Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Jerry Bruckheimer and Joseph Kosinski are back at it! They give us another story about a legacy character striving for one last chance at glory. Sonny Hayes, a grisled and independent minded driver is on the last leg of his racing career. But a former competitor approaches him to join his Formula One team, pairing with a talented but arrogant younger driver. The team is also last in the standings, facing bankruptcy should they fail to turn it around this time. Sonny must learn to work with the younger driver and bring his experience to a team that desperately needs it. He faces the weight of a failing team and an outcome that determines his legacy. Will he come out on top?
Positives:
With everyone involved in the film’s production, I had no doubt “F1” would be a smash hit. From the production, cast, crew, etc. this had success written all over it. I’m happy to report that director Joseph Kosinski has crafted another immersive, spectacle filled adventure that forces characters with different backgrounds to work together. It’s one of the most impressively composed films of the year, featuring electric racing sequences that put audiences in the driver’s seat. Kosinski did an impressive job handling “Top Gun: Maverick” on a technical level, translating the same intensity and immersive perspective to this story. The editing is top notch, featuring sublime cuts and angle shifting during the racing sequences. This helps the audience feel like they’re brushing up against the other drivers and sweating in front of the wheel with Brad Pitt. The sheer intensity of the action scenes is a great reason to go see this on an IMAX screen. The cinematography is also awesome. We always get a sense of what the feeling should be, featuring nice lighting and crisp color to set the proper mood. When people say it must be seen on the largest screen possible, this is it. A great example of big screen filmmaking!
Outside of direction, the cast does some nice work too. Brad Pitt is in top form, playing the mild mannered cool guy who has an edge. This chip on his shoulder gives him a leg up from other drivers, being motivated by the love of racing…not the fame and spectacle. This counters the young driver he must work with, who is focused on his image and trying to prove himself among a competitive group of drivers. This dynamic proves to be successful once again, where an originally prickly relationship starts to become a team oriented environment. Javier Bardem changes up his typical role which is nice to see. He brings a charismatic essence to the manager of this team, conveying the pressures he faces while genuinely wanting to win. Although the highlights of the story are typically during the racing sequences, the story manages to make us care about the characters enough to go on this ride and feel the stakes of their journey.
Negatives:
I really hope “F1” is still on people’s minds when the Oscars roll around. But the film will undeniably draw comparisons to “Top Gun: Maverick” due to the many similarities. I feel as though “F1” falls short of “Maverick” in nearly every way unfortunately. Then again, “Maverick” is like capturing lighting in a bottle. We don’t get many experiences like that, so Brad Pitt’s attempt at a similar story is still awesome in its own right. We don’t feel the same personal connections to the characters as we did in “Maverick”, where the rivalries and stakes don’t feel as intense. I’d argue the film is at its best in the first half, where the character progression and racing scenes were in top form. But the film’s intensity actually goes down as the film goes on, leading to a finale that feels low stakes in comparison. These characters aren’t quite as interesting either. Runtime is also an issue, with the film exceeding a two and a half hour runtime. As the story gets into the second act, certain elements begin to feel repetitive. I could see twenty minutes being trimmed and the resolution remaining the same. This would have helped the flow of the story and tighten up the pieces that felt unnecessary.
Conclusion:
I had a fun time with “F1”. While it doesn’t break the barrier story wise or rise to the inevitable comparisons of “Top Gun; Maverick”, it manages to carve out a path that helps it stand on its own. The car sequences are top notch, being some of the most immersive and exciting racing scenes I’ve ever seen. The technical composure of the film is undeniably impressive. I hope the Academy doesn’t forget about this film during awards season because the sound mixing and editing are as good as it gets. I believe the story could have been more successful with a tighter runtime too. But this is what big screen filmmaking is all about. There is no other way to see the film than on a giant IMAX screen. Strap in and enjoy!
