F1 Is Really About Brad Pitt’s Strengths and Limitations as a Movie Star

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F1 revolves around two racing drivers, Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) and Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who find themselves teammates when one joins mid-season to help a struggling Apex team. Sonny is an experienced driver with ties to F1 legend Ayrton Senna, while Joshua represents the new generation of racing, honing his skills in simulators. Throughout much of the film, they embody the contrast between old and new methods in the sport, but often resemble the polar opposite characters from a children’s etiquette book. Joshua is seen wearing fashionable attire and living in a modern city apartment, while Sonny, who values experiences over wealth, resides in a camper van. Joshua focuses on performance tests and technological training tools, whereas Sonny prefers running outdoors with his pit crew friends and honing his reflexes by bouncing balls against walls. However, it’s not until Joshua becomes concerned about public criticism online and avoiding sponsor events that Sonny feels compelled to share his perspective. He emphasizes that the only thing that truly matters is driving skill.

In the movie titled “F1®: The Movie“, Sonny’s predictions tend to be accurate, even if it’s almost comical within the broader context of the film directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger. The title is technically F1®: The Movie, a trademarked nod to both the influence of the brand associated with the movie and the fact that this $200-300 million Hollywood production is insignificant in comparison. Every aspect of its on-screen world, which resembles a sleek, futuristic setting, is adorned with logos and advertisements from companies aiming to capture viewer attention and gain some reflected prestige. Despite the fact that Sonny could be discussing film production instead of car racing, this detail remains significant. Similarly to Top Gun: Maverick, another project by Kosinski and Kruger, F1 is essentially a commentary on its lead character through a drama revolving around extreme speed. The main difference lies in the fact that Brad Pitt isn’t as self-mythologizing or enigmatic as Tom Cruise, who has cultivated an image of either dying or finding a way to live forever while pursuing increasingly daring stunts.

In the movie F1, Brad Pitt’s character Sonny, instead, embodies the classic Hollywood star persona similar to his on-screen role as a ronin amidst a corrupted backdrop, symbolizing purity. Interestingly, despite being portrayed as a worn-down loser, Sonny exudes an effortless charm reminiscent of a model fresh off a magazine shoot. He’s casually dressed in a denim shirt, half unbuttoned to display his bohemian necklaces, sleeves rolled up to reveal tattoos, and wearing aviator sunglasses basking in the late afternoon sunlight. On Formula One’s globally diverse platform, Sonny represents traditional Americana. Initially, everyone, including team members like Kate (Kerry Condon), Kaspar (Kim Bodnia), and owner Ruben (Javier Bardem), doubt him, but eventually, they, along with the crowd, are captivated by him.

Contrary to popular belief, Pitt is too old for this role, even if he’s portraying a younger character. However, instead of concealing his age, F1 showcases it as an advantage. While Idris Elba exudes youthful freshness, Pitt is portrayed admiringly as having developed a rugged charm, with a firm yet slightly weathered chest and a beautiful, yet subtly lined face. The camera adores him, and he returns the affection with his enchanting glances or powerful grunts.

However, Brad Pitt has always been known for his aloofness, capable of immense charm but always maintaining a certain mystery about himself – which is why his unflappable cool guys work best when paired with a foil.

Idris, despite being pleasant with Sarah Niles portraying his mother, doesn’t quite embody the central character this film aims for. This movie belongs to Brad Pitt, much like its lead actor, and it remains somewhat reserved, failing to fully soar. The racing scenes are engaging, often thrilling, with real-life Grand Prix footage blended with commentary from race coverage to illustrate the tactics and positions of the Apex drivers throughout their nine remaining races. Cinematographer Claudio Miranda deftly uses various camera angles, including those close to the actors’ faces, showing their perspectives, and ones that move from the dashboard to the driver’s seat. The film strives to immerse you in the racing experience, offering both the sensation of driving at high speeds and watching on TV with a bird’s eye view of the competing vehicles. It succeeds admirably in this regard, yet falls short in evoking the emotional depth it promises through its discussions of intense ecstasy. Sonny claims that he seeks the moment of flow state, where everything fades away, but the film fails to convince us of this. Instead, the world filled with commercial pressures is ever-present, and ultimately, the film becomes another manifestation of those very pressures – merely a product of them.

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2025-06-26 22:54