TOP 10 MOTORSPORT FILMS
2017
10 McLAREN
DIRECTED BY ROGER DONALDSON
In the mass media, McLaren did not fare well, receiving a host of three-star reviews. They claimed it was too one-note: a story of success without adversity. That seems harsh, especially given Bruce McLaren’s battle with Perthes disease that particularly hampered his formative years. It must be remembered, though, that these reviews were from the perspective of those more apathetic about motorsport.
For those more enthusiastic, opening the film with the thunderous McLaren M8F pounding round a track instantly generates a few goosebumps.
The reason it only just makes the top 10 is that the rest of the film doesn’t quite stir the soul. There are tears from Alastair Caldwell and Eoin Young – who worked for Bruce – on why his fatal Goodwood testing crash was such a loss to racing, but as a viewer you feel like you’re looking in on their circle rather than a part of it.
Like Senna, death hangs heavy in the air as you watch. What does work in McLaren is the amount of screen time given to the infinitely cool Can-Am series, where Bruce, Denny Hulme and Peter Revson ensured McLaren won every title between 1967 and 1971.
It’s Patty
