This subject is always going
to be controversial but then opinions are there to be tested. The genre of
motor racing films covers a wide spectrum from the actual cartoon or cartoonish
antics of ‘Cars’ and the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise to the real life story
of ‘Senna’. I have gone for a short list drawn from the ‘some connection with
reality’ end of the spectrum.
I discount ‘Days of Thunder’
as just a slick remake of ‘Top Gun’ with cars and ‘Bobby Deerfield’, in spite
of starring Al Pacino, as just too melodramatic. This leaves me with five
contenders on the starting grid sharing a real passion for the sport.
·
Grand Prix
– James Garner 1966
·
Winning –
Paul Newman 1969
·
Le Mans –
Steve McQueen 1971
·
Senna –
2010
·
Rush – Chris
Hemsworth/ Daniel Bruel – 2013
The first of these, ‘Grand
Prix’, has some of the first ever in-car race footage and a star who was a
competent race driver let down by a leaden plot beyond the racing. Number 5 for
me. ‘Winning’ had the great asset of Paul Newman as star, a more than competent
race driver and later co-owner of the Newman–Hass Racing team. But here again,
in spite of great Indianapolis 500 footage, the plot is limp. Number four.
My vote for number three goes
to ‘Le Mans’. In common with many racing films it did not have the strongest of
plots but this was more than compensated for by Steve McQueen’s real passion for
motor racing that led he and his director, Lee Katzin, to create images that
were at times beautiful and at others the ultimate in vicarious white knuckle
rides. A fitting tribute to the competitors in this greatest of endurance races.
My final two films share a
theme in telling the stories of real motor racing drivers. ‘Rush’ combines
spectacular race sequences with a well told story of the rivalry between the
instinctive James Hunt and more calculating Nicki Lauda. In ‘Senna’ it is the
ultimately tragic tale of the great man himself. For my money the latter takes
the first prize by a front wings width. It is a documentary that builds tension
like a film and tells the compelling story of a brilliant and passionate
sportsman. By the end you are aware of an increasing sense of doom and a
desperate desire to rewrite history. It is a story with real emotional heft.
That is my top five, what is
yours?
