Predictability often acts like a wrecking ball and utterly destroys moviegoing experiences. But in director Joseph Kosinski’s capable hands a textbook formula makes the engine of “F1 The Movie” purr like a pussycat — most of the time.
Bolstered by impeccable editing, heart-palpitating race sequences and a bitter, well-executed rivalry between fallen racing veteran Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) and cocky, social-media-savvy rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris, in a career-making performance), Kosinski’s character-driven epic clocks in at over 2½ hours but operates like a sleek, well-oiled summer vehicle.
It just so happens to also have a brain under its hood and even ponders a big question for the Baby Boomer set: What drives us to pursue our passion? The fact it doesn’t really come up with anything new to say about that doesn’t matter much. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride.
“F1 The Movie” triumphs mostly on the technical side, thanks to the sound, the aforementioned editing and the sexy cinematography. But it’s also, to a lesser but still significant degree, a stellar portrayal of two battling stubborn male egos. Kosinski is a pro at navigating standoffs and and begrudging friendships between guys. His “Top Gun: Maverick” came fully loaded with testosterone, as we all know.
It helps that both stars ace their parts and even put their own stamp on familiar characters. The sun-kissed, set-in-his-ways Sonny is a perpetual wanderer dubiously remembered for how his brazen tactics put the brakes on his F1 career in the ‘90s. He’s an archetypal character, a former rock star athlete shambling about to races in his old-school, grungy van that serves as home and gym. (Pitt, as you will see, knows how to impress with his regimen of pull ups, pushups.) The Oscar winner takes a cliched role of the disgraced loner and gives a low-key, effective performance, relying on glances not glares to get him over the finish line. It works.
Ehren Kruger’s screenplay doesn’t always help Pitt in that pursuit but is engaging nonetheless. Pitt plays a driver looking to redeem a career that flamed out in a legendary crash. Sonny’s last shot for FI success comes courtesy of dapper ex-teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), the desperate owner of a basement-dwelling team destined to be sold off. Sonny signs on and immediately gets into tense dustups with Pearce who, like Sonny, is prone to making rash decisions and is more of an individual racer than a team player.
The war between the two on and off the track fuels the drama while the incredible racing sequences juice it up. Where “F1” stalls is in its needless romantic storyline between Sonny and Kate (Kerry Condon). She is the extra-sharp technical director and Pitt’s team and a rarity — a woman in a field of men. Condon is a smart and nuanced actor and she steers Kate away from turning into the cliched love interest, but it’s still a weak subplot and adds zip to a story that’s already pumped up by Hans Zimmer’s thumping score.
No doubt this is one mighty familiar story, but who gives a damn when it’s told with such energy and skill. As for how it compares to other racing films, consider this: It’s more satisfying than Tony Scott’s OK “Days of Thunder” with Tom Cruise but lags a couple laps behind Ron Howard’s “Rush” with Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl. That’s not a bad pole position to be in. Details: 3 stars out of 4; in theaters June 27.
Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandygmail.com.
‘F1 THE MOVIE’
3 stars out of 4
Rated: PG-13 (strong language, action)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Running time: 2 hours, 36 minutes
When & where: Opens June 27 in theaters
