The story of obsession, betrayal and ultimate vindication. It is the story of how one of the most volatile, charismatic stars of his generation, who seemingly lost so much he held dear in the pursuit of his dream, nevertheless followed it to the end.
One comes out of this fragmentary documentary about the King Of Cool’s passion for motor racing liking him much less than one did going in.
It is interesting enough as a film history footnote and a story of obsession but slightly more compelling for the unflattering portrait it paints of McQueen.
Ironically, the documentary really works when it focuses on the driving and not the man.
Greenlit by the late actor’s family, this interesting documentary tracks the petrol-head star’s mid-life crisis and ill-fated 1971 racing film.
Like the Le Mans movie itself, the doc sometimes loses its focus but it is beautifully made.
Gabriel Clarke and John McKenna’s film trawls the archives and secures plenty of talking-head interviews, but it never makes a compelling case for why we should care.
Few personal insights into McQueen’s obsessive attempt to recreate the famous 24-hour challenge on screen are provided by this study of the film’s conception.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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