situation. He is intrigued by the first female F1 car designer, Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), who is smart and needs this to work as much as Ruben does. Sonny also sees a spark of something great in young Joshua, so he takes the challenge. Joshua is threatened by Sonny and his unconventional training methods. But the two must learn to work together to save their team’s future.
The director of F1, Joseph Kosinski, has quickly made a mark for himself with his uncompromising style of filmmaking. The record books indicate that his four theatrical releases have grossed over $ 2.2 billion worldwide and have been nominated for seven Academy Awards and two Grammys. Not bad for a guy who initially studied and got his degrees in engineering and architecture. He leveraged his skills in 3D modeling and computer graphics as a video game advertising professional, creating commercials for Gears of War and Halo 3.
I believe that he is just a natural-born storyteller and a wise man. He enjoys continuing to work with people he can trust and with whom he has collaborated before, such as Academy Award winner Claudio Miranda for the look and multi-Academy Award-winning Hans Zimmer for the score.
The film’s music is a thrilling collaboration between Zimmer’s original score and a killer soundtrack that includes Don Toliver, Doja Cat, Rośe, Tate McRae, Ed Sheeran, and more. As good as the music is, the best part is the cinematography by Miranda, who is the go-to shooter for this director and does a fantastic job on this film. His shots and color palette for this film make you feel like you are in the car with Sonny and Joshua as they battle on the racetrack. Helping the director deliver a high-octane film to this summer’s moviegoing audiences.
I give F1 4.5 stars. It’s an exhilarating movie that demands to be seen first on the big screen and in IMAX. So save up your pennies and take your date or best buddies to a theater near you to enjoy this hell-of-a-ride film.
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Written by: Ehren Kruger, Joseph Kosinski
Rated: PG-13
Selig Rating: 4.5 Stars
Running Time: 2 hr 35 min
Action/ Sport/ Drama
Wide Release: In Theaters and in IMAX June 27th
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen, but wish I hadn’t paid for it.