The Movie Man: Unlikely to Win Best Picture, ‘F1’ Could Still Rev Up the Oscars

Despite using a cookie-cutter formula for sports movies, F1 keeps the viewer hooked with charismatic characters and top-quality cinematography and sound editing. In short: it may be clichéd, but it’s incredibly entertaining.

Brad Pitt rocks as racing legend Sonny Hayes, who signs a deal with an underdog team run by an old racing friend, Rubén Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem at his most charming. An incredible cast of supporting characters includes Damson Idris as Sonny’s racing teammate and rival Joshua Pearce, Kerry Condon as the team’s technical director (and Sonny’s love interest) and Tobias Menzies as the team’s sole board member with emotional investment.

I have no familiarity with racing, so references to rules and technicalities went over my head. But the story was coherent enough to understand what was happening and what was on the line. This form of entertainment is to be expected with Jerry Bruckheimer producing and a script by Ehren Kruger (whose credits also include Top Gun: Maverick). We can sit around and criticize movies for taking paths that have been trod too many times, bemoaning a lack of originality. But sometimes it’s good to have a movie that takes those paths as long as they keep you invested in the characters.

I do not see this taking home the grand prize for Best Picture, but there have been plenty of surprises on Hollywood’s biggest night. It is nominated for three other categories: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing. The chances for Best Picture are low, but the remaining categories are high. I will be bold enough to proclaim that F1 will be considered a classic that goes beyond the awards.

About the Author: Having lived in Old Lyme and Lyme since the age of three, Kevin Ganey has a lifelong passion for cinema that goes beyond simply watching films. He is the creator of CityOfCinema.com, a site devoted to movie analysis, and co-hosts the Moviehouse Mystics podcast with Koda Uhl, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.