Thankyou Mr Fforde for skewering a movie I was half heartedly considering seeing - that’s some time and money I won’t waste. Given that the film is the brainchild of F1’s new owners - and they must have signed off on the final draft - they must be relying solely on the said 14yo audience. I’ve read somewhere that the team behind this venture wanted Tom Cruise (let’s get the TG band back together) but he was either busy or recognised a stinker when he saw one. Look forward to yours posts…
You mention Mad Max, and Jack Reacher, but I'm reminded of Cars, which seemingly has the exact opposite character arc -- the selfish young hotshot who learns to abandon his defensive ego in favor of trust. Sounds like Pixar exposed F1 The Movie some 20 years ago.
And, as in the Love Bug, Cars makes the Sonny Hayes character its villain, in the loathsome Chick Hicks.
There was a time I would jump on my Mobylette and ride down to Brands Hatch. Lock up the bike (somewhere nobody could see it), make my way to Druids. The teardrop shape of the bend allowed dashing from side to side to watch the competitors scream past and gave a good view as they took Graham Hill bend onto the paddock straight.
I came out of this movie having enjoyed it but I agree with these arguments generally. I hadn't really caught up with the idea that Hayes doesn't care for institutions outside of them being obstacles, but you're right. I also think it would have been a much more interesting ending if the rookie were to win the last race (or, maybe more so if the team didn't win but got to maintain its position in F1 due to the excitement generated, winning not being the be-all and end-all). I also agree that the relationship between Hayes and Kate deserved to be more than what it ended up being, if we consider that he's just leaving her at the end. For the rest I am a bit more nuanced, I kind of feel the film does underline that the team is toying the line with cheating. They would have gotten punished by the FIA in real conditions, but for someone who cannot get into following these races because I feel like the only thing that might shake them up is an accident (what a sad statement) it made for more exciting theatrics and I accepted that. I also feel that despite Hayes going back to point A, there is some idea that he has changed throughout, though not enough to stay with Kate apparently... and the rookie also has an arc about moving forward and being a part of something bigger than himself. Though I agree completely with your last paragraph, focusing on aspects of the difficulties he must have gone through (and not just being a cocky phenom) would have made for a better movie. Is "The love bug" the standard for car racing movies or is there some others that stands out that I should look into?
Thanks for that, I think you might have been fairer than me as I tend to overthink things! I think ‘Le Mans’ is the all time best racing movie, as it was a Vanity Project for Steve McQueen who really only felt at oneness with himself when flat out along (any) back straight. There is no plot to speak of in Le Mans, but rather McQueen’s desire to encapsulate the spirit of racing and project that love to the audience - a little like trying to communicate the allure of surfing or mountain climbing or marathon running to people who do none of them. I think the Le Mans circuit was particularly good at this issue as the long Mulsanne Straight was - despite 180 MPH speeds - a place to relax during the race, and to actually enjoy it, something that can no longer be done as the ‘kink’ in the straight is now an annoying chicane, breaking up the reverie… But see Le Mans, and after that, Grand Prix. Hokier plot, but some dazzling racing sequences, especially the Monaco circuit in the 60s, all bales of hay and no skyscrapers…
Thankyou Mr Fforde for skewering a movie I was half heartedly considering seeing - that’s some time and money I won’t waste. Given that the film is the brainchild of F1’s new owners - and they must have signed off on the final draft - they must be relying solely on the said 14yo audience. I’ve read somewhere that the team behind this venture wanted Tom Cruise (let’s get the TG band back together) but he was either busy or recognised a stinker when he saw one. Look forward to yours posts…
You mention Mad Max, and Jack Reacher, but I'm reminded of Cars, which seemingly has the exact opposite character arc -- the selfish young hotshot who learns to abandon his defensive ego in favor of trust. Sounds like Pixar exposed F1 The Movie some 20 years ago.
And, as in the Love Bug, Cars makes the Sonny Hayes character its villain, in the loathsome Chick Hicks.
Hi Harry. I edited my post to include your observation, so thanks for that - it improved the piece. I credited you at the end.
I’d forgotten about cars, but yes, you’re right.
There was a time I would jump on my Mobylette and ride down to Brands Hatch. Lock up the bike (somewhere nobody could see it), make my way to Druids. The teardrop shape of the bend allowed dashing from side to side to watch the competitors scream past and gave a good view as they took Graham Hill bend onto the paddock straight.
The novelty sort of wore off...
That would do the same for me. Motorsport is an adjunct to life, not a central part of it..
"but I think it was the politics of acceptable and, worse, unquestioned and unchallenged cheating that I found quite insidious"
We are in the Time of Trump where this is the norm.
I came out of this movie having enjoyed it but I agree with these arguments generally. I hadn't really caught up with the idea that Hayes doesn't care for institutions outside of them being obstacles, but you're right. I also think it would have been a much more interesting ending if the rookie were to win the last race (or, maybe more so if the team didn't win but got to maintain its position in F1 due to the excitement generated, winning not being the be-all and end-all). I also agree that the relationship between Hayes and Kate deserved to be more than what it ended up being, if we consider that he's just leaving her at the end. For the rest I am a bit more nuanced, I kind of feel the film does underline that the team is toying the line with cheating. They would have gotten punished by the FIA in real conditions, but for someone who cannot get into following these races because I feel like the only thing that might shake them up is an accident (what a sad statement) it made for more exciting theatrics and I accepted that. I also feel that despite Hayes going back to point A, there is some idea that he has changed throughout, though not enough to stay with Kate apparently... and the rookie also has an arc about moving forward and being a part of something bigger than himself. Though I agree completely with your last paragraph, focusing on aspects of the difficulties he must have gone through (and not just being a cocky phenom) would have made for a better movie. Is "The love bug" the standard for car racing movies or is there some others that stands out that I should look into?
Thanks for that, I think you might have been fairer than me as I tend to overthink things! I think ‘Le Mans’ is the all time best racing movie, as it was a Vanity Project for Steve McQueen who really only felt at oneness with himself when flat out along (any) back straight. There is no plot to speak of in Le Mans, but rather McQueen’s desire to encapsulate the spirit of racing and project that love to the audience - a little like trying to communicate the allure of surfing or mountain climbing or marathon running to people who do none of them. I think the Le Mans circuit was particularly good at this issue as the long Mulsanne Straight was - despite 180 MPH speeds - a place to relax during the race, and to actually enjoy it, something that can no longer be done as the ‘kink’ in the straight is now an annoying chicane, breaking up the reverie… But see Le Mans, and after that, Grand Prix. Hokier plot, but some dazzling racing sequences, especially the Monaco circuit in the 60s, all bales of hay and no skyscrapers…
Sounds good, thanks for the recommendations!