“Hitting the Apex”
A review with Phil Hall
Late last year the internet was abuzz with the news of a new film about MotoGP, called “Hitting the Apex.” Initially released at selected locations and later released into theatres, the film documents the frantic world of MotoGP as seen in the lives of six of its top performers of the last five years.
The film is a docu-drama with more emphasis on the “docu” and, from the outset, it is very clear that it is a slick production designed to “educate” non-bike racing viewers as well as entertain. Director Neale’s choice of Brad Pitt (a keen motorcyclist ) as the narrator shows that the film is designed to appeal to a much wider audience than just the existing MotoGP fan base.
Filmed in HD with excellent production values, if you watch it in a theatre or at home on your HD TV with surround sound, the effect is dramatic. The slow motion footage that enlivens MotoGP broadcasts is breathtaking and illustrates the incredible forces at work when the best riders in the world try to make motorcycles do things that they don’t necessarily want to do.
Rossi, Lorenzo, Marquez, Simoncelli and others feature heavily, as well as “home-grown heroes” like Nicki Hayden. With footage taken from DORNA of the 2011 MotoGP season in particular, the battles between Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner also feature and it is great to again see Casey at the peak of his powers, taking on the world and winning.
However, from the moment the opening credits roll, it is immediately clear that Neale, for all of his good intentions, has been unable to resist bringing Hollywood to the track. Indeed, as a dedicated fan myself, I found the whole “These are men who dice with death every day, living on the edge of disaster, not knowing what the day is going to bring” brand of sensationalism off-putting in the extreme. The film will undoubtedly amaze and stun the average non-MotoGP fan and there seems little doubt that the whole effort is a very slick (though facile) advertisement for the sport.
But, as an existing fan, I found the whole tone of the film insulting and demeaning. I KNOW that the sport is dangerous, that riders are supermen, that the glamour and attraction of the sport is irresistible, I don’t need to be constantly TOLD it through two hours of brilliant high-speed DORNA footage. While some of the footage IS never-before-seen, anyone with a MotoGP subscription or access to high-def TV coverage, will have seen nearly all of it before.
And, as usual, the director has been totally unable to resist the heartache and tragedy of Marco Simoncelli, laboriously wringing every last bit of pathos out of the story as only an American director could. I was hoping that the story could have been told with restraint and dignity, but, sadly, it wasn’t. Marco’s life was not a soap opera but Neale hasn’t been able to resist the temptation to turn it into one. And the gratuitous footage of the accident that claimed his life I found to be offensive and totally unnecessary. It was a typical “blood on the sands” effort and it destroyed any credibility the film might have had as a genuine documentary.
To make matters worse, if they possibly could be, it becomes clear very early in the film that the director is moving inexorably in the direction of making Marco’s death the tragic climax of his story. The inclusion of inordinate amounts of crash footage very clearly showed that Hollywood is still unable to tell a motorsports story without the required amounts of blood, guts and gore that has characterised their efforts over the years. Rationalising this by saying that it shows how dangerous and unforgiving the sport (even non-motorcycle racing fans already know this) is mealy-mouthed at best and self-serving and crass at worst.
Pitt’s narration is crisp and well-delivered but the script is appallingly bad. Treating your audience as if they know nothing can scarcely be seen as good PR and the constant hyperbole was just so over-the-top it was cringe-worthy.
I found it hard not to just turn the thing off and walk away. The fact that I was watching the movie in the company of others prevented me from doing so. To be fair, I determined to watch it to its conclusion in the vain hope that it could be dragged from the fire, but it was not to be.
I deplore manufactured drama in any field of endeavour so it is no surprise that I felt totally let down and betrayed by “Hitting the Apex.” For me, it misses the apex completely. Sadly, no amount of slick HD footage, excellent promotion and internet hype can save this one. Watch it by all means, but be prepared to be disappointed. If you want to see a GOOD motorcycle documentary, try the best one that has ever been made, “On Any Sunday”.
