Dazzling displays of fireworks, a smooth racetrack, real-life Formula One drivers, and speeding cars light up the screen. These captivating shots are quintessential to the cinematography of “F1,” a movie that turned blockbuster over the summer.
The film, directed by Joseph Kosinski, follows Formula One driver Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who joins a struggling Formula One team, APXGP, 30 years after a career-ending crash. Sonny and his rookie racing partner Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) struggle to work as a team, as they both grapple with their reasons for racing.
Knowing little about Formula One prior to the movie, I was still thoroughly impressed. The cinematography was beautiful, the soundtrack catchy, and the commentary believable. During each race, I was on the edge of my seat, cheering for both Sonny and Joshua.
However, Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), APXGP’s car engineer, had a disappointing arc. Throughout the film, she mentions breaking barriers as a woman and becoming F1’s first female director of tech, but halfway through the film, she and Sonny begin a relationship. Their romance contradicts many of her lines, and it is ultimately unnecessary to the plot.
While its representation of women is very surface-level, “F1” is an entertaining watch for everyone — Formula One fans or not.
