JEANNE’S REVIEW
Edge-of-your-seat intensity coupled with superb driving --- and a good deal of humor --- F1 THE MOVIE is one of the most entertaining films of 2025. Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes in this summer blockbuster directed by Joseph Kosinski with producer Jerry Bruckheimer in the mix.
Sonny Hayes was the up-and-coming Formula 1 driver in the 1990s until a horrific accident on the track derailed his career. Enduring the moniker “the greatest that never was”, 30 years later Sonny is back driving again as a “racer-for-hire”. After his team wins at Daytona, his old buddy and teammate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), shows up to twist his arm into driving Formula 1 for his struggling enterprise.
Ruben owns APXGP and as a Formula 1 team, they are in dire straits. His rookie, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), is promising but brash. Ruben really needs Sonny’s expertise and confidence to guide his racing group to victory.
Initially, Sonny is reluctant, but he also realizes that this is his last chance at being the best in the world at Formula 1. When he does show up, many on the team aren’t happy with Ruben’s new addition, especially Joshua. But after Sonny makes a few changes on the race cars with Ruben’s technical director, Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), and the team starts moving up in the standings, having Sonny around seems to be the right decision after all.
To make F1 THE MOVIE look and feel as authentic as possible, Kosinski reached out to Lewis Hamilton, a Formula 1 seven-time world champion. He was tasked with bringing Pitt and Idris up to speed (pun intended) driving Formula 2 cars at 200 miles per hour.
Hamilton enlisted driver Luciano Bacheta, who also designed the choreography for the races, and stunt driver Craig Dolby. With multiple cameras allowing 15 camera positions mounted in the 12 cars (six for driving, six for crashing) used in the production, the two stars were placed in the real racecars after their rigorous training. And the results are amazing.
Pitt was born to play Sonny Hayes. Kosinski and screenwriter Ehren Kruger had only him in mind when developing the story. It’s so incredibly unfair, but when men age and get a little craggily over time, many times they look even better. Such is the case with Pitt. Every time he waltzes onto the screen, whether in jeans or his race suit, he is the epitome of cool. Plus, he and Idris have just the right chemistry as adversaries who eventually become true teammates.
Idris, himself, has a remarkable screen presence. Joshua Pearce is undeniably arrogant, and Idris pulls off his swagger with aplomb. But Pearce also has a loving relationship with his supportive mother, Bernadette, played beautifully by Sarah Niles. She is as fierce as a mama bear protecting her cub when it comes to Joshua.
Bardem and Condon round out this accomplished, spectacular cast. Bardem just doesn’t disappoint, looking divine in his tailored Italian suits. Condon, who was perfect in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, does a terrific job playing Kate, who has had to learn to survive in the world of car racing and men.
Lastly, I must mention Kim Bodnia whose role as Kasper adds so much fun to F1 THE MOVIE. He was truly outstanding as Konstantin in “Killing Eve” --- I have loved him since and it’s great to see him here.
Oscar-winning director of photography, Claudio Miranda, a frequent collaborator with Kosinski, met all his challenges in what Pitt calls “the most visceral driving experience that’s ever been put on film”. F1 THE MOVIE is a wild ride accompanied by an eclectic soundtrack courtesy of Hans Zimmer and his co-composer Steve Mazzaro.
Whether you’re into car racing --- or not --- F1 THE MOVIE is the thrilling adventure you must see on the big screen. And if you can, see it in IMAX.
Opinion: Strong See It Now!
DAVID’S REVIEW
The storyline is about a racer-for-hire driver who tries to make a Formula 1 comeback, and who finds a new romance in the process. The movie stars Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem --- so what could go wrong? Actually, nothing --- it’s an exciting story, well written and acted, and the racing scenes are extraordinary.
Pitt plays Sonny Hayes who was an up-and-coming Formula 1 driver in the 1990s until an injury. Bardem portrays Formula 1 team owner Ruben Cervantes, a close friend and a former racing teammate of Hayes. Ruben’s team is desperate to earn points, but they have had no success and are in danger of being sold. Ruben calls on Hayes to join his team and its outstanding rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
Initially Hayes and Pearce are like oil and water, but eventually they form a strong bond --- one key aspect of F1 THE MOVIE. The team’s technical director is Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), responsible for the design and set-up of the cars, a rare position for a female in a male dominated sport. Although it’s predictable, Kate and Sonny develop a romantic relationship.
Pitt and Idris trained for driving in this film with Formula 2 cars, not as powerful as Formula 1, but still capable of speeds exceeding 200 mph. While Kosinski desired the most realistic movie he could possibly make, first and foremost on everybody’s mind was the safety of the actors. In addition, Pitt and Idris underwent months of training and physical build-up to prepare them for these roles.
In addition to the racing scenes which feature close-ups of the drivers --- their eyes tell the story --- there are six crashes staged which will have horrified viewers gripping their arm rests. This is a film made with IMAX cameras meant to be seen on an IMAX screen.
The all-important music is provided by another legendary figure in cinema, Hans Zimmer, along with his co-composer Steve Mazzaro. F1 THE MOVIE is Zimmer’s 13th collaboration with Bruckheimer, and Zimmer is quoted as saying “Music is a dangerous animal because it influences the way you feel”. These two men had the near-impossible task of creating music that meshed with the action on the screen, and also in quieter moments. Kosinski’s sound mixer here was Gareth John, an Oscar winner for DUNE: PART TWO.
Pitt, Idris, Condon and Bardem are all exceptional. Pitt lives up to his reputation as one of the best and most recognizable actors on the planet. His presence on screen garbed in his racing suit, gripping the steering wheel with eyes focused on the course ahead, makes it impossible to look away. Idris renders a plausible performance as the arrogant, pushy rookie driver who thinks he knows it all.
Condon is convincing as the mastermind behind the race car designs, et al. And Bardem is always magnetic whether a hero, villain, or in this case, a sympathetic character desperate to maintain his business. Many scenes were filmed at the premier circuits in Formula 1 in front of live fans who were there to watch professional races but were aware of a movie being made.
The only thing missing in F1 THE MOVIE is my illustrious writing partner cast as a driver. Years ago, speeding through Chicago with her niece, Jeanne was given a nickname by her that sticks to this day: “The She-Demon Devil-Driver from the Depths of Hell”.
Opinion: Strong See It Now
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