Review of Senna (2010) by Marco F — 17 Jul 2014

Unambitious, lazy, third-world and very, very safe, SENNA is about an Brazilian motor racing driver whose exploits behind and away from the driver's seat were the actions of a truly remarkable character. The film isn't even really worth reviewing- but as a fan of motor racing and Ayrton Senna, I saw this film. And it is made to impress- but I was not impressed.

As well put together as it is, it's hard to take a safe, fan-made movie like this seriously- it does it's subject justice in terms of paying a tribute, but honestly- the film is so unbalanced and so tame in its treatment of its main subject, that it's really just a tribute piece, and the whole exercise of making and seeing the movie becomes pointless. Why? Any person can do that- in any shape or form. You might as well get a drink, and before drinking your drink, you could say, "this drink is for Ayrton Senna." In the long run- it's a meaningless exercise. This subject could have been explored in so many different, more interesting ways- but it wasn't. Film is an art form that should be used in ways to channel the extraordinary- and this film is just ordinary.

If you're not a fan of Formula One or you don't know who Ayrton Senna is, then it's hard to get interested in this movie. It's just fodder for the mill- which seems to be a disturbing trend in documentaries these days.