'F1' Review

TV & Film

Jul 5

The theatrical experience is one of the most sacred forms of entertainment. For as long as people can remember, there have been very few connections like the one between a human being and the silver screen. Although many will say movie theaters will go the way of the dodo bird, and that streaming will kill them once and for all. But there are still people who believe in movie theaters. Since the pandemic, it seems gimmicks such as popcorn buckets and constant re-releases are the only ways to get people back to the theater.

For all the moaning from users on social media about how Hollywood “never makes anything original anymore”, audiences and said social media users don’t seem to value them when they arrive. But every now and then, there’s a special kind of movie that seems tailor-made for theaters. An experience so thrilling that it has to be seen and felt to be believed. Case in point, F1.

RELATED:

Featured

30 Years Of Different Takes On Gregory Maguire's 'Wicked'

Joseph Kosinski’s career has been a fascinating one to follow. Between award-winning Halo commercials, Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, and Only the Brave, Kosinski hit the big time with Top Gun: Maverick. Despite years of development hell, constant delays, and dizzying expectations, Maverick would receive critical acclaim, massive box office success, and six Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture). For the last 15 years, Kosinski has proved himself to be one of the most reliable blockbuster directors in Hollywood. F1 is another jewel in Kosinski’s crown.

Very few directors in this space can make a film feel as visceral and immersive as Joseph Kosinski. Like Maverick, F1 puts you right in the middle of the action. Anytime Sonny Hayes or Joshua Pearce are racing, you are basically in the car with them. Together, Joseph Kosinski, cinematographer Claudio Miranda, and editor Stephen Mirrione craft some of the most exhilarating racing sequences ever put to film. F1 finds itself a part of a trinity of the three best racing movies of the last 15 years alongside Ron Howard’s Rush and James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari (which Kosinski was set to direct at one point). Comparisons to Maverick are unavoidable, but not because Kosinski is a one-trick pony. It’d be easy to craft some great action scenes and forget the soul of the story. Kosinski, alongside screenwriter Ehren Kruger, always makes sure you have someone to root for. On the surface, F1 may delve too much into racing movie clichés, but it makes up for it with genuine emotion and sincerity.

We should also take a brief moment to highlight Hans Zimmer’s musical score. While his scores for Dunkirk, Wonder Woman 1984, and the Dune films have been spectacular, F1 is probably the best score he’s done since Interstellar. One hopes Zimmer’s name will be called out on Oscar nomination morning in January.

Every summer movie needs great actors, and F1 is no exception. For the last few years, Brad Pitt has made some interesting career moves, following his sweep of awards season for his performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which was followed by notable appearances in films such as Bullet Train, Babylon, and Wolfs. F1 doesn’t shy away from acknowledging Pitt’s age (Pitt is currently 61 years young). And while it would’ve been easy to have Pitt cruise on charm alone, Pitt brings Sonny Hayes to life with a great mixture of charisma, drive (heh), and world-weariness. Instead of making Sonny good at everything he does and having women swoon over him the entire time, Sonny is flawed, human, and relatable to anyone who feels their moment has passed them by.

Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem continue to be cheat sheets for filmmakers everywhere. Their turns as Kate and Ruben, respectively, deliver some of the funniest lines and scenes in the entire movie. But it’s Damson Idris who owns the movie. As Joshua Pearce, Idris radiates as much, if not more, charm, acting chops, and heart than Pitt does. Their chemistry is as exhilarating as the racing scenes and helps F1 be more than just a cool racing movie. We wish nothing but the best for Damson Idris’ future prospects and, hopefully, there’s a Jordan, Chalamet, and Powell level career for him in the future.

Overall, while it may not soar to the same emotional heights as Top Gun: Maverick, F1 is still a remarkable cinematic experience worth seeing in theaters. Like the films of Ryan Coogler and James Cameron (who is due to return to Pandora this coming Christmas), Joseph Kosinski knows how to make well-crafted and hard-hitting blockbusters meant to be seen on the biggest screen imaginable. Kosinski’s energetic direction, Hans Zimmer’s pulse-pounding score, thrilling action, and great performances (especially a star-making turn by Damson Idris) all make up the ingredients for the perfect summer movie. If you’re able to see the film in IMAX before Superman is released, it’s worth the extra price of admission. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Formula 1 or an avid viewer of exhilarating summer blockbusters; F1 is a movie worth racing to see on the biggest screen possible.

Whether it’s his original UFO film, Miami Vice, or Top Gun 3, all eyes are on what Joseph Kosinski cooks up next. Whatever he makes, it’ll make us believe in the unrivaled power of the theatrical experience.

Rating: 9/10

F1 is now playing in theaters everywhere. Rated PG-13.

READ NEXT:

Featured