KSL Movie Show review: ‘F1: The Movie’ joins the ranks of other great racing films

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When Brad Pitt stole every scene in “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” five years ago, I thought, ‘gosh, I would sure love to see him do something like that again.’  Well, as luck would have it — and probably involving a great deal of common sense — his ah shucks stuntman Cliff Booth is “sorta” back as an old school, race car driver, Sonny Hayes. 

Hayes was once a rising star on the Formula 1 circuit, but a tragic accident 30 years ago nearly ended his life, not to mention his racing career and since then, he’s become that independent, lone wolf, gun-for-hire that racing teams utilize in a pinch, since his track knowledge is so extensive.

That’s where we find Hayes, after winning a race, sitting at a local diner, when he’s approached by an old teammate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), who has moved on to managing a struggling Formula 1 team in need of some good ol’ expertise from his old pal Sonny.

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Cervantes has a new star on the rise in the name of Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who is all moxie and speed, but lacks the conviction and experience to put himself and his team in the winner’s circle, and without that, the company could soon be folding. Cervantes believes Hayes can be that “added spark,” because he’s all about getting to the top and perhaps finishing what he started so many years ago.

And of course, the two are at odds almost immediately, which makes for some fun, heated conversations. Caught in the middle is team engineer Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon) who is not only trying to break into the “all boys club,” but must referee these two hot heads into somehow working together, which is essential in Formula 1 racing.

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So, now that we have the characters, what about the settings?

It took years for the governing body of Formula 1 to even consider allowing a film production company anywhere near their race tracks, but when they finally decided co-writer and director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) was the right guy, the access flood gates were opened in spectacular ways. Wait until you see what they’ve come up with. And now might be a good time to suggest that you see this on an IMAX screen. It’s jaw-dropping exhilaration.

Yes, the story may be tried and true, but the journey to get there is very impressive. In the future, when people talk about great race car movies like “Les Mans” or “Grand Prix” or “Rush,” they’ll have to include “F1” in that same conversation, if not for just the immersive sights and incredible sounds. This film is so good, Brad Pitt says it has reinvigorated his desire to make more great cinema. So that’s somethin.’

“F1: The Movie” (A) Rated PG-13 for strong language and action. Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon and Tobias Menzies. Co-written and produced by Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick” “Oblivion”) – filmed at various Grand Prix events during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Running time: 2 hrs. 35 min.

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.