Review of Senna (2010) by William H — 23 Jan 2012

The ultimate 30 for 30 documentary. Told a story very well, but it also wasn't too deep. I know nothing about Formula One, the narrative here works for people who have no interest in the sport, as evidence by Missy's late film tears.

The film was a real missed opportunity to do more than hagiography of the "greatest driver ever." A couple things -- one pre-race meeting where everyone turned on Senna and he stormed off and also an interview with the former British racer, Stewart -- hinted that Senna was taking risks for a long time, that other drivers thought the tradeoffs he made were bad ones, that his style, his choices, even if they brought him victories, they could or would cost him everything.

The idea of what you will sacrifice to win a single race, or more accurately, will you trade a probabilistically likely early death to be awesome. What is winning worth, what does winning COST, that's a lot more interesting to me than another narrative of "greatness.

" I can just imagine Werner Herzog directing it instead, sitting down with Xuxa or some shit while Herzog listened to a secret audiotape of Senna's last seconds, all the while imploring Xuxa "No, you must promise me that you never listen to this, you must not, please don't, it's too horrible.

" There is a tale of obsession and self-destruction here that only comes through between the lines.