I’ve never driven a Formula One car, but Joseph Kosinski just put me in the driver’s seat, and took me around the track at 300 kilometres per hour. F1 is a crowd-pleasing, technical powerhouse that outmanoeuvres genre clichés whenever the tires hit the asphalt. This film doesn’t veer far from the tried and true sports drama formula, ticking genre tropes off like a checklist as its plot unfolds. Yet, it rarely feels like rehashed or tired material, because it plays into those familiar beats quite well. This is a film that knows its strengths lie in its high octane racing sequences, so it fills in the gaps with an enjoyable - if not entirely groundbreaking - plot to take us through the motions, while also allowing us to invest in the characters. There’s a romantic subplot that was cute but unnecessary, and a “villain” reveal I could’ve done without, but none of that is enough to shatter the charm the movie delivers. A charismatic cast led by the effortlessly charming Br...
Brad Pitt leads F1 with his signature leading charm that’s effortless and likable, even when character makes selfish decisions. Together with the rest of the cast, and the film’s commitment to in-camera racing and massive scale, this sports drama has all the right ingredients, even if the story is rather standard. The cinematography in the racing action is beautiful, and the sound design is impeccable and immersive. Hans Zimmer’s score is a standout, as is the soundtrack that includes celebrated contemporary hip hop artists. This exciting energy elevates the film and makes what you’re seeing feel so real. However, the character beats are almost all formulaic (no pun intended) — the reluctant veteran thrown back in, the cocky rookie and the rivalry between them, the antagonistic businessman, and so on. It’s never hard to tell where the story is going, and we’ve seen similar arcs before, even in Joseph Kosinski’s own Top Gun: Maverick . That said, the aforem...