sjspode
Joined Dec 2021
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Reviews28
sjspode's rating
As an F1 and motorsport fan I had low expectations of this film. And got pretty much what I was expecting.
Switching off any real knowledge and understanding of the sport (Drive to Survive doesn't count by the way...), you're left with a plucky underdog story where a new character helps galvanise the group to success and escape from a negative situation. And at that level it works.
Getting more into the detail, it doesn't work so well. 1) Sonny Hayes is too old and doesn't have enough current/ recent experience driving a modern F1 car quickly (+ the technicalities of having no Super Licence) 2) some of the driving tactics are questionable at best and unrealistic 3) things like designing the car 'for battle' would add extra weight in strengthening components that would make the cars uncompetitive v the opposition. Plus many more...
The whole thing about Sonny being 'in the zone' driving speech was a rehash of Ken Miles narration from 'Ford v Ferrari.' " There's a point at 7,000 RPM... where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. Just disappears. And all that's left is a body moving through space and time. 7,000 RPM. That's where you meet it...."
From an equality point of view I'm surprised that producer Lewis Hamilton and F1 Management would be happy that it's a young female mechanic that has the pit stop issues and that the female Technical Director ends up bedding the driver. Not good looks and totally superfluous to the story.
The action scenes were meant to be a big seller for the film, but for me they weren't anything special. And having now seen the film it's tough to see what the crew were doing following F1 around so many circuits for so little end product. A Second Unit could have caught most of the paddock, atmosphere shots etc without the need for the whole team, garage, pit setup many times.
So for the casual moviegoers and uninformed fans it's a decent (albeit overly long) film, and for real motorsport fans, at least it's not as bad as Stallone's Driven Indycar movie...
Switching off any real knowledge and understanding of the sport (Drive to Survive doesn't count by the way...), you're left with a plucky underdog story where a new character helps galvanise the group to success and escape from a negative situation. And at that level it works.
Getting more into the detail, it doesn't work so well. 1) Sonny Hayes is too old and doesn't have enough current/ recent experience driving a modern F1 car quickly (+ the technicalities of having no Super Licence) 2) some of the driving tactics are questionable at best and unrealistic 3) things like designing the car 'for battle' would add extra weight in strengthening components that would make the cars uncompetitive v the opposition. Plus many more...
The whole thing about Sonny being 'in the zone' driving speech was a rehash of Ken Miles narration from 'Ford v Ferrari.' " There's a point at 7,000 RPM... where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. Just disappears. And all that's left is a body moving through space and time. 7,000 RPM. That's where you meet it...."
From an equality point of view I'm surprised that producer Lewis Hamilton and F1 Management would be happy that it's a young female mechanic that has the pit stop issues and that the female Technical Director ends up bedding the driver. Not good looks and totally superfluous to the story.
The action scenes were meant to be a big seller for the film, but for me they weren't anything special. And having now seen the film it's tough to see what the crew were doing following F1 around so many circuits for so little end product. A Second Unit could have caught most of the paddock, atmosphere shots etc without the need for the whole team, garage, pit setup many times.
So for the casual moviegoers and uninformed fans it's a decent (albeit overly long) film, and for real motorsport fans, at least it's not as bad as Stallone's Driven Indycar movie...
Given Hollywood's history of classic gangster films, any new entrants to the genre will always have a high bar to reach.
And this film doesn't reach those classic levels, but is a decent effort.
Interesting choice to have Robert DeNiro play both main protagonists, and he does it well, putting enough difference in the characters to make things believable.
As mentioned elsewhere the production values are excellent, providing a very accurate 1950s atmosphere throughout.
The story is also interesting and the pacing is sedate overall with some brief action. The main problem is that it drags at times and may have benefited from some tighter editing.
If you're expecting a Godfather, Goodfellas or Casino type film you'll be disappointed but as a character driven period piece it might just suit.
And this film doesn't reach those classic levels, but is a decent effort.
Interesting choice to have Robert DeNiro play both main protagonists, and he does it well, putting enough difference in the characters to make things believable.
As mentioned elsewhere the production values are excellent, providing a very accurate 1950s atmosphere throughout.
The story is also interesting and the pacing is sedate overall with some brief action. The main problem is that it drags at times and may have benefited from some tighter editing.
If you're expecting a Godfather, Goodfellas or Casino type film you'll be disappointed but as a character driven period piece it might just suit.
Made the error of checking the IMDB ratings, and nearly skipped this, but on a blustery, damp Sunday afternoon I gave it a go.
As you probably already know, the film centres around Michelle Dockery's US Marshal character transporting a key witness back from the wilds of Alaska by air to testify in a big trial.
It's quickly established that the pilot is not who it's supposed to be, and the remainder of the film is a will they / won't they survive to bring the witness to testify.
By no way is it a cinematic masterpiece, but it's not nearly as bad as some other reviews make out.
There are a few 'why did they do / not do that' moments, along with the movie /tv trope of being able to hide from bullets behind something structurally flimsy, and some odd aircraft manoeuvres, but if you have your salt shaker with you, you'll be fine.
A decent movie overall and the 91 minute run time means it's not dragged out for the sake of it.
As you probably already know, the film centres around Michelle Dockery's US Marshal character transporting a key witness back from the wilds of Alaska by air to testify in a big trial.
It's quickly established that the pilot is not who it's supposed to be, and the remainder of the film is a will they / won't they survive to bring the witness to testify.
By no way is it a cinematic masterpiece, but it's not nearly as bad as some other reviews make out.
There are a few 'why did they do / not do that' moments, along with the movie /tv trope of being able to hide from bullets behind something structurally flimsy, and some odd aircraft manoeuvres, but if you have your salt shaker with you, you'll be fine.
A decent movie overall and the 91 minute run time means it's not dragged out for the sake of it.
