F1: The Movie (2025)

F1: The Movie

There’s nothing like a fun, loud, riveting summer blockbuster. And that’s exactly what this is. I had high hopes going into it, and they were all met. I’m not really a huge racing fan, though I used to love NASCAR several years back. The big selling point to watch this was that the director was Joseph Kosinki, who also did ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. So I figured, if the guy who did Maverick did a racing movie, what’s not to like? Despite being just over two and a half hours, I was completely sucked in from the first second to the very end. You definitely feel the runtime, but in the best way. Kind of like ‘Oppenheimer’, where it definitely feels three hours, but all three hours are used effectively and efficiently. Same with this. It did feel long, but for the entire time, it was exciting and interesting. The story is like the traditional athlete comeback cliche, where an older has-been athlete shows up to save the day. Brad Pitt is the has-been, and he does it so well. I never would’ve pictured him in an F1 car, speeding along a track, but here we are, and I had the time of my life. The racing sequences were so awesomely shot, with plenty of cuts between cars and camera angles that place you right in the middle of each race. Much like the Maverick jet scenes. The races were so fun to watch, especially with the epic and booming sound design. It was just enough to feel like you were there, but not overbearingly loud that would give you a headache. The cast was also superb. Brad Pitt, as mentioned, is great as always, but I especially loved Javier Bardem and Kerry Condon. They both add an almost stoic but very charming presence. I also very much enjoyed Damson Idris. Lastly, Hans Zimmer’s score was remarkable, and just the guy needed for this kind of film. The music was electric and heart pumping, especially during any scene where a car is present. That dude can do it all. Overall, this is a very fun film that gets you on the edge of your seat, putting you behind the wheel of an F1 speedster. I think I would recommend it to everyone, whether you like racing or not. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go see it now!