Exciting day today. I’m off to JHB for an exclusive screening of F1: The Movie.
As a massive Formula 1 fan, I’m quite interested in seeing how the thrill of motorsport is presented.
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Enjoy! I am excited to see the film, but don’t have high hopes - can a 60-year-old Brad Pitt really pass as an F1 driver? Even with the 43-year-old Fernando Alonso, the average age of the F1 grid is 27 
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What are the odds of there being at least one scene where two drivers draw level during a race, look over at each other for a good few seconds (as one does at 200km/h) before one speeds off? A must-have on any racing movie bingo card.
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Honestly @julia.harris I have been pretending he’s not in it 
The crowd got the memo: outfits consist of team merch, motorcore gear and bright F1 red. I even spotted a vintage-esque race suit (paired with thigh-high stiletto boots, of course.)
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As long as it isn’t just DAYS OF THUNDER, but with Brad Pitt and F1 cars, I’ll be happy. This also reminds me of the time - a long time ago - when I wrote a plausible column about hollywood’s rejection of men who don’t have strong chins. There was a worrying pattern of uncleaved jaws that delivered the goods on screen, but didn’t receive the academy recognition…
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@SarahHoek please do tell… how was it? B and I are thinking about a Tuesday at Labia to watch it
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Its a magnificent film in how its shot - there are some amazing scenes and they show highspeed in a way that I haven’t seen before.
However… plot, character development and unrealistic F1 plotlines let it down. If you want a fun racing movie, this is it. If you are a big F1 nerd who knows FIA rules inside and out, prepare to raise your eyebrows permanently.
And don’t get me started on Brad Pitt’s age…
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Ageism aside, sounds like a “wait until it hits streaming” verdict… Which is sad because Napoleon was the same, as well as everything else except CODA. The Apple TV+ star burned too brightly
there was a 720s in a showroom near me which i fawned over every chance i got. It found a home eventually and when i asked a staff member what it went for: R6.5mil 
and then there was that guy who totalled one of those on high level road a few months ago!
Is it better than Ford vs Ferrari though?
i’m biased since i’ll always find Le Mans more interesting than F1.
The average age of Formula 1 drivers on the 2025 grid is around 27 years old, with the oldest driver currently 43. The oldest driver ever was 55 (and he raced in 1955). Pitt is 61, so the casting for a modern driver is simply unrealistic.
How old is he in the movie? Your average high school romcom has 25yos running around like seniors (looking at you Freddie Prinz Jr) - LEAVE BRAD ALONE!
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this is exactly why i have a beard
It is not better than Ford vs Ferrari imo, which is an iconic film! So much emotion and heart in that film (something that defines Le Mans for me too.)
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take me with you next time 
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Magically finds the “accellerate more” pedal as if that is all that was required to pull ahead.
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the scene where the CEO of Ford cries after being taken for a hair-raising ride in a GT-40 prototype because he wishes his Grandpa could experience that will probably stick with me for a while.
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I finally got round to putting my thoughts down on F1: The Movie.
Have a read for a general review mixed in with some angsty thoughts on poor representation of women and people of colour in the film.
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