78 replies to this topic

[undersquare]

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.

Yeah I think this is how I feel.  If actual events are the story then it's a documentary, it just needs editing and a narrator.  

 

If it's a story then it needs NOT to be not-quite-true / misleading but rather an original creative work by a storyteller.

 

I was completely disappointed by "Senna", because I'd seen it all at the time and the 'story' was too selective trying to serve the dramatic agenda.

[Afterburner]

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.

Er, it's actually not that hard. See 2010--he had just been runner-up in '09, and started 2010 with two great races that ended in mech problems. Then there's Turkey, Britain, conflict with Webber and the team, and pressure from being lambasted by critics and the media for being a 'crash-kid' in the midst of Hockenheim's team-orders fiasco. Turning point of the film comes after Belgium, when his rivals start losing their heads while he finds his own--just in time to lose his engine in Korea.

Obviously it has a happy ending because he bounces back to win. His clashes with Webber paint him as a flawed hero, while Ferrari and Alonso become the 'villains' simply by virtue of Hockenheim--probably the only issue with the film because many wouldn't appreciate that.

Would be better years from now than now, though. 2010 was a great season.

[garoidb]

1984, but starting at the end of 1983 as Lauda and Watson test and debut the new McLaren turbo and Prost gets himself into trouble at Renault, then loses the WDC. It could be a sequel to Rush, another Lauda storyline where he is pitched against a younger, faster team-mate, and having a dramatic finale. The emergence of Senna at Monaco could be covered, if not too much of a deviation from the main plot. 

[Jackmancer]

Not one season, but I'd like to see a documentairy/film of Schumacher rebuilding Ferrari - seasons 1996-2000

[KavB]

2007 would be a great story. It had spygate and the huge Alonso vs McLaren/Hamilton story. It had a fairy tale ending in which they both drew level on points and the underdog won. Of course, i2008 has the best ending for a film. Though if we were to see that in a film, I'm sure most people would feel like it was an unbelievable and cheesy ending!

[sopa]

Er, it's actually not that hard. See 2010--he had just been runner-up in '09, and started 2010 with two great races that ended in mech problems. Then there's Turkey, Britain, conflict with Webber and the team, and pressure from being lambasted by critics and the media for being a 'crash-kid' in the midst of Hockenheim's team-orders fiasco. Turning point of the film comes after Belgium, when his rivals start losing their heads while he finds his own--just in time to lose his engine in Korea.

Obviously it has a happy ending because he bounces back to win. His clashes with Webber paint him as a flawed hero, while Ferrari and Alonso become the 'villains' simply by virtue of Hockenheim--probably the only issue with the film because many wouldn't appreciate that.

Would be better years from now than now, though. 2010 was a great season.

 

Yeah, Vettel for 2009-2010 can be done. The question is what to do with years beyond it, if anything at all.

 

Or just an ending remark: "And since then - he went on to win everything."

Edited by sopa, 15 September 2013 - 19:36.

[Kingshark]

The 2012 season could make a really good tragedy, only if we make Fernando the hero and protagonist. 

[Lucass]

1994  How Michael Schumacher became champion despite everything FIA threw at him 2 disqualifications, suspended for 2 races and then the dramatic finish with Michael and Damon hitting eachother.

Won't be a box office hit in the UK though

 

2000  Finally Ferrari would be a bit one-sided though

 

2007  Spygate, the battle inside McLaren and the happy end when the good guy(s) win

 

2008  Not really, a thrilling finish in the last race but the rest of the season was mediocre. Massa vs Hamilton ffs

 

2009  Brawn from rags to riches has potential but the latter half of the season wasn't so great

 

2010  Thrilling but only from a racing point of view

 

2014  Has the potential to be epic if Ferrari field a good car. Alonso vs Raikonnen yeah

[scheivlak]

 

 

2009  Brawn from rags to riches has potential but the latter half of the season wasn't so great

 

 

That's why the story should start halfway 2008 (or maybe september 2008 switching between Wall Street and Honda HQ) - and everything after the podium celebrations at Melbourne or ultimately Monaco can be wrapped up in some final shots.

 

Unless of course, you focus on the Button/Barrichello story....

[William Hunt]

1958

1959

1961

1964

1970

1974

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1986

1994

[bourbon]

2010 was awesome for a movie.  5 challengers, each with his own storyline that played into the storylines of others; Germany, Turkey, Monza, Singapore, Korea, Canada, Brazil, Valencia and of course, Abu Dhabi were all crucial for one or more of the contenders.  Schumi returned, Alonso replaced Kimi, Mercedes arrived, RBR went on to be the fastest, but least reliable contender, the lead changed hands many times (but never to the ultimate winner) and the ultimate winner was a comeback from 3rd.

 

You can't write that stuff. 

 

I think outcomes affect hindsight judgment - but it was the closest, most electric season for all of the top contenders and fans responded accordingly. 

 

Of course movies always exaggerate, embellish and add stuff to make it 'moviegoer friendly', so we wouldn't likely recognize it when they were finished anyway, lol.

[tommi34]

There is many but I really hope that Rush is a big success so we could get something similar in the future...

 

Though after seeing Rush I have to say I would love to see a huge tv series production about F1... 1976 would be good I guess, but it could actually be any other season aswell. Based on some real season preferably but could enjoy 100% fictional series aswell for sure.

[scheivlak]

2010 was awesome for a movie.  5 challengers, each with his own storyline that played into the storylines of others; Germany, Turkey, Monza, Singapore, Korea, Canada, Brazil, Valencia and of course, Abu Dhabi were all crucial for one or more of the contenders.  Schumi returned, Alonso replaced Kimi, Mercedes arrived, RBR went on to be the fastest, but least reliable contender, the lead changed hands many times (but never to the ultimate winner) and the ultimate winner was a comeback from 3rd.

 

You can't write that stuff. 

 

I think outcomes affect hindsight judgment - but it was the closest, most electric season for all of the top contenders and fans responded accordingly. 

 

Of course movies always exaggerate, embellish and add stuff to make it 'moviegoer friendly', so we wouldn't likely recognize it when they were finished anyway, lol.

Still more excellent documentary stuff to me, but I think the calling the Senna documentary a 'movie' has led to a lot of confusion.

 

Someone mentioned 1958 BTW - now there are some movie storylines in that.....

Hawthorn/Collins,Moss/Hawthorn, the story of Stuart Lewis-Evans, that strange tiny little Cooper, the Vanwall saga and its dramatic and abrupt ending....... not to mention Bernie Ecclestone trying to qualify for the Monaco GP and making a career choice in another direction after that.

Edited by scheivlak, 15 September 2013 - 22:41.

[Realyn]

1982
1986
1988
1994
1999
2003 (if Kimi had won it)
2007
2008
2010
2012 (if Fernando had won it)

 

So the movie would only be worth it if the last race would have ended different with your Ferrari driver winning? What a logic ... You might want to check the OP again.

[ryan86]

I'm not sure that some of the seasons that were exciting to watch in real time necessarily make good films. For instance 2010 was a crazy season, with the consantly changing lead etc and a 4-way of finale, but I'm not sure there's an actual story to tell there.

 

It's like someone wins the Champions League every year, but someone has to win it. All will have a few interesting stories, but Manchester rebuilding after Munich 10 years before makes a more intriguing story than their other 2 triumphs, even though the other 2 matches had high drama.

 

I do agree that the Road to the Grid story with Brawn could work. But I have a feeling we're moving into Odyssey Real Life Stories with an afternoon slot rather than cinema blockbuster..

[Joe Tanto]

Why not a completely fictional F1 driver from Britain.

A rebellious hard living factory worker, no money, scrapes everything together to start racing, crashes and suffers a life threatening injury, comes back through adversity, marries his childhood sweetheart, gets picked up by a leading F1 team owner, and despite the ridicule from the no-nothing F1 snobs, steadily wins over the great unwashed British motorsport fans to become a hero the likes of whom never seen before or since *.

Finally having the car that matched his prowess, challenges his nemesis up to the final race but cruelly denied the World Championship by a tyre failure whilst millions stay awake through the night to watch it all unfold on the other side of the world in Australia.  

Keeping faith with his team despite losing support from a mystical Japanese engine supplier and having to battle with a car powered by something built in a shed for a couple of seasons, before receiving the phone call from Enzo Ferrari to follow the Italian dream. 

Make a dream debut winning the first race, then plagued by mechanical problems watch helplessly as a political nemesis is hired by the Scuderia which results in walking away from F1 in disgust.

Then comes 1991 a new druid with supernatural powers, known to humans as Adrian Newey  conjures  a machine utilising reverse-engineered alien technology for our hero to drive. For the first time he has a car worthy of his prowess, as the season progresses it just gets better and better. 

Then comes 1992.

Game Over.

All challengers, even the demi-God son of Brazilian tractor manufacturing is crushed.

The F1 World Championship AT LAST !!! 

Then unbelievably his team decides not to pay him his true value for the following year 1993 and our hero finds a new challenge across the Atlantic ocean IN AMERICA.

With weekly updates from John Leslie on Blue Peter  could it really be so our hero is breaking lap records at these new fangled speedway ovals in the new world. Indeed it is so, and in 1993 the Indycar Championship is conquered.

Along the way we suffer life threatening punches into concrete walls and the ultimate danger of a woman driver preventing a win at the ultimate challenge, the Indy 500.

Before we reach the end of our tale we see a return to F1 in 1994 with a win in Australia. 

Not done yet we see our hero race in British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park and after being punted into Starkeys Bridge by a failed former  F1 driver Tv celebrity**, be carried off on a stretcher to hospital.

Cue to present day when our hero regulary fulfils the role of FIA Steward, but still has yet to be recognised by her Majesty with title Sir.

Guess Mr Stewart knows the inside line on that circuit.

 

Quick call Ron Howard, no, then again don't bother, he wouldn't believe it.

 

*Lewis you're pretty close.

 

**No offence Tiff, love you really.    

Edited by Joe Tanto, 16 September 2013 - 02:18.

[Kingshark]

So the movie would only be worth it if the last race would have ended different with your Ferrari driver winning? What a logic ... You might want to check the OP again.

 

Raikkonen was not a Ferrari driver in 2003, and although I cheered for Michael at the time, in hindsight I can probably admit that Kimi was the more deserving champion that year. Touche 2012. I think that 2003 and 2012 would be a better movie if Kimi/Fernando had won those seasons, not because they were Ferrari drivers, but because the story in general would have been better. In most movies, the protagonist is generally an underdog who defies the odds. 

 

If I could not change anything about the season itself; 1986, 1994, 2007, 2008, or 2010 would probably make the best movies.

[ensign14]

1958.  It would have a great contrast in leading characters.  Plus a Patroklean pathos in the middle and a Sarti-esque climax.  Only lacks an international flavour.  Perhaps Maurice Trintignant could be portrayed au Maurice Chevalier or something.

[HopkinsonF1]

The only one of these that I can see working as a movie is '82, and a fairly grim movie that would be. Sure, a lot of seasons have been interesting from a racing perspective, but in terms of sheer human interest most of them would fall flat. 82 had a huge amount of human interest, but as others have noted it would make for a pretty depressing film. 

[Der Pate]

1982 was my first season I watched as a whole. And how fascinating it was!

 

Comeback of Niki Lauda (winning the third GP after his comeback)

Drivers-strike at Kyalami with high-paid drivers lying in one big room on the floor sleeping

The Pironi-Villeneuve-fight at Imola (and the following tragedy at Zolder)

Pironi the future-WC, but stopped by a frightened accident at Hockenheim

Fatal accident of Riccardo Paletti at Montreal

Brabham-BMW shows the first pitstops with refuelling

Keke Rosberg comes as complete nobody to Williams and wins the championship by winning only one GP

 

Did I forget something?

[tomboyracer]

1968 would make a pretty cool movie; Hill and Lotus rallying round after Clark's death and winning the championship.

[F1ultimate]

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

 

Shame on your for not mentioning Max Mosley's spankgate. 

[Kobasmashi]

1982 was a microcosm of its era, and also marked the end of it (only 1 fatality between and incl. 83 and 93). Big personalities, big danger, technical innovation, politics tragedy and an underdog champion!

[karne]

Webber.

 

The desperate early days, halfway around the world from his family, scrimping and scaping to drive in Formula Ford.

The side-trip into a Mercedes sportscar, only to somersault twice at the most famous circuit in the world.

The dream Formula 1 debut, fifth in front of his home crowd.

The struggling years of Minardi and Jaguar, fighting, dragging a car places it had no right to be, earning his place in F1.

The agonising decision between Williams and Renault.

The terrible first season with Williams and the car that barely worked, but with his first podium.

The even more horrible second season with Williams and the engine that goes pop every race.

The search for a new team - and the risk of a young energy drink team...

Fuji 2007 - a great, gritty drive with food poisoning, vomiting in his helmet, lined up to win, and all snatched away because of two idiots' incompetence...

2008...a not so great car, and then, bam, that broken leg!

2009 - getting a better car, but fighting through pain and limping through the season with a leg barely healing, against a new teammate

The magical first win, the moment he thought would never come

Then, 2010 - Monaco! and the championship challenge; a team arrayed against him, a teammate who throws tantrums whenever he is beaten...

 

It doesn't have the happy ending it truly deserves, but it would be one amazing story.

[Schumacher7]

2007, focus on the rivalry between Hamilton and Alonso and then have the final twist with neither winning the championship.

[Craven Morehead]

Yup, without a shadow of doubt 1982. It would make for an immensely compelling story and it would add to the Ferrari myth.

Agreed. 1982 was the first season I thought of when I read the thread title.

[Craven Morehead]

1982 was my first season I watched as a whole. And how fascinating it was!

 

Comeback of Niki Lauda (winning the third GP after his comeback)

Drivers-strike at Kyalami with high-paid drivers lying in one big room on the floor sleeping

The Pironi-Villeneuve-fight at Imola (and the following tragedy at Zolder)

Pironi the future-WC, but stopped by a frightened accident at Hockenheim

Fatal accident of Riccardo Paletti at Montreal

Brabham-BMW shows the first pitstops with refuelling

Keke Rosberg comes as complete nobody to Williams and wins the championship by winning only one GP

 

Did I forget something?

Mario comes back & puts the Ferrari on pole @ Monza.

[Atreiu]

2007 would only be worth a movie if we had enough facts about:

- the flow of information between Ferrari and McLaren and the subsequent trial;

- what exactly was writen in Alonso's and Hamilton's contracts regarding their status and how team and drivers did, or not, meet what was writen;

- who was played in the press and how.

Edited by Atreiu, 16 September 2013 - 16:29.

[scheivlak]

1982 was my first season I watched as a whole. And how fascinating it was!

 

Comeback of Niki Lauda (winning the third GP after his comeback)

Drivers-strike at Kyalami with high-paid drivers lying in one big room on the floor sleeping

The Pironi-Villeneuve-fight at Imola (and the following tragedy at Zolder)

Pironi the future-WC, but stopped by a frightened accident at Hockenheim

Fatal accident of Riccardo Paletti at Montreal

Brabham-BMW shows the first pitstops with refuelling

Keke Rosberg comes as complete nobody to Williams and wins the championship by winning only one GP

 

Did I forget something?

DQ's after Brazil and Long Beach

The Imola boycot

Craziest race finish ever in Monaco

Piquet boxing in Hockenheim

Tension about team orders at Renault

Near dead heat finish in Austria

11 different winners