There are enough movie reviews and sites like Rotten Tomatoes if you’re just looking for ratings. This isn’t that. This is more of a reflection, a weaving of movie memories and lived experience, the way certain films hit you in waves.
Kind of like that old HBO show Dream On, where the main character would recall memories using random old TV clips. That’s how it felt for me. Watching F1 this weekend, it pulled up so much more than just action scenes. It took me back to when the Grand Prix came to Baltimore. I had a behind-the-scenes experience with the HP Racing Team, met the mechanics, caught the vibe, and felt the atmosphere. That wasn’t just a race weekend. That was one of those moments you lock into memory.
When I watched F1, it instantly gave me Days of Thunder energy. That makes sense too, since Jerry Bruckheimer produced both films. It’s been 35 years, but the visual language still speaks. The way the film was color graded, even the mood felt familiar. And being someone who loves the art of image and grade, I paid attention. The look reminded me of film stocks like Fuji and Kodak. There’s something in that texture that makes you feel the moment, not just see it.
I also really liked the font choices throughout the film. They had this bold, throwback feel , almost like something out of Studio 54. It’s wild how type can evoke an era. That vintage text style blended so well with the contemporary visuals. It’s a small detail, but for me, that stuff matters. It shows that someone cared.
So yeah, I think the movie was great. Is it my favorite of the summer? Not yet. I’ve still got a few titles I’m waiting on before I make that call. But it’s definitely one that has rewatch potential.
And there’s this one line, that really resonated
“It’s all just noise. You’ve got to focus on the race.”
That’s the formula. Right there. That’s the moment Brad Pitt’s character locked in and started operating at another level. You could feel it. Everything else faded. And I liked that about him because he wasn’t distracted by the world. He was unbothered, focused on what mattered, quiet in the best way.
I wasn’t totally sold on Damson Idris’ character at first. He’s a strong actor especially from Snowfall on FX, where he really carved out his space. In the early parts of this movie, I didn’t fully connect with his presence. That said, he grew into it. By the end, it clicked. And I have to give credit to the woman who played his mother. That character brought something grounding. A strong Black mother figure, steady and sure. I appreciated that. That energy is the kind that holds people up, even when they don’t realize it.
What I really took from this movie wasn’t just about racing. It was about pressure and how people respond to it. It’s about what it means to compete when the weight of the world is on you. And more than anything, it’s about silencing the noise. Not just the literal sound, but all the things pulling at you, distracting you, trying to take your eyes off the path.
That’s something I know from my own life. In creating, performing, even just moving through the world if you want to stay in your lane and reach where you’re going, you’ve got to get quiet. The noise is constant. But the focus, the formula, is choosing to tune it out.
A lot of folks will hear that line and just think it’s about race day. But for me, it’s about life.
That’s the real message.
That’s the real win.
This post is part of my cinematic reflection series, Frame of Mind, where I explore the deeper layers between the scenes and behind the lens.
This isn’t your typical review. It’s a look at what stories reveal when we stop watching and begin reflecting.