F1:
The
Movie is
definitely
a
fun
time
at
the
movies
and
deserves
a
big
screen
experience,
notes
Mayur
Sanap.
Watching
Brad
Pitt’s
F1:
The
Movie
is
like
enjoying
a
cinematic
equivalent
of
comfort
food.
As
a
classic
underdog
sports
story,
the
beats
are
predictable
with
its
deeply
empathetic
and
inspirational
qualities,
but
you
relish
it
for
its
familiar
appeal.
The
sense
of
comfort
also
comes
from
the
fact
that
there
no
heavy
confrontations,
showy
villains
or
latex-wearing
superheroes
on
a
save-the-world
quest.
It’s
just
a
conventional
drama
featuring
an
easy-to-cheer-for
hero
and
an
old-fashioned
superstar
portraying
it
in
a
larger-than-life
story.
Director
Joseph
Kosinski,
who
earlier
accomplished
this
in
Tom
Cruise-starrer
Top
Gun:
Maverick,
mounts
a
similar
star
vehicle
for
Brad
Pitt.
Instead
of
fighter
jets,
we
have
a
spectacle
of
Formula
1
racing
cars
that
feels
just
as
epic
in
scope
for
an
incredibly
stylish
and
exhilarating
film.
Brand
Pitt
is
Sonny
Hayes,
a
hotshot
racer
of
yesteryears.
A
life-threatening
accident
on
the
circuit
pushes
Sonny
to
an
early
retirement,
shattering
his
dreams.
Years
later,
Sonny
is
pushed
by
his
long-time
friend
and
Formula
1
team
owner
Ruben
(the
charismatic
Javier
Bardem)
to
come
out
of
his
shell
and
start
racing
again.
Sonny
returns
to
the
circuit
and
teams
up
with
Ruben’s
up-and-coming
racer
Joshua
Pearce
(the
confident
Damson
Idris),
who
gets
on
the
wrong
foot
with
Sonny’s
brash
but
brilliant
ways.
With
their
future
on
the
line,
the
two
must
find
a
way
to
work
together
as
they
set
off
for
the
World
Championship.
As
I
was
patiently
waiting
in
the
queue
at
the
advance
screening,
I
overheard
someone
saying:
‘I
don’t
follow
racing,
not
sure
how
much
I
am
going
to
enjoy
this
one.’
It
made
me
think,
do
we
really
need
to
have
prior
interest
in
a
particular
sport
to
enjoy
a
movie
based
on
it?
Think
of
Rocky.
Or
Invictus.
Or
back
home,
Chak
De!
India.
These
are
some
of
the
classic
ones
where
the
sport
is
a
vehicle
for
a
very
humane,
universally-appealing
story
that’s
designed
to
make
you
feel
uplifted
and
inspired.
In
F1,
it
doesn’t
matter
if
you
have
never
cared
about
racing
before.
Kosinski
and
his
writing
partner
Ehren
Kruger
prioritise
entertainment
and
storytelling
over
any
on-the-nose
sports
geek
detail.
The
film
has
you
locked-in
throughout
as
it
takes
you
on
a
high-speed
ride.
And
what
a
ride
it
is!
From
Claudio
Miranda’s
nimble
camerawork
capturing
the
thrill
of
Formula
1
to
Hans
Zimmer’s
pulse-quickening
music
adding
to
sense
of
the
speed,
the
death-defying
nature
of
the
sport
truly
comes
alive
in
a
viscerally
engaging
experience.
It’s
also
wonderful
to
see
that
the
women
characters
are
not
relegated
to
caricatures
as
they
get
enough
substance
to
make
an
impression
in
an
otherwise
male-dominated
story.
Kerry
Condon
shows
assertiveness
and
confidence
of
her
Kate’s
professional
ambition,
while
Sarah
Niles’
emotionally
abrasive
mother
has
a
scene-stealing
presence.
There’s
some
great
fan-servicing
here
with
a
generous
sprinkling
of
cameos
from
the
real-life
F1
racers.
If
you
are
a
racing
geek,
you
are
in
for
a
treat!
As
the
star
of
the
show,
Brad
Pitt
dominates
almost
every
frame.
This
is
not
a
biopic,
but
it
feels
like
one
because
of
the
way
it
makes
a
spectacle
of
Pitt’s
character.
His
Sonny
is
a
hardened
man
who
carries
literal
scars,
both
physical
and
emotional.
Beneath
its
uber
cool,
glossy
texture,
this
is
an
emotionally
complex
role
that’s
right
up
his
alley
and
Pitt
seizes
the
moment,
during
the
high-speed
scenes
as
well
as
the
quieter
moments.
The
emotional
stillness
he
experiences
in
a
beautifully-staged
climactic
race
is
one
of
the
many
standout
moments.
F1:
The
Movie
is
definitely
a
fun
time
at
the
movies
and
deserves
a
big
screen
experience.
IMAX
viewing
is
recommended.
F1:
The
Movie
Review
Rediff
Rating:
