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Digital Trends
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
F1 review: A predictable but thrilling sports drama
F1: A predictable but thrilling sports drama Score Details 'F1 races to the finish line in a blaze of glory, but it takes a road that's all too familiar.' Pros Terrific performances Thrilling action Stunning cinematography Great score and soundtrack Cons Formulaic story Flat characters 'Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.' Actor Brad Pitt has raced back into cinemas with his latest film, F1. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who previously helmed Top Gun: Maverick, this sports drama follows veteran racer Sonny Hayes (Pitt) when he is called upon by his old rival (Javier Bardem) to return to Formula One racing to partner up with a young rookie, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), in the last few races of the season. Recommended Videos After taking on the world of aerial combat, Kosinski brings his distinctive brand of cinematic flair to this depiction of competitive racing. Naturally, this makes for another captivating, blood-pumping blockbuster achievement. Though it seems to have left a better story in the rearview mirror, F1 makes up for it with a bevy of charismatic performances, engrossing visuals, and stirring moments. The story runs a familiar track with mixed results F1's opening scene hooks its viewer with its introduction of the laid-back Sonny and his dazzling first race. This presents enough thrills and mystery to leave audiences wanting to see more of his character and learn more about him in the coming attractions. But beyond that, F1 presents a predictable story of an aged athlete, described in the film as 'the greatest who never was,' as he tries to educate a younger protégé and regain his former glory. It's essentially Top Gun: Maverick with race cars, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Though the story of F1 is familiar, it still presents the right amount of severe character drama and lighthearted quips between Sonny, Joshua, and their teammates to make this an enjoyable summer blockbuster. Nevertheless, the script could ease up on the amount of expositional, on-the-nose dialogue, as journalists and news personalities fill the audience in on the story with heavy-handed commentary with very little subtlety. Also, F1's story seems to brush past the challenges that the characters face, such as forged legal documents, Sonny's vision problems, and his post-traumatic stress, without much difficulty or consequence. Despite its potholes, F1 features plenty of emotional and even inspiring moments that fit well in the sports film genre, particularly that fiery crash scene and Sonny's climactic 'flight' to the finish line. Overall, F1 presents a fun story with a decent amount of tension. However, the film struggles to ground itself in reality. Traditional characters with compelling actors In F1, Sonny Hayes is a cocky, loose-cannon racing veteran who doesn't play by the rules, similar to Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. Meanwhile, Joshua Pearce is Sonny's younger, equally arrogant partner, who's desperate to prove himself and reach the top, which naturally leads to friction between the two. While this is the kind of dynamic seen between Maverick and Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick, Sonny and Joshua lack any prior history together to make their conflict more engaging. Instead, their relationship is more of a clash of like-minded egos, and the film doesn't spend enough time dissecting them and their backstories to make their characters feel true and unique. Likewise, Sonny and Joshua's development feels rushed at times. Though the latter experiences the most growth in the film and follows Sonny's example, his character presents so much more dramatic potential. Joshua talks about having to climb out from nothing to become the famed racer he is today, which could say a lot about the state of modern athletes. Instead, the film fails to expand upon his character to make him seem especially distinctive or relevant. Likewise, Sonny is presented as a divorced husband and father coping with a gambling addiction and a traumatic racing accident, and there are some nuances to his character aching to be unlocked. However, F1 seems to speed past all that without adding anything fresh and captivating to his character. Pitt at least touts his trademark charisma in the role of Sonny, making his jerk of a character a lovable, entertaining presence in the film. At the same time, many members of the film's supporting cast shine just as brightly as Pitt. Idris brings the right balance of solemn intensity and cocky swagger as Joshua. Javier Bardem brings plenty of drama and humor as Sonny's friend and struggling new boss, Ruben Cervantes. Kerry Condon, in particular, wins with her performance as Sonny's tech director/love interest, Kate McKenna, sharing palpable chemistry with Pitt. Her character also stands out for the way she keeps her team together, arguably making her the movie's secret weapon. Stunning action and visuals Like with the pilots in Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski places viewers right in the driver's seat with the drivers as they battle each other with their cars like the chariot riders in Ben-Hur. This film immerses its audience thanks to the thrilling, up-close camerawork of the racers and their vehicles by Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda (who also worked on Top Gun: Maverick). The panning shots filmed atop the moving cars are among the film's most distinctive visual achievements, giving viewers a heart-pounding view of all the excitement. F1 keeps up the intensity with super-swift editing courtesy of Stephen Mirrione, jumping from one character to another, from inside the cars to outside on the sidelines. The movie hardly gives its audience the time to breathe with its breakneck depiction of Formula One racing, making it all the more gripping. The thrills and emotion are also elevated by an excellent soundtrack and original musical score from the ever-reliable Hans Zimmer. Is F1 worth a watch? For those looking for an eye-catching, heart-pounding underdog story to enjoy in theaters this summer, F1 is the right choice. Kosinski's movie doesn't add that much depth or innovation in terms of storytelling, but it is still a sight to behold. F1 is a cinematic roller coaster from start to finish, with the film making up for its shortcomings with compelling performances from the cast and immersive action. F1 is now in theaters.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘All American' Renewed For A Final Eighth Season At The CW
All American — 'Don\'t Hate the Player' — Image Number: ALA712a_0098r — Pictured (L-R): Bre-Z as ... More Coop and Gilbert Glenn Brown as Coach Bobby Shepard — Photo: Troy Harvey/The CW — © 2025 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Despite abandoning the majority of original scripted programming since segueing into a platform for acquired international product, The CW has remained faithful to its critically acclaimed All American. The network will give the coming-of-age sports drama a proper sendoff with a renewal for an eighth - and final season - in 2026. Thirteen concluding episodes have been ordered. Debuting on October 10, 2018 and inspired by the life of professional football player Spencer Paysinger, All American initially revolved around teen Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), a then rising star football player whose dream was to make it to the NFL after he is recruited by coach Billy Baker (Taye Diggs) to play for his high school team in Beverly Hills. BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 06: (L-R) Actors Monet Mazur, Taye Diggs, Daniel Ezra, Cody Christian, ... More Michael Evans Behling, Bre-Z, Karimah Westbrook, Greta Onieogou, and Samantha Logan of CW's 'All American' pose for a portrait during the 2018 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 6, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by) "All American is one of the greatest CW shows of all time and we are honored to bring it back for one final season to give fans a chance to say a meaningful goodbye to these inspiring characters and this incredible world,' said Brad Schwartz, President of The CW in a statement. 'The series took bold new steps in season seven, adding exciting new characters to the ones we already love, and viewers truly embraced it all. From the first episode of Season 7 to the last, viewership grew 71% among adults 18-49 and 55% among those age 25-54. We cannot wait to see the emotion, heart, and magic that Nkechi Okoro Carroll and the entire cast and creative team deliver in giving this story the proper ending it deserves.' In that seventh season, Daniel Ezra, Samantha Logan, Cody Christian, Karimah Westbrook, Monet Mazur and Chelsea Tavares all exited All American as series regulars and the storyline shifted to the next generation of football players at South Crenshaw and Beverly High. Osy Ikhile and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre joined the main cast respectively as Cassius Jeremy, Beverly High's new football coach, and Kingston Jeremy, Cassius' son, while Antonio J. Bell and Alexis Chikaeze were promoted to series regulars . 'Since the moment All American kicked off, the audience fell in love with these characters and their heartfelt stories," said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. "Season seven provided a rare opportunity to keep this world for the fans while introducing new characters alongside some beloved favorites. I couldn't be more thrilled to see this story continue for an eighth and final season. I know Nkechi and our very talented team of writers and executive producers will deliver something unforgettable.' All American is produced by Berlanti Productions, with Nkechi Okoro Carroll serving as executive producer and showrunner. Warner Bros. Television is the studio.
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
‘The Last Rodeo': Serviceable melodrama saved by the bull riding
Full disclosure: 'The Last Rodeo,' a contemporary family drama set in the world of Professional Bull Riders, earned at least half a star from this reviewer for name-checking Bodacious, a legendary 1,900-pound competitor that challenged (and severely injured) the best riders on the circuit in the 1990s. As a character says in this homage to a thrilling, occasionally bone-crushing sport, 'What a bull.'
Digital Trends
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
F1: The new footage of Brad Pitt behind the wheel looks incredible
Director Joseph Kosinski set out to make the most authentic racing movie ever made with F1. Judging by the new footage with Brad Pitt behind the wheel, Kosinski might have achieved his goal. Apple Original Films released the main trailer for F1, the upcoming sports drama from the filmmaker behind Top Gun: Maverick. Sonny Hayes (Pitt) is a driver looking for redemption after a career-altering accident in the 1990s nearly cost him his career. Hayes never lived up to his talent and became known as 'the greatest that never was.' 30 years later, Sonny gets a second chance from Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), his former teammate and owner of the struggling Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP). Ruben convinces Sonny to join his team and drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), a young phenom with much to learn. For someone considered an 'old school cowboy' and a 'lone wolf,' Sonny must learn that Formula One is a team sport. 'We all lose our jobs if you can't pull off a miracle,' says Kerry Condon's Kate, who works for APXGP. The trailer ends with sensational racing footage featuring Sonny's impressive driving skills as he expertly maneuvers down a straightaway. However, F1 also highlights the dangers of the sport and teases a potentially debilitating crash. 'How do you think I'd feel if you die on the track?' Ruben says in a voiceover while watching one of the cars spin out. Tobias Menzies and Kim Bodnia also star. Kosinski directs F1 from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger based on a story developed by the duo. Producers include Pitt, Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Chad Oman, and seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton. While F1 features a fictitious story, the movie was filmed at the sites of several Grand Prix weekends from the past two seasons. Many Formula One drivers will appear in the movie, including Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri. F1 is one of the biggest gambles of the summer blockbuster season. The rumored budget is $300 million, though Kosinski and Bruckheimer dispute that number. Regardless of the exact number, F1 is still an expensive blockbuster based on an original idea, further adding to the risk. F1 hails from Apple Original Films and will be distributed in theaters by Warner Bros. F1 races into theaters on June 27.
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Swing Bout review – underdog, backstage boxing tale is a gutsy winner
'T errible' Toni (Ciara Berkeley) is broke, but she's a fighter – literally. Heading into her first televised boxing match, this young sportswoman is intent on making the most of what feels like a golden opportunity. She's also personally invested; her opponent (an excellent Chrissie Cronin) is a cocky TikTok star who could perhaps benefit from being taken down a peg or two. Unfortunately, boxing at this level isn't squeaky clean, and she'll be asked to make some tough decisions with serious implications for her integrity and future in the sport. Named for the filler matches boxing promoters use to plug spaces in the TV schedule when more established contenders fail to fight for as long as anticipated, this Irish boxing film is low on budget but high on guts and gumption. Set entirely backstage in the offices, toilets and dressing rooms that the fighters, promoters and coaches occupy when not in the ring, writer-director Maurice O'Carroll's scrappy, gutsy drama relies almost entirely on its actors (Sinead O'Riordan is particularly good as a dodgy coach) and script to hold your attention. There's no recourse to effects or scenery to break up the people-in-rooms of it all, and initially you might wonder if that's going to be enough. It turns out that Swing Bout is much like an underdog boxing movie itself. At the outset, you don't rate its chances: cast and crew don't exactly have a high profile track record. But what's this? Around the midpoint, you start to feel a pleasant sense of surprise. This underdog might just pull it off. You want to know how this one is going to turn out. They've got you. By the time the punchy climax rolls around, you realise they've pulled off the improbable and created a tense sports/crime drama on a budget easily one tenth of their equivalent rivals. Swing Bout is on digital platforms from 12 May.
