Show me where the car is: the F1 racing drama starring Brad Pitt has reached Russia
The Formula 1 sports drama starring Brad Pitt may get a sequel. Variety writes about this, citing sources. The film made a successful launch at the foreign box office last week, with worldwide collections reaching $146 million in the first days. Next weekend, the racing action will be shown in cinemas in Russia for pre-show service. Izvestia watched the film and tells us what the critics are praising F1 for and where it can be viewed on the big screen.
What is Formula 1 about with Brad Pitt?
The Formula 1 sports action game (in the original F1: The Movie) became the main hit of last weekend. The film was released widely on June 27, right in time for the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, and in just the first few days it reached $146 million worldwide with a budget of several hundred thousand. This is the most successful launch in the history of Apple projects. For example, the company's previous experience — the film "Killers of the Flower Moon" by Martin Scorsese — collected only $ 158 million. Another painting, "Napoleon" by Ridley Scott, is worth $221 million.
The plot centers on former Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt). At one time, being a rising star of the championship, he retired from big-time sports due to a serious accident on the track, became addicted to gambling, went bankrupt, divorced several times and turned into a lone wolf. A few decades later, he gets a chance — he returns to the game at the invitation of an old friend Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem). He risks losing his APXGP team due to constant failures on the track. This is how the Formula 1 veteran becomes the co-pilot and mentor of the talented and ambitious, but not yet competitive newcomer Joshua Pierce (Demson Idris), with whom they do not work out right away, and during the breaks he rolls up to the technical director of the Kate team (Kerry Condon).
What happens in Formula 1 strives for maximum authenticity and immersion. The director's chair was taken by the master of action — Joseph Kosinski, who shot the action movie "Top Gun: Maverick" with Tom Cruise in the role of a test pilot. He repeated the experience of using small cameras. Back then, the cockpit was equipped with such things, now racing cars are equipped, allowing the viewer to find themselves inside with the heroes rushing along the track. And the co—producer and consultant of the film was a real racer, seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton.
Thus, despite the largely predictable plot, the creators seem to have found the perfect formula for an exciting summer blockbuster and turned the story into a fascinating attraction with spectacular shots of flying cars that sometimes immerse you almost in a meditative state, spectacular maneuvers, tension on turns and Brad Pitt at the helm, who is especially good in a racing jumpsuit.
"This plot is as old as the horseless carriage"
According to Variety, after the box office success, the story may get a sequel. Work in this direction is gaining momentum, the newspaper writes, citing sources. While the audience votes for the film in currency, critics are generous with positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, Formula 1 has 83% positive reviews based on 272 reviews. However, they also scold — mostly a banal plot. But judging by the comments, the director's work and the cast make up for it.
"This plot is as old as a horseless carriage, but in Formula 1 it is fueled by an exceptionally attractive cast. Of course, we've all witnessed the old crime boss/close friend/comrade-in-arms asking the main character to come back for the last assignment. But when Javier Bardem does it, and Pitt acts as a skeptic, even the hoariest scene in the Final Draft user's guide turns into a playfully pleasant seduction," writes Ann Hornaday in The Washington Post.
Foreign film critics appreciated, in addition to the cast, cameos of real racers, which sports fans will especially appreciate.
"The most striking scenes in Formula 1, which boasts a duration of two and a half hours, are the moments of the race weekends when Kosinki unites his fictional team with real athletes. Fans of this sport will recognize Verstappen, Leclair, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris and many other racers in cameo roles. The adrenaline-pumping music of Hans Zimmer raises the stakes, adding tension to already tense moments, such as a dangerous turn on a slippery track or the work of mechanics at the pit stop, who have only seconds to replace the tires of the car," writes The Hollywood Reporter critic Lovia Gyarkje.
Just a few days after the premiere, an on-screen version with a Russian translation appeared online. But in order to fully enjoy the visual, it's better to watch the action on the big screen in high quality. Next weekend, the film will be shown in cinemas in Russia for pre-screening. Starting from July 5, the film will be announced by Kinomax, Premier Hall, Luxor, Cinema Star, Soft Cinema, KinoGalaktika, Mirage Cinema, and Kinograd.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
