Memorable Seasons that can be made into a Film

So now that 'Rush' is out and people have praised it to the high heavens (or condemned it for its inaccuracies) I am just wondering which other race seasons would be viable when turned into a film? This is because I have read many reviews which mentioned that 'Rush' was a little too short to capture the intricacies of all that the 1976 season entailed.

Perhaps a season like 2004 may be a little too boring, but something like 2010 may have far too many threads to be crammed into 1-2 hours. Or even last season (which was terribly exciting) but didn't really have much of a storyline to base a film on.

Especially since I only started following F1 from the 2000s, there would be plenty of previous seasons that would make fantastic viewing as a standalone film (NOT a documentary, mind  ). Personally I feel 2007 what with the Spygate may be a good starting point. Not sure Bernie would approve, though. 

Any suggestions?

I think 1999 would be a great candidate, with Schumacher getting injured in the middle of the season, therefore making things easier for Hakkinen, Irvine taking over the championship bid, and Frentzen also in the mix. 1994, obviously, would be another great choice, with Hill emerging as Williams' leader and Benetton's cheating allegations. In fact, the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix could probably be made into a movie on its own.

I wonder if we need this... you can see the recorded races with the real performances instead of an attempt to recreate it. I think one good movie (hope Rush is one, haven't seen it yet) is enough on this subject at least for a decade or so, unless someone comes up with another unique, great idea like "Senna" did. To me "Senna" as a documentary is a stinking pile of you know what, but it is a brilliant piece of filmmaking if you completely distance yourself from the real characters and events it is supposed to be based on. It is an amazing concept to stitch together archive footage in such a way that the result works as an acted/scripted/directed movie, a very surreal sort of experience. I am talking about the short version that is really like a movie without the talking heads, that is the much better version even if there were some interesting interviews in the other one, especially with Prost.

What I mean is you need to have a really good reason to make a movie, be it from an artistic or financial standpoint. Football is a much bigger sport than F1 but you don't make movies about a certain World Cup or Championship League year. Or if you do, I am for sure not interested to see it.

2008: close competition, dramatic ending, controversial steward decisions, Crashgate, and more.

2000. Pressure is on Schumacher to produce a title after 4 years at Ferrari, he seems to have it but towards the last quarter of the season, he loses the points lead to Hakkinen resurgence.

Then with four races to go, here comes Italy with Hakkinen favourite for the title again, and Schumacher produces 4 poles and 4 wins to finally end Ferrari's WDC drought.

No scandals, no drama off the track, just pure racing between two drivers and two teams.

'94 would have t be a candidate.

World champion driver moving to the currently dominating team but not finding results

Young starter Shuey against the old hand Senna

Senna and Prost making peace after years of fighting

The Imola weekend:

Rubens' crash on Fri

Ratzenburger on Sat

Senna commandeering the safety car and driving up to see Ratzenburger at the crash scene

Start line incident which injured 4 spectators in the race

Pit incident which injured a Ferrari mechanic

Sennas crash in the race

Car let loose onto the track at full speed while the medical helicopter was attending to senna

Allegations of TC cheating towards Benneton

Start of the famous Hill/Schumacher rivalry

Benneton fuel fire in Germany

Numerous injuries in what had become quite a dangerous sport

Brundell hit in the head by Verstappens tyre in a crash in Brazil - lucky to escape

Alesi hurt his back in a Mugello test accident

JJ Lehto hurt his arm in the Imola startline incident

Pedro Lamy dislocated his legs and broke his wrist in a testing crash in Silverstone

Karl Wendliger was comatised after a crash in Monaco

Light burns to Jos Verstappen from the pitlane fire

Numerous rule changes brought in by the FIA scrambling to stop all the injuries meant the cars were changing a lot during the seasin

Schumacher's black flag and subsequent 1 race ban after Silverstone

Race bans for Häkinnen and Irvine for first corner accidents

A marshall in japan suffered a broken leg after Brundle crashed

The return of Nigel Mansell for a handful of races

and of course the world championship going down to the wire with Shumi crashing into Hill and then waiting on the side of the track to see if he was really out of the race which made him world champion.

Some serious **** went down that year...

Edited by NotAPineapple, 15 September 2013 - 17:14.

2000. Pressure is on Schumacher to produce a title after 4 years at Ferrari, he seems to have it but towards the last quarter of the season, he loses the points lead to Hakkinen resurgence.

 

Then with four races to go, here comes Italy with Hakkinen favourite for the title again, and Schumacher produces 4 poles and 4 wins to finally end Ferrari's WDC drought.

 

No scandals, no drama off the track, just pure racing between two drivers and two teams.

Which makes a it useless as a movie script.

I think the 2007 spy saga makes a terrific story in itself.

Center it around Mike and Trudy Coughlan (that copystore hero!). Add Stepney, Dennis, Mosley, Pedro de la Rosa in the simulator, Ross Brawn meeting with Stepney & Coughlan in Barcelona. And the copyshop guy.

Racing scenes are hardly needed, just some pits/paddock scenes in e.g. Melbourne (the flexing Ferrari found out), Silverstone, Hungaroring and Monza.

2007 would be great in it had ended with 2008 final race. Hollywood takes liberties all the time, so maybe they could mix the two seasons for dramatic effect. But as it would be a legal minefield considering the people are still alive and some of the allegations and suggested behaviour would result in a lot a lawsuits. The names and places would have to changed, so what would be the point, really.

Which makes a it useless as a movie script.

And you do realize most of the best stories that won Oscars relied on human emotions achieving their linear objectives, not continous soap opera drama.

The question is about memorable seasons for a film, and as it's about racing, 2000 is one of the best examples of pure racing with plenty of the sport's emotions on track and off focusing on the desire to win.

Edited by Tron, 15 September 2013 - 13:48.

And you do realize most of the best stories that won Oscars relied on human emotions achieving their linear objectives, not continous soap opera drama.

 

The question is about memorable seasons for a film, and as it's about racing, 2000 is one of the best examples of pure racing with plenty of the sport's emotions on track and off focusing on the desire to win.

 

PS, well done in winning rude **** of the week award.

I just want to emphasize that it's pretty good documentary stuff, but there 's no real storyline. I can't see a movie production adding much to the footage that already exists.

2009, not for its intense championship battle, but more because of the Brawn GP story. Coming from near bankrupcy after their manufacturer retires, to winning the championship in dominant style.

Edited by DutchQuicksilver, 15 September 2013 - 14:07.

1970. This was when the drivers, led by Jackie Stewart were pushing for safety, and this was the season in which Stewart lost two of his closest friends, Piers Courage and Jochen Rindt. The fact that Rindt became posthumous World Champion only adds to the drama.

Some fantastic seasons in there.   In a way I agree that 2000 may be more suited to a documentary than a film because I suspect Hollywood would add a lot of additional stuff to 'appeal to audiences' rather than stick to the pure racing part. 1999 and 1994 sound great, but I confess I never watched the actual races, just a few clips here and there. I assume NotAPineapple you meant 1994? Because I did watch 2004 and I remember only a certain German dominating... 

2008 was so controversial but (much like 2012) I find it difficult to see a common thread. Like we could take Hamilton's story, but how would Crashgate (the biggest scandal) fit in? And I worry what Hollywood would do to dramatize the chicane incident in Belgium. I mean it is pretty much a technicality, so it might come across to the non-F1 public as a little farcical (not that I didn't find it a little ridiculous myself).

SanDiegoGo, I totally agree. In fact, if we could pick and choose incidents throughout F1's history and fit it to an alternative storyline I bet it would make a smashing movie.

2009 would make a great underdog story, yes. A little like Cinderella sport story (Million Dollar Baby?). Sounds the most do-able.

What I mean is you need to have a really good reason to make a movie, be it from an artistic or financial standpoint. Football is a much bigger sport than F1 but you don't make movies about a certain World Cup or Championship League year. Or if you do, I am for sure not interested to see it.

As you stated, you're probably not interested in watching it. But 'Football is coming hoam' - the epic tale of how Bayern Munich went from the misery of Munich 2012 to ultimate victory in achieving the elusive treble (including the Champions League final in Wembley) was showing in theatres all over Germany not long ago. It is probably available on DVD and Blu-Ray now.

2014 if Kimi beats Alonso to the title, that would be an epic story!

2007 (spygate and Kimi's insane points comeback/Lewis' late season failings) and 2008 (title won in the last corner) were two great stories that felt utterly unbelievable and out of a film script as they unfolded, at times. That being said I find it hard to see how could they turn it into a Hollywood movie as easily as 1976 which had those 2 great characters as the title rivals, and the life-and-death element.

Edited by noikeee, 15 September 2013 - 15:00.

1982, but it would be much too long to cover everything that went on that season, so I'd just focus on Gilles & Didier's stories from that year.

Start with Pironi's test crash, mention the strike @ Kyalami.  Spend time on Imola of course, then the tragedy at Zolder.  Move on to Canada & Pironi's pole, only for him to stall and see Paletti die, then go to Hockenheim, make it clear he's likely to get the title, build it up.... then bang.

Finish with Ferrari's fairly callous comment when he heard the news "Goodbye World Championship" and then fade out with the update on Pironi dying in 1987 and how his partner later gave birth to twins, calling them Gilles & Didier.

Maybe we could all chip in and get screenwriting credits

1982, but it would be much too long to cover everything that went on that season, so I'd just focus on Gilles & Didier's stories from that year.

 

Start with Pironi's test crash, mention the strike @ Kyalami.  Spend time on Imola of course, then the tragedy at Zolder.  Move on to Canada & Pironi's pole, only for him to stall and see Paletti die, then go to Hockenheim, make it clear he's likely to get the title, build it up.... then bang.

 

Finish with Ferrari's fairly callous comment when he heard the news "Goodbye World Championship" and then fade out with the update on Pironi dying in 1987 and how his partner later gave birth to twins, calling them Gilles & Didier.

 

Maybe we could all chip in and get screenwriting credits

That does actually sound like it would work yeah, but as a bit of a depressing drama. 

Well, considering films are something, which are meant to be interesting for a wide range of people (not just F1 fans) and certainly Hollywood or someone wouldn't make them if they couldn't make a good very human point to make across. Then I think 1994 and 2007 are good candidates for a film with drama, which can create excitement in non-F1 fanatics too.

2008 and 2009 I feel are not suited as "season-story films" rather than based on one single story there. 2009 - Brawn GP story, 2008 - last race of the year. If you based that on the whole season the point would get lost to be honest and most people wouldn't be interested. I think the same with "2000". It is not 2000, more like Ferrari and Schumacher story from 1996-2000 - "the addition of a superstar to end the 21-year-drought". It has to include previous seasons and that titles in 1997-1999 were all lost in the final race. 2000 in isolation doesn't cut, because the meaning of many previous lost seasons wouldn't come out.

I don't know what else could excite a casual viewer.

Rush and Senna enjoyed such critical success because even the non-racing general public are able to form such deep emotional connections to these characters within a short period of time. Lauda, Hunt and Senna are all such complex and fascinating character studies that the racing is merely the side-story around the incredible journey these drivers take during the duration of the movies.  

I'm not sure it's the season that matters as much as the way the characters are developed.  For anyone who's seen Closer To The Edge, it's not so much the racing that's enjoyable as getting inside the mind of the drivers who are willing to risk it all. 

A movie about 2010 or 2007/8 would be enjoyable to an F1 fan, but the average movie-goer would have very little emotional connection to the drivers.  I personally don't think Hakkinen & Schumacher or Alonso & Hamilton are nearly as interesting character studies; partly because the mindsets are so professional and cold compared to the glory days.  Given that F1 has become so safe and sterile there's less invested by the movie-goer when watching these bomb-shelters on wheels as there is compared to watching the tin-tub chassis of Lauda hurtling through the green hell. 

If anything I'd love a film that tells the life story of a driver from a bygone era reach success.  A movie based on the formation and downfall of Lotus in the 60's could work with the main stars being Colin Chapman & Jim Clark. The excitement of building a new team, tasting victory against the all-powerful factory teams and then the heartbreak, and even guilt, of Chapman following Jim Clark's passing would be fascinating viewing.  There's so many riveting stories from the old days of road racing and early circuit racing it's a shame that these stories have been all but forgotten about.

Edited by Snic, 15 September 2013 - 15:23.

2007 or 1988. Thats pretty much all I can think of that would make a good story line for both on and off track action.

Well, considering films are something, which are meant to be interesting for a wide range of people (not just F1 fans) and certainly Hollywood or someone wouldn't make them if they couldn't make a good very human point to make across. Then I think 1994 and 2007 are good candidates for a film with drama, which can create excitement in non-F1 fanatics too.

+ 1 since it's easier than writing the same opinion again.But if i had to pick one it would be 1994.

Edited by Diablobb81, 15 September 2013 - 15:29.

My candidates:

1951 - shifting of the old order, first Ferrari WC victories, last race decision

1958 - Hawthorn wins the WDC in the doom and gloom of both of his teammates being killed on track

1963 - Lotus and Clark's coming of age

1970 - story about the only posthumuos WDC

1978 - how Sweden lost both of their top drivers in a month or so

1982 - triumph against the odds and a lot of tragedy

1990 - a climax of a three year rivalry

1994 - for all the wrong reasons but anyway

1996 - the first "2nd generation" WDC winner, from zero to hero!

2000 - very important for us Ferrari fans

IMHO, 2007 is not a good candidate because I think we would never know what really happened behind the scenes. It may be done as a speculation, though, but I think that it is a season that best be forgotten completely.

Edited by mzvztag, 15 September 2013 - 15:44.

1970. This was when the drivers, led by Jackie Stewart were pushing for safety, and this was the season in which Stewart lost two of his closest friends, Piers Courage and Jochen Rindt. The fact that Rindt became posthumous World Champion only adds to the drama.

One could center it more on the Rindt/Chapman relationship over 69/70, start it with the Barcelona 1969 crash and Rindt's open letter to Colin about how he put the lives of his drivers in danger - yet he stays at Lotus because they can give him a championship winning car.

 

IMHO, 2007 is not a good candidate because I think we would never know what really happened behind the scenes. It may be done as a speculation, though, but I think that it is a season that best be forgotten completely.

I think we know quite a lot - but your second sentence gives away that you're simply not interested.

1982

1988-1989-1990

1994

2007

2010

I think we know quite a lot - but your second sentence gives away that you're simply not interested.

Edited by mzvztag, 15 September 2013 - 15:53.

2009, not for its intense championship battle, but more because of the Brawn GP story. Coming from near bankrupcy after their manufacturer retires, to winning the championship in dominant style.

2009 would be a great choice, like you say, true underdog story and they could really go to town with 'Jenson feeling the pressure' and all that jazz. Because of the Mercedes buyout, Norbert Haug would appear and that means his lookalike could play him.

(He's a lucky omen too, as he's appeared in the last two films to win the Best Picture at the Oscars,The Artist and Argo, so that means the 2009 film is a shoo-in for an Oscar  )

Yes, I forgot 2009! That would make a nice story as well.

1984 as a sequel to Rush and also to introduce Prost and Senna. And then a movie to cover their 88, 89 and 90 seasons.

Edited by Atreiu, 16 September 2013 - 14:30.

I think 1999 would be a great candidate, with Schumacher getting injured in the middle of the season, therefore making things easier for Hakkinen, Irvine taking over the championship bid, and Frentzen also in the mix. 1994, obviously, would be another great choice, with Hill emerging as Williams' leader and Benetton's cheating allegations. In fact, the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix could probably be made into a movie on its own.

1999 was my first thought too... I haven't seen all that many seasons yet, but this one is the one that was in my mind

However I think you don't necessarily need to make a movie just about a season... I think taking the persons in the center of the movie is more intresting entertainment wise than the movie...

The constellation of drivers we have now I think you could make a movie about Seb, because he polarizes that much and characters like that are intresting for movies. The same can bei said about Alonso and Hamilton too.

Putting the characters in the center of the story is I think the essence for a good movie, then a story needs Drama. Drama could be with Seb the rivalry to Webber/Alonso, Malaysia 2013 and the fact that he is booed, and since a movie is creative, they could build up on how he would feel, maybe exaggarating, since movies don't always have to be 100% correct. With Alonso the Drama could be Crashgate & fighting with Ferrari to get championship again, but failing while a younger driver is being even more sucessful than him and taking away all his records.

With Lewis Hamilton they could concentrate on his personal life and how it influences his racing.

Like I said movies don't have to be 100% accurate. That is just my idea to it. A good movie dramatizes things or puts the drama into an intresting light.

If we are talking about a documentary, then it is more about facts, but I am talking about a movie now...

But yeah seasonwise I of the ones I seen 1999 would be the intresting one !

Edited by Sin, 15 September 2013 - 16:08.

We do know quite a lot but we miss the crucial part. What Max and Bernie talked with McLaren (and probably Ferrari) bosses behind closed doors will probably remain a secret forever. And there is no doubt that they talked.

That's not essential for the story itself. E.g. Pedro's e-mails and the records of the september 13 hearing in Paris are clear enough. Plus the whole day-to-day development of the saga, Maybe you don't like the fact that it happened or its outcome, but that's another thing.

Edited by scheivlak, 15 September 2013 - 16:10.

And 1984, obviously, as a sequel to 1977.

The only problem would be Prost and Lauda's complete lack of animosity!

Get Ron Howard and Peter Morgan involved, and they can invent some.

I would not want anything from the past 20 years. Not because there weren't great and exciting seasons, but they are too recent history. I'd rather watch something from the old days of F1 - something from the 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s.

...I assume NotAPineapple you meant 1994? Because I did watch 2004 and I remember only a certain German dominating...  ...

Ahhh ffs yea, nearly 20 years ago now... makes me feel old

i'd add to 2000. Actually that season stands out for me.

Call it Redbull domination and focus mainly on Seb.  And follow the 2010 season until now.  The company that invested in it would go broke.. and the amount of hate it'd get on the forums..

I think old seasons would make for a better film than new ones. And focus on someone like Colin Chapman, Jim Clark, Cevert, Rindt and so on would make interesting movies. And later in the 70s or a season like 1982 or 1986. Depends on the script and what effort goes into the movie. It could be great movies or terrible movies depending on what they make. It will be interesting to see Rush. Still waiting.

I think a good movie should be based on a rivalry or something controversial. Thats why I think a movie on Senna v Prost or Schumacher v Hakkinen would be good.

Maybe you could do an 05 and 06 movie. It briefly summarises 2000-2004. Then shows how Alonso takes the reins in 2005 and then the championship battle in 2006. I know this one is a long shot because I would prefer a Hakkinen v Schumacher or Senna v Prost movie.

If not any of these it should be something historical. LIke Chapman , Fangio , Clarke or Gilles Villeneuve.

I think we should differentiate on what is better served as a film and what is better served as a documentary. Some seasons may have been exciting, but if you try to put too many things into it it would get lost as a film. 1982 is a good example. So many things happened. It would be a good documentary. But if you made it as a film, then you'd need to concentrate on one aspect. Like "The Ferrari tragedy" - they lost both drivers and only as a mere consolation prize won WCC. In this scenario Rosberg driving heroics and WDC have to be left to the background. If you want a story about Rosberg coming to Williams from nowhere and winning, then you would need another script.

Edited by sopa, 15 September 2013 - 18:18.

2007 perhaps although the climax isn't quite dramatic enough, no late last second twist. 2008 has that but lacks any relevant off track intrigue since crash gate was nothing to do with the title contenders. Think you'll struggle to find a better season than 1976 to be honest.

I think we should differentiate on what is better served as a film and what is better served as a documentary. Some seasons may have been exciting, but if you try to put too many things into it it would get lost as a film. 1982 is a good example. So many things happened. It would be a good documentary. But if you made it as a film, then you'd need to concentrate on one aspect. Like "The Ferrari tragedy" - they lost both drivers and only as a mere consolation prize won WCC. In this scenario Rosberg driving heroics and WDC have to be left to the background. If you want a story about Rosberg coming to Williams from nowhere and winning, then you would need another script.

Yes, you summarized my main point very well.  Like plenty have mentioned 2008, but I think it doesn't have much of a linear storyline to the season itself. Whereas 2009 was far more boring as a season, but had a beautiful set-up in the form of Brawn GP which continued throughout the season.

As a side note, how about giving interesting titles to the movies? Calling 2009 'Brawn' would be really boring. Any ideas?

Yes, you summarized my main point very well.  Like plenty have mentioned 2008, but I think it doesn't have much of a linear storyline to the season itself. Whereas 2009 was far more boring as a season, but had a beautiful set-up in the form of Brawn GP which continued throughout the season.

 

As a side note, how about giving interesting titles to the movies? Calling 2009 'Brawn' would be really boring. Any ideas?

How about "Holy F-ing **** I Wish Barrichello Would Have Won the Title After So Many Year's as Schumi's Doormat and I'm Pissed Beyond Belief That Jenson Button Won it Instead"?

Edited by Andrew Hope, 15 September 2013 - 18:46.

Call it Redbull domination and focus mainly on Seb.  And follow the 2010 season until now.  The company that invested in it would go broke.. and the amount of hate it'd get on the forums..

Yeah. Makes you wonder if anything could be based around Vettel's dominance. Only thing that comes to mind is "Unbeatable super-kid, who won against odds in both 2010 and 2012." But some twists are missing. The whole story is like kicking the ball into one goal.

"Of Bulls and Horses" for 2010 and 2012

Yes, you summarized my main point very well.  Like plenty have mentioned 2008, but I think it doesn't have much of a linear storyline to the season itself. Whereas 2009 was far more boring as a season, but had a beautiful set-up in the form of Brawn GP which continued throughout the season.

 

As a side note, how about giving interesting titles to the movies? Calling 2009 'Brawn' would be really boring. Any ideas?

"From Zero to Hero" is the best I can think of for Brawn.

Because they were really literally Zero and laughed at every aspect. Big-budgeted Honda a backmarker for two years, Barrichello horribly past his prime and Button's time over as well - left behind the newer generation (Hamilton and Co).