Here’s why you should go see “F1: The Movie” (without spoilers)

Associating F1, a budget of 300 million dollars, Brad Pitt, and the director of Top Gun: Maverick seems like a recipe for disaster, yet…

We had the chance to preview “F1: The Movie,” which hits theaters this Wednesday, June 25, and this highly anticipated blockbuster truly captivated us.

We’ve read everything about the journey of Sonny Hayes, portrayed by Brad Pitt, a former rising star in F1 in the 90s, whose career was abruptly ended by a tragic accident. Thirty years later, the fallen and broke driver travels American circuits for gigs, until Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), his former F1 teammate turned team owner, presents him with an unexpected challenge: get back behind the wheel to save his team from bankruptcy. The veteran will have to deal with an arrogant young teammate (Damson Idris) and a team of misfits. This is the chance for this old hothead to prove he still has what it takes.

An authentic and intense immersion

The first ten minutes of the film are both the best and the worst. All the clichés unfold at a devilish pace, making us fear the worst for the remaining two hours, yet the racing views are breathtaking. We thought we had seen it all with Rush and Le Mans ’66, but it quickly becomes clear that a new level is achieved right before our eyes.

The real strength of this film lies in the quality of the racing scenes. Driven by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, a co-producer of the film, and benefitting from the official F1 label, “F1: The Movie” was predominantly shot on actual circuits during real race weekends. The film reveals the behind-the-scenes of the paddock while delivering spectacular racing sequences, served by a script that isn’t particularly surprising but ultimately holds up like Sonny Hayes’ APX… well, not always. The film does not skimp on crashes and shredded carbon fiber. The accident scenes are strikingly realistic for the good reason that they offer impossible viewing angles to capture in the real world. The contact of two tires, the breaking of a wing, a car flying off… It’s unprecedented at such a level of realism.

And how can we not praise Brad Pitt’s acting, who brings all of his charisma to this role of a battered but still combative driver? He is cynical, arrogant, calculating, far too old to be credible in this role, yet incredibly human and genuine. The only true star of the film, aside from Javier Bardem, the American could have drawn all the attention to himself, but he knows how to step back to highlight endearing characters like his rookie race engineer, a clumsy mechanic, or an old-school Team Manager. We become attached to these behind-the-scenes members of the grand circus of F1 and sense a true cohesion within the cast, who ham it up a bit but breathe life into this virtual APX team.

A truly beautiful spectacle

So, should you turn off your brain to enjoy this film, as some so-called experts in motorsport might suggest? Absolutely not! You should take this film for what it is, a well-oiled Hollywood machine offering us a sensational spectacle. And to heck with the pretentious naysayers. We should allow ourselves a moment of pleasure and head to the cinema to enjoy the racing images on the big screen. Not everything pleased us, of course, but we can’t disclose that without spoiling the plot. Let’s just say that the dimensions of some cars are perplexing, that the concept of race strategy is quite relative, that a romance at all costs wasn’t necessary, and that a young driver isn’t necessarily a slave to social media, but you know what? We don’t care! If there were one thing to criticize in the film, it would be the completely misplaced exploitation of the drama experienced by Martin Donnelly at Jerez in 1990, but you can inform yourself about this heroic driver, to whom no tribute is paid, after watching the film.

Ultimately, we recommend taking advantage of the holidays to indulge in a little pleasurable break. Tonight at the Grand Rex, the audience was split between half Brad Pitt fans and half F1 fans, and they all applauded at the end. The dialogues are well-crafted, the jokes hit their mark, F1 (the real one, not the one from Drive to Survive) is honored without excess, and above all, you get your money’s worth. What more could you ask for? A sequel, perhaps.

ALSO READ: Here is the trailer for “F1: The Movie” featuring Brad Pitt