PREDICTABLE, POLISHED, AND FUN

Full disclosure: I don't know much about Formula One. But F1, the new Apple-produced racing drama starring Brad Pitt as a down-and-out driver gunning for redemption, had me hooked from the start. It's a slick, high-octane ride that somehow manages to thrill even the uninitiated.

- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment Editor

Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a washed-up racing legend given one last shot to prove himself. There's a standout moment early on when someone asks him why he's still doing it. His response? "It's not for the money." It's about that itch you can't scratch. It's a poignant line that lingers - ask any skier or racing driver why they risk their lives at breakneck speed and chances are, they can't fully explain it either.

That raw instinct is at the heart of this film.

PERFECT CASTING