Hitting the Apex

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. I was particularly pleased that Marco Simoncelli was given his due as a modern great. I realised that this was the first time I saw his accident. I was watching live but I had turned my back on the TV before the coup de grace, and I immediately turned off the TV and left it alone. Such a sad day. The whole Doriano Romboni incident just rubbed salt in the wound. I guess the producers did right not to mention that in this context. Very good film.

W-O-W!

Although I'm a big fan of nearly every kind of Motorsports and absolutely keen on squeezing (and getting squeezed by) my bike on racetracks myself, I really doubted about the 2h+ - de facto I was so under a spell, I even forgot to drink...!! Furthermore the movie's style, Pitt's narration and the selection and mixing of music and SFX reminded me strongly on "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", which is also one of my all-time favorites. Commemorating SIC is emotionally perfected by Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here", as Music and effects are always present, but never obtrusive.

Finally, one those very few movies assuring me I couldn't have spent my time much better! And -which is also a big "proof of quality"- a movie which I can't rest or relax to, cause keeps me sitting up straight on the sofa...

Thank you, Mark Neale!!

I was at the International Motorcycle show this last weekend in Long Beach and met Mark Neale who I got my DVD through. Just sat and watched the movie with my wife and two boys and it was one of the best movie nights we have spent together because this movie was amazing. We were riveted from beginning to the end. The way the movie followed and built on the racers kept you riveted to your seat. My wife loved it also because it became so personal with the racers and really gave depth to what really goes on in MotoGP. Brad Pitt as the narrator put this movie over the top. Thanks for making it that much better Brad. I regret not getting Mark Neale's Faster while I was at his booth but luckily I can purchase it. Whether you are into racing or not you will not be sorry you watched this movie. Mark we are looking forward to the next one, keep them coming.

Moto GP is the fastest track race for motorbikes - Formula One for superbikes. What Hitting the Apex does is make you understand that it's not the machines that make the sport but the riders. These riders risk, literally, their lives for sport and unlike most documentary in other sports Hitting the Apex manages to capture this element well. It also notes that Moto GP has an incredible safety record given how dangerous the sport is.

The cinematography is top notch, capturing every rev, curve, and spill - above all it captures the rivalries of men who are driven to want only first place.

This is an excellent and exceptional documentary that captures the excitement, thrill, and drive of an exceptional bunch of individuals, their machines, and crews. It is one of those sport documentaries that shines as it transcends its sport and tell compelling stories about courage and drive.

Let me start with a premise: I am an Italian and a huge fan of Valentino Rossi (will get back to this later).

It is not easy to make a film with six protagonists, but the attempt was absolutely successful, and indeed a more-than-2-hour long film was needed in order to cover their stories thoroughly.

This film is so good that in my opinion it deserves an Oscar. It is unfair, though, that just because of the subject (racing) this documentary will probably not even receive a nomination. I bet technically horrible documentaries, but with a more popular subject, will make the nominees. "Amy", for instance, which is interesting obviously because of Amy Whinehouse, who I love as an artist, but the documentary is just a collection of footage edited with no meaning or apparent order and without conveying any message. "Hitting the Apex", instead, is film writing at its best, interesting as a watching a fiction movie. The first and last parts of the film are pure poetry. Music is a killing and builds up the tension in tremendous ways. Great is the idea of having an actor (Brad Pitt) narrating the movie. It makes a huge difference.

The brilliant idea of this documentary of focusing on these six pilots made me grow huge respect for all of them indistinctly.

I have seen the fights between them, the many times they sent each other to hell, but I have also seen tremendous respect for one another. A couple of examples: Pedrosa sincerely pay tribute to Simoncelli, Rossi tipping the hat for Marquez and saying he is a hell of a pilot (in very positive terms).

These are men that love what they do. They do it despite the risks that racing such fast bikes may bring. They do it because it's passion that drives them, reason why I totally respect Stoner's retire decision. He made very valid points and we should really reflect on the fact that though more TV appearances, more camera view angles, and press coverage, made this show more enjoyable to us, they are also taking away something from them and their life beyond riding their bike.

Now, going back to my premises and the title of this post... Needless to say I was very disappointed when Rossi lost the 2015 championship because Marquez decided that he had to attack him in all possible ways in that penultimate race. We were all very angry at Marquez here in Italy and easily dismissed his racing style as a deliberate act of helping Lorenzo win the championship. After watching this documentary, I feel I owe, not all, but at least some apologizes to Marquez. He is a very fast rider who goes at maximum speed regardless of the context or whether the points he earns make any difference. Marquez is a biker that runs very fast even when the practice session is over. A man that takes down even his own teammate. All this to say that, sure, his riding style is often outrageous and dangerous to the others, but he is young and does it all the time regardless. Therefore, I am certain there was no combine between the Spanish riders. And I am not even sure at this point, after seeing the friction between Lorenzo and Marquez, Pedrosa and Marquez, that Marquez would want Lorenzo to win just because they are both Spanish.

Therefore, I wish Marquez all the best for his career and hope he will be the next Valentino Rossi. Meantime, I have grown to be a huge fan of Lorenzo thanks to this documentary. He has appeared to me as a true professional of this sport. Meantime, however, I would like Rossi to win one more championship before his retirement.

Good luck to all of them (not just these 6 pilots) and thank you so much for all the fun they make us have every other Sunday.