True, there were misgivings a-plenty, that F1 was going to feel like sitting through an EA Sports video game. The first flickering cuts of the title sequence caused alarm in that direction, but thankfully that nonsense soon settled down. After all, producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Top Gun, Pirates of the C, etc.) might know a thing or two about entertainment.
Pirelli caps off to director Joseph Kosinski and co-scriptwriter Ehren Kruger, who deliver an economic, well-structured screenplay. Enter centre stage: one Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), an aging racer who blew his shot at the big time. He’s pitted (no pun intended) against talented rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), both driving for the underdog team, APXGP.
Yessiree! Any tyre-kicker could guess the plot from the moment Pitt and his star power laconically stroll on screen in his “are-my-shirt-buttons-open?” denimwear.
’Cept… what’s with the tattoo festival? In ye golden days, character was in the ink in the script — not on the skin. Nothing screams “emotional depth” more than a koi fish etched under your ribs. Directors? Stop it, please!
“To be the best in the world! I’m offering you an open seat in Formula One…” urges team owner Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem (Skyfall, No Country for Old Men). Bardem rocks the part (and a suit) — one look into those dark Spanish eyes and you might feel a siesta coming on. Olé!
Cut to the British Grand Prix, where “God Save the Queen” is juxtaposed with rock Queen, and the action is ramped up. Strap yourself in — you will get a bird’s-eye view from the driver’s seat! Even if you’re not into Formula One or motorsport, resistance, or is that downforce? will be useless. Mix in the heady fumes of authentic event footage and a legion of real-deal F1 drivers, and you’ll be intoxicated.
Irish actress Kerry Condon gives as good as she gets as the team’s feisty Tech Director and Sonny’s love interest. The writing/acting wheels wobble off a bit with Sarah Niles supporting as Pearce’s mum, whose performance is unnuanced and bullish. Ditto for Pearce’s sidekick, Cash (Samson Kayo), whose flat performance is another missed opportunity to rev up the wit and humour.
Tobias Menzies adroitly plays a treacherous board member, though anyone else think he resembles Captain Mark Phillips more than Prince Philip? (The Crown)
You’ll be able to track-walk the obvious plot points, but as far as composer Hans Zimmer, cinematographer Claudio Miranda, and editors Stephen Mirrione and Patrick J. Smith go, they’ve hit the slipstream. It’s all horsepower, torque, zoom and “Box! Box!”
And speaking of boxes, there will be absolutely no mention of any box-office rivalry between MI (Mission: Impossible/Cruise) and F1 (Pitt).
In pole position, on the edge of your seat, gripping your choc top and holding your breath — this is a suspense-combo money can actually buy!.
My rating:   Worth the pit stop!
                       One magnum of of Ferrari Trento, thanks!