F1® The Movie
Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was once considered the next big thing in Formula 1 racing until a horrific crash ended his rise. Now, decades later, he lives in his Econoline van, picking up gigs across the country when his old racing rival and friend Ruben (Javier Bardem) offers him a position as senior driver and mentor to young hotshot Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris, TV's 'Snowfall') on his Formula 1 team, a team which has no points and must win a race in order to survive in "F1® The Movie."
Laura's Review: B+
Director Joseph Kosinski, who shares a 'Story by' credit with his "Top Gun: Maverick" screenwriter Ehren Kruger, gives the film the same energy, macho competitiveness and camaraderie as that film, right down to the 'guys' girl' love interest Kate (Kerry Condon, "The Banshees of Inisherin"), F1's first female technical director. "Top Gun: Maverick" cinematographer Claudio Miranda plunks us into the cars with Pitt and Idris as they actually drive at speeds up to 200 mph during Formula 1 Grand Prix races, but while the film is full of visceral thrills, it is Sonny's unorthodox strategy on the track and the multiple levels of personal and business relationships that make the film a full meal.
We're introduced to Sonny as Led Zeppelin's ‘Whole Lotta Love’ rattles the IMAX theater, a rousing accompaniment to watching him win the 24 hour race at Daytona. After that victory, he's planning on heading to the Baja 1000, when Reuben walks into the diner where he's eating at the counter. Sonny seems unconvinced by Reuben's pleas, but delights the man when he shows up at APXGP headquarters (where he will learn he was actually Reuben's ninth choice). A swaggering, grinning Sonny takes on JP's cocky arrogance with a challenge on circuit timing, JP's insistence that the 'old man' is an 'a*hole,' dispelled by his mother Bernadette (Sarah Niles, TV's 'Ted Lasso') when she gets a look at the new driver. And after Kate gets defensive when Sonny criticizes her car, she'll soon find that working with the driver produces results, shaving fractions of seconds off the racecar's time (she's also warned by Reuben that Sonny's gone through multiple women, including two ex-wives). Sonny even proves influential with Jodie (Callie Cooke), a member of the pit crew who makes a critical mistake during a race.
The fictional APXGP team was integrated into the actual Formula 1 circuit, with its own garage and the ability to shoot on actual Grand Prix race courses during 'white spaces' during live events. We'll travel with them first to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where Sonny pulls maneuvers to get safety cars on the track, holding back the opposition so his partner can advance. In Hungary at Hungaroring, he'll antagonize team principal Kasper (Kim Bodnia, "Young Woman and the Sea") by refusing to leave the pit until he's given soft tires after Kasper's ordered hard. Sonny sets JP up for a win at Italy's Temple of Speed, but when the younger driver ignores Sonny's last warning, a fiery accident takes him off the team for the Dutch Grand Prix. by the time JP rejoins the team, Sonny will have made such a name for himself with fans holding up his likeness at Grands Prix, jealousy rears its head, JP's manager Cashman (Samson Kayo) suggesting Sonny is a saboteur. Ruben will dispatch Kate in Las Vegas to facilitate detente over a game of Texas Hold 'em (its outcome one of the screenplay's more obvious cliches). And as fortunes rise and fall for the APXGP team, board member Banning (Tobias Menzies, TV's 'Outlander') is always looking over their shoulders.
This is a great role for Pitt who dons a cloak of nonchalance belying Sonny's investment in his own legacy. Pitt looks older here, especially with his face encased in an F1 racing helmet, but we are always convinced he's got the goods, his physicality in evidence as he leads the APXGP team on morning jogs. Idris makes the transition from small to big screen easily, his JP walking bravado, yet able to acknowledge mistakes. Both went through physically demanding training in order to drive Grand Prix courses. Bardem is the lovable gambler, Ruben's joy when his team begins to turn around palpable, his friendship genuine. Conlon's Kate is smart yet guarded, playful once succumbing to the charms of her driver. Niles creates a wonderful character as JP's mom, both keeping her 'boy' in check and fiercely defending him.
This was an enormous and complex production, shot for IMAX screens, and the effort has paid off in a rousing entertainment whether one is a fan of Formula 1 racing or not. Seek out "F1® The Movie" on the biggest screen possible and strap yourself in for a wild ride.
Robin's Review: A-
Back in the 1990s, Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) had a promising career in Formula 1 racing until a serious accident sidelined him. Now, 30 years later, the owner of a struggling team hires the veteran to mentor a new up and comer in “F1 ® The Movie.”
Sonny gave up the rigors of F1 racing after his long recovery from his injuries. Now, he drives the lower key competitions, like the Daytona 500. This changes when an old friend and former competitor, Ruben (Javier Bardem), offers him a driving job on his struggling Formula One race team. His mission is to mentor his hotshot young team member, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), and make him a winner.
That is the premise for “F1 ® The Movie” and there are several story threads that help flesh out all the characters, especially Sonny. This is a showcase for Brad Pitt, whose last “success” was “Bullet Train (2022),” and it shows the star power he used to have. This is the project that he needed and he runs with it.
Sonny is the most complex character in this racing tale and has a well-defined back story. Pitt, with his confident presence, embodies the veteran driver, his skills, understanding and ability. He also takes on the role of mentor very well as he shows his reluctant understudy the ropes of F1 racing. Damson Idris gives dimension to his performance as the cocky and capable young driver who doubts Sonny but learns otherwise.
For someone like me, though, who in my youth followed Formula racing, especially the king, F1, this is a tailor made movie for me. I have always loved the thrill of racing movies like “Grand Prix (1966),” “Ford v. Ferrari (2019)” and, my favorite, “Le Mans (1971)” and director and co-writer Joseph Kosinski, with Ehren Kruger, gives us racing, lots of racing, and it is up close and personal.
The film gets going, once things are established, with the British Grand Prix, the last of the season and team APXGP struggles to finish the race. The action is exciting with me having sweaty palms as close calls and crashes abound. The relationship between Sonny and Joshua has a decent arc as the youngster earns the respect of Sonny, and vice versa, as they become a real team.
But, for a former Grand Prix racing fan, the reason to be here is the car racing. The filmmakers capture, the thrills and chills of a sport where death always lingers on the edge. Once the characters are established and the plot set up, we get down to Formula One Grand Prix auto racing,
We follow our heroes through the racing season, beginning with the Dutch GP and on to Japan, Italy, Mexico City, Belgium, Las Vegas and others to the big finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The racing scenes, from start to finish, are loud, fast, exciting and, most important, not confusing. The leaders and followers are distinct and, as we watch the drivers ply their trade, believable.
Some may be daunted by the film’s 2.5+ hour runtime but for anyone who enjoys the excitement of auto racing, it is a walk in the park. The blend of personal stories and the excitement of “being in the car” racing make for a complete film.
Warner Brothers releases "F1® The Movie" in theaters on 6/27/25.
