The dramatic life story of Formula One’s Frank Williams suffers in an unwieldy and contrived documentary
Slightly contrived and unwieldy in structure, this documentary about Formula One legend Frank Williams lacks the throttle to match the success of Asif Kapadia’s film about Williams’s doomed driver, Ayrton Senna. There is, however, plenty of drama to explore. Obsessed from a young age with motor racing, Frank Williams was a driven character, in every sense of the word. His is a life lived at high speed and scarred by tragedy. The film is let down by an overlong running time and a prurient attempt to crowbar an emotional response from the taciturn Williams.
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Slightly contrived and unwieldy in structure, this documentary about Formula One legend Frank Williams lacks the throttle to match the success of Asif Kapadia’s film about Williams’s doomed driver, Ayrton Senna. There is, however, plenty of drama to explore. Obsessed from a young age with motor racing, Frank Williams was a driven character, in every sense of the word. His is a life lived at high speed and scarred by tragedy. The film is let down by an overlong running time and a prurient attempt to crowbar an emotional response from the taciturn Williams.
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- 8/6/2017
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
The story of the remarkable rise and horrific disasters that befell motor racing supremo Sir Frank Williams is told with unusual senstivity and openness
Here is a documentary profile of celebrated Formula One team owner Frank Williams that, while covering all the bases that its petrolhead/motorsport fanbase would expect, also manages to excavate some unexpectedly intense emotional baggage lurking under the surface.
Williams, of course, is one of the greats of British Formula One, a link to the 60s and early 70s era of high-risk, often-fatal daredevil circuit racing; Williams himself lost his first driver Piers Courage in 1970 at the Dutch Grand Prix. This film does a nice job of trying to explain some of the rarefied mechanics of Formula One, and how Williams toiled for years to improve his cars’ performance to top-level standard. As director Morgan Matthews tells it, Williams’ decision to appoint Patrick Head as his...
Here is a documentary profile of celebrated Formula One team owner Frank Williams that, while covering all the bases that its petrolhead/motorsport fanbase would expect, also manages to excavate some unexpectedly intense emotional baggage lurking under the surface.
Williams, of course, is one of the greats of British Formula One, a link to the 60s and early 70s era of high-risk, often-fatal daredevil circuit racing; Williams himself lost his first driver Piers Courage in 1970 at the Dutch Grand Prix. This film does a nice job of trying to explain some of the rarefied mechanics of Formula One, and how Williams toiled for years to improve his cars’ performance to top-level standard. As director Morgan Matthews tells it, Williams’ decision to appoint Patrick Head as his...
- 7/13/2017
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
[Press Release] London, March 6, 2014—Martini®, the world’s leading vermouth and best-selling Italian sparkling wine, in partnership with Williams, announced a multi-year agreement that unites two of the most iconic brands in Formula One™ racing, creating Williams Martini Racing. The announcement was made during an event held here, as part of the 2014 team launch. “We are thrilled to welcome Martini to the Williams family and officially launch Williams Martini Racing,” said Sir Frank Williams, Founder and Team Principal, Williams. “Williams and Martini share a rich history in the world of motorsport, and the values of our two brands and our shared passion for racing make this partnership a natural fit. It will be great to see the distinctive stripes of Martini Racing™ return to Formula...
- 3/7/2014
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
Chicago – Here’s one of the smartest documentaries to come around in a good long while. Director Asif Kapadia tackles subject matter that begs to be told with immediacy and he ends up succeeding every step of the way. His masterstroke in the Sundance prize-winner, “Senna,” is at once simple and ingenious: the entire picture is told purely through archival footage, allowing the subjects to tell their own story as it unfolded.
This is not a picture delivered in the gauze of sentimental nostalgia. It has the rip-roaring pace and mounting suspense of an A-grade Hollywood thriller, and deserves to be discovered by a wide audience in its DVD release. Despite the fact that I personally have no interest in race car driving, I was riveted by every frame of this heartfelt tribute to the Brazilian Formula One racer, Ayrton Senna, considered by many to be the greatest driver of all time.
This is not a picture delivered in the gauze of sentimental nostalgia. It has the rip-roaring pace and mounting suspense of an A-grade Hollywood thriller, and deserves to be discovered by a wide audience in its DVD release. Despite the fact that I personally have no interest in race car driving, I was riveted by every frame of this heartfelt tribute to the Brazilian Formula One racer, Ayrton Senna, considered by many to be the greatest driver of all time.
- 3/20/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Senna
Featuring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams | Directed by Asif Kapadia
Senna was released in cinemas earlier this year to near universal acclaim and picked up a handful of Awards at a number of film festivals. Telling the life story of Ayrton Senna, the brilliant Brazilian Formula 1 driver, director Asif Kapadia compiled mountains of archive footage of to paint a compelling portrait of one of the sporting world’s most exciting characters.
It has been said before by a great number of reviewers in their glowing write-ups of the film, but it bears repeating: an interest in Formula 1 is by no means required to enjoy the film. You may even enjoy it more the less you know about its subject matter. Previously, I found Formula 1 tedious and dull and would be loath to even recognise it as a proper sport (sure, it takes a fair amount of physical prowess...
Featuring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams | Directed by Asif Kapadia
Senna was released in cinemas earlier this year to near universal acclaim and picked up a handful of Awards at a number of film festivals. Telling the life story of Ayrton Senna, the brilliant Brazilian Formula 1 driver, director Asif Kapadia compiled mountains of archive footage of to paint a compelling portrait of one of the sporting world’s most exciting characters.
It has been said before by a great number of reviewers in their glowing write-ups of the film, but it bears repeating: an interest in Formula 1 is by no means required to enjoy the film. You may even enjoy it more the less you know about its subject matter. Previously, I found Formula 1 tedious and dull and would be loath to even recognise it as a proper sport (sure, it takes a fair amount of physical prowess...
- 11/11/2011
- by Jack Kirby
- Nerdly
Chicago – In our latest documentary edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 3 prize packs up for grabs for “Senna” about Brazilian Formula One race car champion Ayrton Senna! The film won the 2011 Sundance Film Festival award for best documentary. Each “Senna” prize pack from HollywoodChicago.com includes a windbreaker and poster from the film.
“Senna” prizes offered in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.
“Senna” features appearances by Ayrton Senna (archival footage), Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart, Sid Watkins, Galvão Bueno, Reginaldo Leme, Gerhard Berger, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Jean-Marie Balestre from director Asif Kapadia and writer Manish Pandey.
Theatrical Release Dates
Aug. 12, 2011: New York and Los Angeles Aug. 19, 2011: Austin, Berkley, Cambridge, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Aug. 26, 2011: Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis, Palm Springs, Palo Alto, Portland, San Diego and Seattle Sept.
“Senna” prizes offered in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.
“Senna” features appearances by Ayrton Senna (archival footage), Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart, Sid Watkins, Galvão Bueno, Reginaldo Leme, Gerhard Berger, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Jean-Marie Balestre from director Asif Kapadia and writer Manish Pandey.
Theatrical Release Dates
Aug. 12, 2011: New York and Los Angeles Aug. 19, 2011: Austin, Berkley, Cambridge, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Aug. 26, 2011: Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis, Palm Springs, Palo Alto, Portland, San Diego and Seattle Sept.
- 8/16/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – In our latest documentary edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Senna” about Brazilian Formula One race car champion Ayrton Senna! The film won the 2011 Sundance Film Festival award for best documentary.
“Senna” features appearances by Ayrton Senna (archival footage), Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart, Sid Watkins, Galvão Bueno, Reginaldo Leme, Gerhard Berger, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Jean-Marie Balestre from director Asif Kapadia and writer Manish Pandey.
The film opens on Aug. 19, 2011. To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Senna” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster...
“Senna” features appearances by Ayrton Senna (archival footage), Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart, Sid Watkins, Galvão Bueno, Reginaldo Leme, Gerhard Berger, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Jean-Marie Balestre from director Asif Kapadia and writer Manish Pandey.
The film opens on Aug. 19, 2011. To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Senna” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster...
- 8/11/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Reviewed by Jay Antani
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Asif Kapadia
Written by: Manish Pandey
Featuring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart and Jean-Marie Balestre
When setting out to make “Senna,” his documentary about the namesake race-car driver, director Asif Kapadia scored a major coup when he gained access to the entire Formula One archive. The footage that Kapadia unearthed turned out to be a gold mine, revealing Ayrton Senna’s entire professional career, including races, meetings, press conferences and interviews (with Senna, his peers and closest associates). Together with home movies and broadcast excerpts from Brazil (Senna’s home country), Kapadia and his team have managed to create an astonishing tribute to the driver considered a national hero in Brazil, comprised entirely of already-existing footage. Indeed, “Senna” stands as a triumph of Kapadia...
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Asif Kapadia
Written by: Manish Pandey
Featuring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart and Jean-Marie Balestre
When setting out to make “Senna,” his documentary about the namesake race-car driver, director Asif Kapadia scored a major coup when he gained access to the entire Formula One archive. The footage that Kapadia unearthed turned out to be a gold mine, revealing Ayrton Senna’s entire professional career, including races, meetings, press conferences and interviews (with Senna, his peers and closest associates). Together with home movies and broadcast excerpts from Brazil (Senna’s home country), Kapadia and his team have managed to create an astonishing tribute to the driver considered a national hero in Brazil, comprised entirely of already-existing footage. Indeed, “Senna” stands as a triumph of Kapadia...
- 6/18/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Reviewed by Jay Antani
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Asif Kapadia
Written by: Manish Pandey
Featuring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart and Jean-Marie Balestre
When setting out to make “Senna,” his documentary about the namesake race-car driver, director Asif Kapadia scored a major coup when he gained access to the entire Formula One archive. The footage that Kapadia unearthed turned out to be a gold mine, revealing Ayrton Senna’s entire professional career, including races, meetings, press conferences and interviews (with Senna, his peers and closest associates). Together with home movies and broadcast excerpts from Brazil (Senna’s home country), Kapadia and his team have managed to create an astonishing tribute to the driver considered a national hero in Brazil, comprised entirely of already-existing footage. Indeed, “Senna” stands as a triumph of Kapadia...
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Asif Kapadia
Written by: Manish Pandey
Featuring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna, Milton da Silva, Neide Senna, Jackie Stewart and Jean-Marie Balestre
When setting out to make “Senna,” his documentary about the namesake race-car driver, director Asif Kapadia scored a major coup when he gained access to the entire Formula One archive. The footage that Kapadia unearthed turned out to be a gold mine, revealing Ayrton Senna’s entire professional career, including races, meetings, press conferences and interviews (with Senna, his peers and closest associates). Together with home movies and broadcast excerpts from Brazil (Senna’s home country), Kapadia and his team have managed to create an astonishing tribute to the driver considered a national hero in Brazil, comprised entirely of already-existing footage. Indeed, “Senna” stands as a triumph of Kapadia...
- 6/18/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
With the superb documentary Senna out in cinemas now, we met director Asif Kapadia to talk about the feature and its depiction of a F1 legend…
British filmmaker, Asif Kapadia, has already won several awards over his career, with the short film, The Sheep Thief, having won best short film at Cannes, and his 2001 feature, The Warrior, earning a BAFTA for best British film.
His new feature, Senna, has won itself considerable acclaim, and secured Best Documentary at both the Adelaide and Sundance film festivals. A profile of the late Brazilian driving legend, Ayrton Senna, it's not hard to see why the film's garnered such an enthusiastic response. Using interviews and archive footage, it paints a dramatic portrait of one of the most famous drivers in F1 history.
With the film out now in UK cinemas, we caught up with Kapadia to talk about the making of the film, and the driver who inspired it.
British filmmaker, Asif Kapadia, has already won several awards over his career, with the short film, The Sheep Thief, having won best short film at Cannes, and his 2001 feature, The Warrior, earning a BAFTA for best British film.
His new feature, Senna, has won itself considerable acclaim, and secured Best Documentary at both the Adelaide and Sundance film festivals. A profile of the late Brazilian driving legend, Ayrton Senna, it's not hard to see why the film's garnered such an enthusiastic response. Using interviews and archive footage, it paints a dramatic portrait of one of the most famous drivers in F1 history.
With the film out now in UK cinemas, we caught up with Kapadia to talk about the making of the film, and the driver who inspired it.
- 6/5/2011
- Den of Geek
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