F1 The Movie - Brad Pitt makes it look so easy in this heart-stopping film for F1 fans and non-fans alike

4.5 out of 5

Coming out of the cinema after watching Brad Pitt in F1, I was thinking to myself how Pitt is an old-fashioned movie star. He has such on-screen charisma that you'd watch him in any type of film. Whereas as someone like Tom Cruise seems to have try so hard to entertain us, Brad Pitt just walks into the frame, smiles and we are happy. His performance sems effortless whereas I'm sure it's anything but. I digress. So where are we in Director Joseph Kosinki's latest film? Before I answer that, it's worth remembering that Kosinki also directed Tom Cruise in the high-octane Top Gun: Maverick - so he know how to do this.

We join our main protagonist after a devastating crash forces him, a former Formula One driver, Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), out of action from the big league. With a gambling habit, working as a taxi driver in New York, and competing in underground races, he is offered a comeback by a Formula One team owner and friend, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem). Sonny has a shot at redemption while mentoring a rebel rookie prodigy, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), for the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP).

Sports films are not my thing and I'm not a fan of the hoo-yah! bro-fest that we are sometimes served. Fresh off the success of Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski delivers a narrative we have seen before compelling fueled by determination, grit, and underdog spirit. Pairing a has-been (or never-was) sporting figure clashing with new-blood rebellion is a sure-fire formula for an entertaining and engaging watch, if a standard trope. Kosinski takes these elements and delivers a high-octane tale that hinges on incredible realism and breathtaking race-track action. With Top Gun: Maverick, I watched form teh comfort of my seat. With F1, I was on the edge of it.

The APXGP team that Pitt joins are at the bottom of the F1 table, league, whatever the appropriate term is. It risks being sold off if they don't secure at least one win this season. Sonny (Pitt) has the experience, but is reluctant to return after 30 years, with personal demons of a gambling habit and failed marriages. He races not to win but for the sheer joy of it. He is meant to tame the raw and rebellious Joshua, but finds himself pitted against the younger driver. Their clash and the journey of beating the odds drive the rest of the story. At its core, the plot is formulaic, leaning heavily on the tried-and-tested underdog trope.

What elevates this film and what will have your pulse racing is the realism on the racing track. Filmed using IMAX cameras on actual F1 circuits during race weekends, the movie throws viewers straight into the cockpit and the viewing stands with adrenaline-filled sequences that will leave you gasping. Quite how they got the IMAX cameras into teh racing driver's cockpit is a feat in itself. Occasionally the film leans too heavily on technicalities - discussing tyre types, aerodynamics and pit-lane strategy and if you are not familiar with these, some moments may feel a bit overwhelming or hard to follow.

Much of the thrill also comes from the underdog team relying on ingenuity and sheer will to survive, as they take on giants like Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull. The behind-the-scenes chaos—the media circus, forced camaraderie with rival racers, and the corporate politics—adds a compelling layer that many viewers may not be familiar with.

Kosinski’s excellent direction and Claudio Miranda’s cinematography make every racing scene here visceral and immersive, especially because the filmmakers have abstained from using digital effects. Hans Zimmer’s music ensures the thrill crescendos in every scene.

Brad Pitt nails the role of a driver with laid-back arrogance, shining in every scene—whether he’s strutting in with retro swagger or brushing off the media with monosyllabic replies. Don’t miss the finale, where it’s just him in the cockpit, the world around him fading into silence—what he calls ‘flying.’ Damson Idris is equally compelling as the new-age driver, skillfully balancing raw talent with the modern demands of social media and public presence. Our own Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna stands her ground as the APXGP technical director who’s trying to prove her mettle in the male bastion. Javier Bardem, as the flamboyant and desperate team owner, injects the narrative with charm.

Even if you know what the outcome will be, you will be on the edge of your seat with bated breath and heart racing. The experience is best enjoyed on the biggest screen you can find or IMAX if one is near you.