83 replies to this topic

[ch103]

There are a few good movies that I know of when it comes to F1 racing.  Titles such as, "Grand Prix", "Senna" and most recently "Rush" have provided great entertainment for racing fans.  I feel as though there could be an abundance of other movies. Here are some drivers/stories that I think would make great movies.  Feel free to add to this list with any driver you feel could have a great movie made after them. 

 

Graham Hill - THE Master of Monaco.  A movie that would showcase the time period he lived in, the city of Monaco and all of his other triumphs would make for a great movie.  I've always thought Graham should have had a movie about him for some time.

 

Jim Clark - I wish I could have seen the man race in real life.  Heard he lived a rock star lifestyle so it would be great to see a movie about him.

 

Sir Jackie Stewart - The man's career speaks for itself.  His story would be filled with heartbreak and despair due to the era in which he raced.  

 

Alex Zanardi - The charismatic Italian is the definition of resilience and optimism.  Got into the Williams one year too late before returning to the States and experiencing tragedy.  This would be the best story of all, imo. 

 

I feel like grand prix racing could experience success at the theaters much like the Marvel series.  Racings got it all - speed, technology, wealth and "glamorous ladies":)  Just get some A List actors and directors who are racing people.

 

 

Mods - please merge if there is already a thread for this.  I searched and could not locate one.

[hittheapex]

If done properly, I think a movie about Brian Redman's life would be good too. Only thing is finding somebody for the role...

[ViMaMo]

Grand Prix is a mediocre movie if you consider the hype. Rush was far better.

[HoldenRT]

I wanna see a movie about Webber.  Everyone would walk out the cinema depressed and wondering why they bothered to go, but it'd still be interesting to see. 

 

Then again, Senna had a depressing ending too.

 

A movie about Schumacher would be good but doubt it'd be happening anytime soon.  He never really had any great rivalries, except maybe Mika.

 

Rush is hard to beat.  Separate from the rivalry and storyline, a movie about modern F1 (in general) would be good.  Just to be able to compare the behind the scenes stuff vs the "vintage" eras that everyone love so much.

[Nemo1965]

Jim Clark - I wish I could have seen the man race in real life.  Heard he lived a rock star lifestyle so it would be great to see a movie about him.

 

 

As far as I know, Clark only started to enjoy a more glamourous lifestyle (including having a pied-a-terre in Paris) towards the end of his life. He split with Sally Stokes (correct?), and entertained a lot of ladies in Paris... but in essence he stayed the Border Reiver-sheepman all his life. It is true though, that towards the end he started to realise that Chapman was not really paying him what he was worth...

 

PS: IMHO the movie Rush was excellent when Daniel Bruhl was alone in the picture, awfull when mr. Hemsworth or whatever his name was appeared as James Hunt. And the racing-scenes... pfffft. Oh, he is going to overtake someone. He changed gear, floors the throttle and vroooooooom there he overtakes!

[BlackCat]

Alfonso de Portago, Achille Varzi.

 

Last 20 years or so have been quite boring in F1, giving material mostly for comedies.

 

Grand Prix got me hooked in '68 or so, watching it the third time I noticed there was some plot also, not just racing...

Rush the movie was worse than the book - making Superrat a hero when my hero was always Hunt.

[Spillage]

Grand Prix is a classic, won't hear a bad word about it! Rush was good, Senna a bit of a hagiography. But it is the documentary format which I think suits the sport best - I love Weekend Of A Champion, about Jackie Stewart's quest to win in Monaco in 1971. Has some wonderful behind-the-scenes footage. Perhaps that's me as the motor racing nerd talking, but I'd love to see more stuff like that, or Alonso's documentary about his last weekend with Ferrari.

 

I think Stewart's would make a particularly good story for cinema - danger, triumph and tragedy as he tries to use his status as the best driver in the world to force through changes in safety against significant opposition.

[Loops]

I thought Rush was terrible. I bought into the accolades and watched it, only to be disappointed. The actor who played Niki was good, but the storytelling poor.

 

There will be a movie involving Hamilton at some point. So much happens to him, there's an abundance of material.

 

For non-drivers, I think something about Toto could be done. Wife in F1, manages a team with two embattled drivers.

 

For a team, Ferrari. Could pick anything from their history. More recently, there's Arrivabene coming in, everyone getting sacked. If they go on to beat the Mercs, that will be the pay off.

[Collombin]

Graham Hill - THE Master of Monaco.

Meh. If you say so.
 
 

Grand Prix is a classic, won't hear a bad word about it! Rush was good, Senna a bit of a hagiography. But it is the documentary format which I think suits the sport best

Spot on.

In answer to the OP, for movie treatment I wouldn't mind seeing films about Hawthorn, Rindt or Pironi, although I hardly think they would appeal to the masses.

Edited by E.B., 30 May 2015 - 16:34.

[Myrvold]

Alex Zanardi - The charismatic Italian is the definition of resilience and optimism.  Got into the Williams one year too late before returning to the States and experiencing tragedy.  This would be the best story of all, imo. 

This will probably become a movie, however, with more focus on the accident, then his time after the accident, and toward an Olympic gold medal. I find it amazing to think that he is an "f1 reject"!

 

If done properly, I think a movie about Brian Redman's life would be good too. Only thing is finding somebody for the role...

 

Colin Hanks? I mean... based on the wikipedia picture ^^

 

For non-drivers, I think something about Toto could be done. Wife in F1, manages a team with two embattled drivers.

 

Not to mention being the manager of another driver, in a team he had ownership in, while being employed by another team!

[Ross Stonefeld]

Rush was terrible. It was Driven but based on a true story. You'd really only watch Grand Prix because it's F1, though it's about what the average movie was like back then. But it's totally worth watching for the onboard scenes, race fan or not.

Edited by Ross Stonefeld, 30 May 2015 - 16:41.

[ch103]

As far as I know, Clark only started to enjoy a more glamourous lifestyle (including having a pied-a-terre in Paris) towards the end of his life. He split with Sally Stokes (correct?), and entertained a lot of ladies in Paris... but in essence he stayed the Border Reiver-sheepman all his life. It is true though, that towards the end he started to realise that Chapman was not really paying him what he was worth...

 

PS: IMHO the movie Rush was excellent when Daniel Bruhl was alone in the picture, awfull when mr. Hemsworth or whatever his name was appeared as James Hunt. And the racing-scenes... pfffft. Oh, he is going to overtake someone. He changed gear, floors the throttle and vroooooooom there he overtakes!

 

This is exactly what I am talking about.  The man's life would make a scintillating film.  Race cars, the culture of the era, its all there.

[ch103]

This will probably become a movie, however, with more focus on the accident, then his time after the accident, and toward an Olympic gold medal. I find it amazing to think that he is an "f1 reject"!

 

 

Colin Hanks? I mean... based on the wikipedia picture ^^

 

 

Not to mention being the manager of another driver, in a team he had ownership in, while being employed by another team!

 

I don't consider Zanardi an F1 reject at all.  The man is a champion.

Edited by ch103, 30 May 2015 - 17:08.

[ch103]

I wanna see a movie about Webber.  Everyone would walk out the cinema depressed and wondering why they bothered to go, but it'd still be interesting to see. 

 

Then again, Senna had a depressing ending too.

 

A movie about Schumacher would be good but doubt it'd be happening anytime soon.  He never really had any great rivalries, except maybe Mika.

 

Rush is hard to beat.  Separate from the rivalry and storyline, a movie about modern F1 (in general) would be good.  Just to be able to compare the behind the scenes stuff vs the "vintage" eras that everyone love so much.

 

The "in car" scenes would be awesome considering cars like the Lotus' that Clark, Andretti and Fittipaldi drove.    Webber's movie would be an incredible tale, especially if he can narrate it from an autobiography point of view.

[ch103]

Meh. If you say so.
 
 

Spot on.

In answer to the OP, for movie treatment I wouldn't mind seeing films about Hawthorn, Rindt or Pironi, although I hardly think they would appeal to the masses.

 

Hawthorn, Rindt and Pironi - it all depends on how the directors and actors implement the story.  Each driver you mentioned would be great candidates.

[ch103]

I would have suggested Bernie Eccelstone, but I don't think anyone would watch a movie that is full of lies:)

[Loops]

Bernie would be interesting, it may even happen one day. He's been a constant for so long, you'd have appearances from many people in F1. From the racing to the politics, all areas of F1 would be covered, across different eras. If done right, it could be epic.

[Gilles4Ever]

Bernie would be interesting, it may even happen one day. He's been a constant for so long, you'd have appearances from many people in F1. From the racing to the politics, all areas of F1 would be covered, across different eras. If done right, it could be epic.

Now that would be a film about f1 I would love to see. As you said though "If done right".

[blackmme]

A movie based on the events of San Marino through to Hockenheim 82 would have a very strong story to build on although of course tragic.

Regards Mike

[uffen]

Rush was terrible. It was Driven but based on a true story. You'd really only watch Grand Prix because it's F1, though it's about what the average movie was like back then. But it's totally worth watching for the onboard scenes, race fan or not.

Yes, Grand Prix was a love letter to the sport - the camera lingered on the details and let us absorb what was happening (speaking of race scenes). The editing on Rush (again, speaking of the race scenes) was so quick and choppy that one could barely discern what was what.

[Marklar]

 
There will be a movie involving Hamilton at some point. So much happens to him, there's an abundance of material.
 

Something like that? 😆

https://www.reddit.c...on_documentary/

[Myrvold]

I don't consider Zanardi an F1 reject at all.  The man is a champion.

Was more going off the terms from the f1rejects... uhm, gprejects website ;)

[Ensign]

A movie based on this book would be interesting:

 

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/1859606636

 

Piers Courage had a fascinating life.

Edited by Ensign, 30 May 2015 - 19:11.

[SophieB]

Hawthorn, Rindt and Pironi - it all depends on how the directors and actors implement the story.  

 

Well, that's at the heart of every film that uses real events. There's an important difference between a film's plot (the stuff that happens) - and the film's story (the themes explored, what the film's about). For example, Grand Prix has the plot of a series of races around the world but the film uses that to explore themes like the limits and costs of personal ambition and determination, what it means to be a winner, and so on.

 

Films based on real events do the same so even a film like Senna created a sense of a character and a story.  So the plot was the last 10 years of Ayrton Senna's racing life but the story and themes were telling a story about  stuff like whether it's better to just be yourself and go all out or whether it's more sensible to form alliances behind the scenes and get ahead that way. What are the costs of each? And what are the limits of each path?

 

(I should stress that just for the purposes of this post, I'm just illustrating what I think the film makers were looking to do, so it's not relevant what 'really' happened in this context, so please don't rush to tell me how Alain Prost was screwed over by the producers or whatever.)

 

So anyway, if I was making a film I'd either make one about the events of 2007 or the 2009 season. For instance, the film about the 2007 season would be about what happens when you get very strongwilled people with their own individual plans all carefully mapped out and what happens when those clash. You could have a film exploring can you ever see what's coming in life. Is it down to just not seeing all the clues? Or is there such a thing as chaos which just makes a fool of destiny from time to time. Add in characters like Alonso, Hamilton, Dennis, Briatore and Mosley and that's a film I'd want to see. But the point is, you could use the same rough set of events to tell some very different films.

[garagetinkerer]

A movie you say? As proposed, when done right a Bernie would be top of my list.

 

Erm, There's a story about Gilles Villeneuve where he drove from Monaco to somewhere or to Monaco from somewhere, with i think it was Jody Schekter. He did so in some time... The latter's head was spinning, then there's Pironi... but again, it has to be done right.

 

I wouldn't mind watching one on Nuvolari as well.

http://en.wikipedia..../Tazio_Nuvolari

[Lotus53B]

I do wish folk would stop mentioning the film Grand Prix - I love it, and need very little encouragement to watch it again.

I'd like to see a film about Jackie Stewart - although it would have have to be an epic his career was so long, and had so many facets.

[Nemo1965]

Well, that's at the heart of every film that uses real events. There's an important difference between a film's plot (the stuff that happens) - and the film's story (the themes explored, what the film's about). For example, Grand Prix has the plot of a series of races around the world but the film uses that to explore themes like the limits and costs of personal ambition and determination, what it means to be a winner, and so on.

 

Films based on real events do the same so even a film like Senna created a sense of a character and a story.  So the plot was the last 10 years of Ayrton Senna's racing life but the story and themes were telling a story about  stuff like whether it's better to just be yourself and go all out or whether it's more sensible to form alliances behind the scenes and get ahead that way. What are the costs of each? And what are the limits of each path?

 

(I should stress that just for the purposes of this post, I'm just illustrating what I think the film makers were looking to do, so it's not relevant what 'really' happened in this context, so please don't rush to tell me how Alain Prost was screwed over by the producers or whatever.)

 

So anyway, if I was making a film I'd either make one about the events of 2007 or the 2009 season. For instance, the film about the 2007 season would be about what happens when you get very strongwilled people with their own individual plans all carefully mapped out and what happens when those clash. You could have a film exploring can you ever see what's coming in life. Is it down to just not seeing all the clues? Or is there such a thing as chaos which just makes a fool of destiny from time to time. Add in characters like Alonso, Hamilton, Dennis, Briatore and Mosley and that's a film I'd want to see. But the point is, you could use the same rough set of events to tell some very different films.

 

Interesting remark about which I would like to add a little something. With a film like Rush it is sort of understood or accepted that the 'true story' has to be shaped in a certain narrative which does not have to be TRUE but tries to be true to the real story... The problem for me arises with fictional movies like JFK, that carry with a certain 'I will tell the truth, wake up America', and in the same vain documentaries like Fahrenheit 9/11. I could certainly enjoy a movie (documentary or not) that takes a certain liberty with the facts in order to tell a better story. But for me the possible enjoyment would be destroyed immediately when that liberty goes too far. For example: if a movie about Hamilton would heighten the plot by making him a boy from the slums or a victim of blatant racism in the racing world or something. That was the same problem I had with the Senna-film: it had a certain narrative (about Prost) which I could not stomach, even if it had been a Hollywood-production.

[karl100589]

Aside from those already mentioned I think something about Helle Nice would be great:

- Raced in the 1920s where female equality was still being thought for
-High profile affairs with some of the most powerful men in France, including Count Bruno d'Harcourt
- Survived a near fatal crash after being flung from her car and having a soldier absorb the impact
- Accused of being a gestapo spy as world war 2 broke out

[Nemo1965]

Aside from those already mentioned I think something about Helle Nice would be great:

- Raced in the 1920s where female equality was still being thought for
-High profile affairs with some of the most powerful men in France, including Count Bruno d'Harcourt
- Survived a near fatal crash after being flung from her car and having a soldier absorb the impact
- Accused of being a gestapo spy as world war 2 broke out

 

That indeed would be a great movie. Even more because, as I remember it, Hellé Nice was not accused during the war, but after the war, by no-one less than the great Louis Chiron. The accusation, as one can read on this this wikepedia-page, ruined her career and her life. In depth-research has not shown a shred of evidence of support for Louis Chiron's accusation. Which leaves the question: what moved Chiron to utter the accusation on the first place?

 

PS: Some comfort about this sad story here.

Edited by Nemo1965, 30 May 2015 - 21:08.

[johnmhinds]

Why would anyone need to make another movie about motor racing when Driven exists.

 

 

/s 

[ANF]

I'm thinking that maybe you could make a feature film out of David Letterman saying Johnny Carwash over and over again.

Edited by ANF, 30 May 2015 - 21:46.

[Ben1445]

I quite liked Rush. I was expecting more from following the filming but it was far better than terrible. 

Grand Prix is quite a 'plodding melodrama' as I believe someone once put it. But the story is decent enough and the filming is an absolute masterpiece and actually a very valuable time capsule of footage from the time. 

 

[RacingDuck]

To me Rush was kinda meh, someone mentioned already the bs 'change gear, hammer the throttle and make the overtake'
And as much as I like Senna it seemed a little biased.
But from what Ive seen Weekend of a Champion was my favorite

[dave34m]

There was talk of a movie about Bruce McLaren a while ago, dont know what happened to the idea but I think that would be a great story

[CurbPainter]

I like the new short Comedy/Drama...

 

[David Lightman]

1: Life On The Limit is an excellent recent documentary. 

 

I also thought Rush was terrible, everything I feared it would be.

[Ben1445]

The thing about Rush, and I'm going to defend it here, is that it wasn't made as a film for race fans. Grand Prix and Le Mans, or the Senna film (biased as it is) or anything else along the same vein are the ones for that. Rush was aimed at the masses to bring a story about a sporting rivalry put to people who perhaps wouldn't normally watch racing in a way they would find enjoyable. I have accepted that.

For the most part the cars were accurate, they even had the right air boxes to reflect the in season change to lower ones. 
The CGI work recreating old circuits pit buildings and grandstands was excellent, it's hard to deny... even if some of the Monza race scenes were obviously Snetterton or Paul Ricard blatantly being dummied by Brands Hatch. But I challenge anyone to do better with a similar budget. 

All I'm saying is it really wasn't terrible. Not as much as it could have been. In my opinion by quite a margin. 

[Kristian]

Why would anyone need to make another movie about motor racing when Driven exists.

 

 

/s 

 

Nah the best scene was the race at "Raceway Germany". 

 

The laws of physics - spot on! Why it didn't get an Oscar, I have no idea. 

[Reinmuster]

I'm waiting for Robert Deniro's Enzo Ferrari movie.

[ANF]

Here's another thumbs up for Weekend of a Champion.

[Jerem]

Digging up this thread due to this article on Autosport. New F1 related movie produced by Bruckheimer, directed by Kosinski, Brad Pitt involved in the project.

In what seems to be an extremely original screenplay, "the story revolves around a veteran driver who mentors an up-and-coming youngster".

[F1 Mike]

Digging up this thread due to this article on Autosport. New F1 related movie produced by Bruckheimer, directed by Kosinski, Brad Pitt involved in the project.

In what seems to be an extremely original screenplay, "the story revolves around a veteran driver who mentors an up-and-coming youngster".

Well I don't think anyone has ever done that before?

[Myrvold]

Digging up this thread due to this article on Autosport. New F1 related movie produced by Bruckheimer, directed by Kosinski, Brad Pitt involved in the project.

In what seems to be an extremely original screenplay, "the story revolves around a veteran driver who mentors an up-and-coming youngster".

F1 2021 The Game - The Movie.

Edited by Myrvold, 21 October 2022 - 22:43.

[noikeee]

Digging up this thread due to this article on Autosport. New F1 related movie produced by Bruckheimer, directed by Kosinski, Brad Pitt involved in the project.

In what seems to be an extremely original screenplay, "the story revolves around a veteran driver who mentors an up-and-coming youngster".

Maybe it could be about the mentoring of Fernando Alonso to Lewis Hamilton. That would be an interesting movie.

Does Brad Pitt play the guy in the photocopy shop?

Edited by noikeee, 22 October 2022 - 01:44.

[Makingtime]

 

 

Graham Hill - THE Master of Monaco.  A movie that would showcase the time period he lived in, the city of Monaco and all of his other triumphs would make for a great movie.  I've always thought Graham should have had a movie about him for some time.

 

Jim Clark - I wish I could have seen the man race in real life.  Heard he lived a rock star lifestyle so it would be great to see a movie about him.

 

 

Watkins Glen, 1967, as a youngster, saw Clark, Gurney, and Hill. when the paddock was fairly  open and admission was for a few dollars extra, if that, before BE turned it into an exclusive club.  Clark was quiet and polite, as was Gurney, while Hill was either having a bad day, and being a arrogant prick, or was just his usual self and being an arrogant prick.  Great up close views of the track and cars. Clark did not look that fast as he was smooth and in control  and Hill looked much faster, but was actually much slower. A movie about Clark would be great.  BTW, in Clark's first year, Von Trip collided with Clark, and Von Tripp's car went into the crowd, killing 15 spectators. In Grand Prix, the British character reminded me of Clark. 

Edited by Makingtime, 22 October 2022 - 07:28.

[Beri]

F1 2021 The Game - The Movie.

... brought to you by AWS in conjunction with DHL to bring you the fastest Rolex experience in theaters near you.

[Sterzo]

There is absolutely no point in writing or filming fiction about motor racing. Real motor racing is dramatic and exciting and interesting, with the added intrigue that you know it's real. All a fiction film can do is take away that sense of reality, and usually they get so much wrong it just becomes drivel.

 

The best fiction (IMHO) is about intriguing characters in non-dramatic settings. The drama comes from the characters, not the surrounds.

[Nemo1965]

The thing about Rush, and I'm going to defend it here, is that it wasn't made as a film for race fans. Grand Prix and Le Mans, or the Senna film (biased as it is) or anything else along the same vein are the ones for that. Rush was aimed at the masses to bring a story about a sporting rivalry put to people who perhaps wouldn't normally watch racing in a way they would find enjoyable. I have accepted that.

For the most part the cars were accurate, they even had the right air boxes to reflect the in season change to lower ones.
The CGI work recreating old circuits pit buildings and grandstands was excellent, it's hard to deny... even if some of the Monza race scenes were obviously Snetterton or Paul Ricard blatantly being dummied by Brands Hatch. But I challenge anyone to do better with a similar budget.

All I'm saying is it really wasn't terrible. Not as much as it could have been. In my opinion by quite a margin.

IMHO Hemsworth - obviously chosen for funding reasons - prevented Rush from being really great. Daniel Brühl was brilliant, with a good actor playing Hunt the clash of personalities could have been excellent. And Ron Howard… he’s a sweet guy, but his direction of actors is as flat as a pancake. If the actor himself doesn’t bring the depth, it won’t be there.

[Risil]

There is absolutely no point in writing or filming fiction about motor racing. Real motor racing is dramatic and exciting and interesting, with the added intrigue that you know it's real. All a fiction film can do is take away that sense of reality, and usually they get so much wrong it just becomes drivel.

The best fiction (IMHO) is about intriguing characters in non-dramatic settings. The drama comes from the characters, not the surrounds.

I thought Le Mans 66 was great, except for the bits at the race track. And sadly Catriona Balfe, who was underused.

[Collombin]

I thought Le Mans 66 was great, except for the bits at the race track

The end of the race spoilt it, perpetuating the bullshit story about starting positions affecting the result. A dying myth brought back to life for another generation. I think that's why I tend to prefer either proper documentaries or full on fiction, not the "based on a true story" middle ground.