F1 The Movie: Words & pictures: Roman Klemm

Creators who decide to make a cinema movie about motorsport have a hard time. The lives of athletes are dominated by hard, monotonous training, and they don't have much free time or entertainment. It's almost impossible to record a behind-the-scenes document in a way that would interest the viewer without slipping into ridiculousness. Even relatively successful movies like Frankenheimer's "Grand Prix,” McQueen's "Le Mans,” or Howard's "Rush” can be criticized for a lot. The initial problem is the "story”: is it better to portray real events or rely on the phantasy of an author of a novel? In addition to that, the creators and producers mustcope with the financially and technically expensive task of an authenticpresentation of the sport itself. And so, not often someone dares to take on this genre.

Still, American Joseph Kocinski raised tens of millions to make a film "about formula racing". His 2.5-hour piece called "F1 The Movie" was shown in cinemas around the world earlier this year, and the fact that the movie was talked about more before its release than after tells it all...

As a fan of Mike Thackwell (the 1984 F2 champion, who left motorsport shortly after), I sometimes wonder what it would be like if someone gave him another chance? Of course, it's nonsense - but Joseph Kocinski, Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton made a film about such nonsense.

From a purely "craftsmanship" perspective, there is little to criticize. Theon-track-action is faithfully transferred to the screen - with the exception of a few unrealistic overtaking maneuvers. But: what's the point of all the effort? Anyone who wants to see "how F1 works" can choose from a multitude of "real” documentaries in the social media.

The novel story of "F1 The Movie" lacks any surprises and the cinema goers can guess the ending after 10 minutes watching. The entire overly long film is based on the personality of Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt: he looks good, has a nice demeanor - and if that's not enough, Kocinski also lend him the playboy character of James Hunt (he could have had them all - also the chief aerodynamicist), the heroism of David Purley (he pulled a colleague out of the fire) and the attitude of Gilles Villeneuve (he didn't care about money - he loved sport).

Kocinski has these points in my favor: 

"F1 The Movie” even has a few funny moments: Pitt's heavy wrenchready in his hand during a controversy with a rival in Daytona; Steiner's curse on the pit wall in Budapest, and, as the very climax of this 150-minute "filmstrip", Pitt's "revealing of the winning cards" in Las Vegas, which lured the girl-designer into his bed. However, the film lacks a single word or dialogue that would permanently enter the history of cinema (like Rocky's "Adrieeeeen..!")

Conclusion: There's no reason to watch the expensive and lacklustermovie a second time. For me, the number one in the genre remains Hal Needham's 1983 film "Stroker Ace," with Burt Reynolds. It wasconceived as a comedy - and so skillfully avoided slipping into awkwardness. It aptly mocks the abuses and stereotypes of NASCAR. At least there's something to laugh about...