Time: 156 Minutes
Age Rating: M– Offensive language
Cast:
Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes
Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce
Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna
Javier Bardem as Ruben Cervantes
Tobias Menzies as Peter Banning
Director: Joseph Kosinski

F1 had me curious. Following the incredible success of Top Gun: Maverick, Joseph Kosinski’s next movie would be about formula 1 racing. The trailers didn’t look particularly special, but F1 turned out to be much better than I expected.

F1’s script is fine, it sticks to a very safe formula. It’s simple and doesn’t do anything particularly special, but it works for what it is. As someone not familiar with Formula 1, I found that I could follow along with what was going on. Even as someone not in the know with racing, the movie definitely does stretch believability at times at points. Naturally with F1 and Top Gun: Maverick having the same director, its not too surprising that there are comparisons to be made between the two, and they do share some similarities in some ways. Both are straightforward but sentimental, sincere and endearing crowdpleasers, but I think Maverick succeeded with the emotional  but I think the missing ingredient that Maverick has is that the emotional depth was actually effective in the ways that F1 wasn’t. The movie is quite long at 2 hours and 30 minutes but I was personally engaged throughout, and it culminates in a fulfilling and satisfying final race right at the end.

There is a really good cast assembled for this movie. Brad Pitt is in the lead role of the experienced driver coming out of retirement, and he’s by far the weakest link of the actors. It’s like he’s trying to coast on his natural charisma and while that is generally fitting for the character, it really feels like something was missing. The point where I realised it wasn’t just me imagining things was a particular scene later in the movie in which he has a monologue on a balcony, and he just can’t sell it. Not a bad performance, but one that holds the movie back from being better. Meanwhile, the rest of the actors are great. Damson Idris is fantastic as co-lead, playing the cocky rookie driver who mirrors Pitt’s younger self. Kerry Condon is really good and gives a lot to her role, Javier Bardem is amazing and a scene stealer, and probably the standout from the whole cast.

Joseph Kosinski’s direction is great, he brings his slick style from Top Gun: Maverick to racing. The thrilling racing sequences is what makes this movie worth watching most of all. It was a great experience watching it on the big screen, especially in IMAX. The camerawork and editing are top notch, the visuals are visceral, and these scenes are constantly fast paced and tense. I will say though that there were at least a couple of conversation scenes where the editing is just really all over the place, and couldn’t stop cutting immediately to every person with every line of dialogue. Hans Zimmer’s exhilarating score is definitely reminiscent of stuff he’s done in the past but it works for the movie, elevating the drama and tension. I really could’ve done with a lot less of the needle drops however.

F1 is a little formulaic and familiar, but nonetheless exhilarating and entertaining, with a great cast and thrilling racing sequences. I highly recommend watching this on the big screen if possible (especially IMAX).