Two things before I start this review. I don’t like Brad Pitt and I used to be an obsessive motor sport fan, but that was over 10 years ago.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this film – my love of Formula 1 was immense but it’s faded in recent years and I haven’t seen a full race in a long time. I was concerned that simulated/staged racing might annoy me. I was also a little concerned my distaste for pretty boy Pitt would sour my view of the film too.
I was wrong on both counts. This film was incredible. The racing scenes were impeccable. I felt like I was watching a real race, I gasped and covered my eyes several times through the film. The commentary provided of course by Martin Brundle and David Croft was a little bit hammy but it wasn’t distracting. The footage, filmed at real Grand Prix during 2023 and 2024, was seamless. The cameos of drivers and team members were not gratuitous, just enough to keep F1 fans happy to see their favourite drivers, but not too much to detract from the story telling.
The plot wasn’t anything ground breaking – washed up former driver comes back to rescue team, trials and tribulations and a happy ending all round as you’d expect but there was an unexpected human side to this story. Cleverly woven between the racing were the friendships – developing and growing with the plot. All very obvious but still well drawn and believable. The cast draws you into their whirl wind life and also into the bonds that hold the team together.
Pitt was excellent, as much as I was expecting an average performance from him – I was wrong. As Sonny Hayes, he charms everyone, including the audience. I believed in the character. I believed in his belief he could turn the team around if they’d just give him and his maverick ideas a chance. Even the glaringly obvious love interest plot line didn’t feel horrible. Its resolution was also pleasingly handled.
Damson Idris, playing Joshua Pearce, was leaning hard into his Lewis Hamilton vibe. Hamilton produced the film and appeared as a rival to Pearce in the last race of the season. Idris was just the right amount of cocky and confident, but revealing the inevitable good team spirit performance that we all knew was coming.
I really enjoyed this film. It was a great mix of action and emotion – balancing the two very well. The plot was standard, no twists or surprises but it didn’t need them. A good story, well told. With a lot of amazing racing. What more do you need?
One of my favourite films this year. 9/10.
Anfield Girl…. 