F1’s Stellar Racing Scenes Save Movie From Brad Pitt’s Bland Character

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Joseph Kosinski’s F1 movie definitely delivers a thrilling experience, yet Brad Pitt’s character and acting don’t quite match the film’s overall intensity level.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m pumped that the high-octane thriller, “F1,” is now gracing U.S. theaters! In this riveting tale, Brad Pitt slides into the role of a seasoned racer, Sonny Hayes, who makes his grand comeback to Formula One after a long hiatus. The reason for his return? To lend a helping hand to his old buddy, Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem, as he strives to get his APXGP F1 Team in top shape. And guess who’s tagging along? None other than the promising rookie driver, Joshua Pearce, portrayed by Damson Idris. Buckle up for this exciting ride!

Over the first weekend of its debut, I found myself immersed in the high-speed thrills of F1, which raked in approximately $144 million worldwide. While it’s yet to recoup its production costs, that’s a massive figure that Apple Studios can’t help but be pleased with. As it battles against Jurassic World and Superman in the coming weeks, we’ll see if F1 can maintain its momentum. If so, the prospects of an F1 sequel or even an F1-Days of Thunder crossover might just become a reality.

In the event of a follow-up film, we can only wish for more depth to Pitt’s character compared to how it was portrayed in this one.

Brad Pitt’s character drags F1 down

Brad Pitt is undoubtedly a renowned actor who has been captivating audiences for many years, bringing to life diverse characters such as Tyler Durden, Rusty Ryan, and Cliff Booth. When you collaborate with Pitt, especially with a director like Kosinski known for big-screen spectacles like Tron: Legacy (2010) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), it’s likely to be an impressive project.

Regrettably, Pitt’s acting in this doesn’t quite hit the mark. The script, on the other hand, appears to prioritize high-speed, exhilarating car races over developing characters and deep emotional content. It seems as though Pitt might not be fully engaged with this role.

In simpler terms, during filming, Brad Pitt took charge of certain racing scenes, which is fine. However, his enthusiasm on the track doesn’t seem to significantly contribute to the overall movie. When there are dialogue-focused moments in the film, Pitt appears disengaged or lacks conviction. His passionate speech about his love for racing with Kerry Condon should have more emotional depth. Unfortunately, it feels quite stiff, and the romantic subplot between Pitt and Condon feels forced and unnecessary.

How Pitt’s role could have been improved

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that not all the blame should be pinned on Pitt’s character. The issue with F1 in this game seems to stem from Sonny Hayes being an invincible character, who never makes a mistake or faces any setbacks. In the very first race he appears, he wins effortlessly. Joining Bardem’s F1 team was supposed to be their last resort, yet Sonny Hayes continually comes up with unexpected strategies that help them improve. He clashes with Idris at times, but by the third act of the game, it’s clear that Idris has had to adjust his tactics to accommodate Pitt’s methods, while Sonny Hayes remains unchanged and seemingly infallible.

This character lacks genuine depth or relatability, as he merely serves the function of always being correct. Tom Cruise portrayed a somewhat comparable role in Top Gun: Maverick, yet his charisma alone was enough to pull it off effortlessly. Brad Pitt, however, is distinct from Cruise; they each possess unique personas. To make the character work effectively, Pitt requires a more developed and perhaps quirkier role, rather than mimicking Cruise’s style. Casting him in a character overly reminiscent of Cruise might not benefit either the actor or the audience.

Once more, viewers are drawn to F1 primarily for the thrilling race sequences, and Kosinski certainly delivers on those. However, with a runtime of 156 minutes, one anticipates there would be additional elements beyond racing. Unfortunately, it lacks that depth, making the length of the movie feel particularly noticeable.

I must admit, if Brad Pitt’s character had a more developed storyline or if his acting had more depth, it would have made for a much more thrilling journey to watch. However, as is, the film seems to lack momentum, often feeling like it stops and starts without ever settling into a steady pace.

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2025-06-30 21:41