User Reviews

Grand Prix revolutionized the way racing films are shot and I love it for that. The writing is overall mixed. I like the characters, I think they are quite well-written. It's interesting that everyone is in a grey area, nobody's black or white. The story was probably secondary behind spectacle and it shows. I like how some of it is unpredictable, but at the same time it's also messy. The dialogues are mixed. Some of the lines have weight and meaning, but most of them feel forced and unnatural. The cinematography is amazing. The lighting is good, but the camera movements and angles are what revolutionized the way racing films and car scenes are shot in general. You can see how some shots inspired F1: The Movie or one of the best car chase sequences of all time, in Ronin (also directed by John Frankenheimer). The editing can sometimes seem weird with a modern eye, but at the time it must have been mesmerizing. The transitions between the split screens must have also been revolutionary. The sound design and mixing helps the cinematography in achieving the feeling of racing and its realism. The score is always beautiful, but not always fitting. The acting performances are mixed. I could feel that the non-English speaking actors had a hard time acting in a different language. The line deliveries felt forced. On the other hand, the physical acting is great. Grand Prix aims for spectacle over substance and delivers.