Now Showing: Monaco

 

Monaco
Genre: Sports/Drama
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Chad Taylor
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Michael Fassbender, Jude Law, Antonio Banderas, Rachel Weisz, Henry Golding, Harry Styles, Sienna Miller, Dev Patel, Louis Garrel, Shah Rukh Khan, Sophia Loren

Plot: Sirens are blaring as a hush falls over the spectators at the Monaco Grand Prix. Some rush forward to get a closer look at what they see on the track, others stay back with tears in their eyes. An ambulance speeds its way through the track to finally arrive at the site of a fiery crash that is still being extinguished.

2 DAYS EARLIER

The buzz is in the air as Grand Prix weekend begins. The Formula 1 season nears its end as teams and drivers vy for positions in the final standings. Ten teams, two drivers each and two trophies - one for the individual driver with the most points and one for the team with the most points. This is a rare season where both have come down to the last day.

Adonis Racing. For the last decade, Adonis has been the perennial powerhouse in the sport. They currently sit in second in team standings but are within reach of the championship, which would mark their eleventh straight.

Christian Richenbacher (Michael Fassbender) walks on the beach and approaches a sun-bathing Diego Castillo (Antonio Banderas), both men smiling. Christian Richenbacher is a legend in the sport, having won six championships from 2009 to 2014. Over this time, Team Principal Diego Castillo has consistently pushed his team to peak performance. Christian removes his shirt and sits down next to Diego as they start to discuss the beautiful weather. Diego is a man who likes to get to the point and so he asks if Christian has made a decision about next season yet. Christian puts on his sunglasses and says that this is the biggest race of the year and so his mind is on that at the moment.

In a luxurious hotel, Silas (Henry Golding) and Anna (Sienna Miller) are having sex. Afterwards, an exhausted Silas collapses into the bed and looks out onto the Monaco skyline. Silas Song, F1’s top superstar. He has carried the baton from Christian to win the last six titles and, at his age, plenty more seem in his future. While Adonis is second in team standings, Silas is first in the driver standings with his fingertips on a seventh title - which would break his teammate’s achievement. He’s on top of the world at the moment.

On the lower level of the hotel, Marco Silva (Oscar Isaac) has headphones in, music blaring, as he furiously works out in the gym. Marco is looking to become the first American F1 Drivers’ Champion since 1976. He previously drove for Adonis early in his career but Richenbacher was always in his way from the championship. He switched teams to Team Honda, a relative newcomer to the sport with a lot of financial backing. But just as Marco went to take the spotlight for his own, his Adonis replacement - Silas - has now become his top rival and barrier to gold. He currently sits at second in the driver standings and needs to finish ahead of Silas to win the title.

On the streets of Monaco, Callum Forshaw (Harry Styles) drives at high speeds with his father Oliver (Jude Law) in the passenger’s seat. Oliver critiques how Callum makes a turn, prompting the son to assure that he knows what he’s doing. They both laugh. Oliver Forshaw is Team Principal for Team Honda. A former driver in his youth, he never made it to the big level but has channeled his energy into management. This has marked the debut season for Honda’s new #2: Callum Forshaw. With dashing good looks, a marketable personality, and an aggressive driving style to boot, Callum is already being touted as the sport’s next big superstar. Due to Callum’s overperformance and Richenbacher’s regression, Team Honda sits in first in the team standings and is one race away from finally ending Adonis Racing’s reign on top.

At a press conference, Monica Verducci (Rachel Weisz) stares out into a crowd of journalists. Her last name is emblazoned in red letters on the breast pocket of her polo. Italian automaker Verducci Motorsport is one of the oldest teams in Formula One. Multiple generations of Verducci’s have carried the mantle as the team accumulated a half century’s worth of success to become synonymous with top-level racing. Until recently. Global recessions (and mismanagement woes) have hit the automaker hard and they might be on their last legs. Monica, great-granddaughter of the team’s founder, recently took over Team Principal duties after her father’s death but vulture capitalists are circling.

Next to Monica sits Romain Petitjean (Louis Garrell), who is there to announce that he is renewing his contract with Verducci Motorsport. Romain is a journeyman driver who holds the dubious distinction for most races driven without a podium finish. But he has been loyal to Monica and Verducci and they have reciprocated that loyalty. When questions open up to reporters, one asks about the rumors that Verducci Motorsport may be sold to Indian billionaire Rudra Singhania. Monica, a bit flustered, quickly dismisses these rumors and says that she is committed to restoring the brand. Another reporter follows up by asking what she thinks finishing seventh in the team standings does to that once-proud legacy. She asks if he is questioning her ability to manage the team and the reporter says that surely the blame could be put somewhere. An angered Monica prematurely ends the press conference.

A private jet lands at a nearby airport as Rudra Singhania (Shah Rhuk Khan) emerges from it shortly after. His aides surround him and provide a weather forecast for the weekend’s race. Rudra is transported to the city where he meets with Vishwas Chaddha (Dev Patel) at a high-class restaurant. Singhania says that the weather looks good for Sunday and asks how the car is driving. Vishwas is an Indian driver who is Petitjean’s teammate at Verducci. Crucially, he has the backing of billionaire Singhania, who offered his financial assistance through sponsorship to the team in exchange for giving Vishwas a spot on the team. Some have questioned whether he is in F1 because of merit or only through connections, leaving him with a chip on his shoulder.

The fates of many are in the air heading into the biggest race weekend of the year. It is in the hands of the gods now.

SATURDAY

One day before the race. The teams all make their way to the Circuit de Monaco, an iconic street course that winds through the picturesque sights of stunning Monte Carlo. Today is qualifying, which will be crucial in determining the grid order for the start of Sunday’s race.

The weather is clear as day as the drivers take the track. Marco gets off to a flying start, setting the high mark early in qualifying. In his ear, Oliver lauds him for his performance and Marco comments that the car is feeling great. Callum, before he makes his run, tells his father that he wants to place better than Marco this weekend as it would be a statement that he is a real threat for the championship next season. Oliver is annoyed by his son’s tone, reminding Callum that this weekend is about securing the team title so he needs his drivers to work together. Callum puts his helmet on and gets in his car without responding.

In the Verducci garage, Monica receives intel that both cars look set to underperform compared to their competition. The stress forces her to go out back and smoke a cigarette for a moment of peacefulness. Romain goes out for qualifying and blows away expectations. He achieved the second fastest time after Marco. When Monica comes back to see this news, she is elated. Meanwhile, Vishwas experiences engine issues on his qualifying run which leaves him all the way down in last place. Rudra, while not saying anything verbally, looks to Monica disapprovingly after Vishwas’s car issues.

As Christian takes the track, the commentators reminisce on his past wins at the circuit and speculate on whether or not this will be his last race as no announcement has been made on next season. He puts in a lackluster performance, a few seconds behind the top performers. Diego’s short temper emerges as he lays into Christian given what’s on the line. He proceeds to give head nod to Silas as if to say “you know what to do”. And there’s a reason Silas is the top driver in the world at the moment. He dominates the track, achieving the fastest time in qualifying and putting himself in a prime position to retain his driver championship.

After qualifying, Silas and Marco are at the top of the grid in first and second. Romain’s surprising run has him in third while Callum is not far behind at fifth. Christian slots in at eighth - well below expectations - while Vishwas’s issues landed him the twentieth and final spot on the grid.

On the eve of the race, a classy banquet is held to honor the race’s legacy - bringing together all of the teams along with legends of the sport. Marco enters in a tuxedo and nervously surveys the crowd. He heads over to the bar, where he finds Silas ordering a drink. While they are rivals on the track, they make friendly conversation here until Anna, Silas’s date, arrives. Marco’s demeanor deteriorates. Anna gives him a kiss on the cheek and asks him how he has been. Through conversation, we learn that Anna is Marco’s ex-wife but has gotten with Silas since their split. Anna proposes a toast to a competitive race and may the best man win, with a sly smile on her face.

The passive aggressive stand-off between the three is interrupted by Oliver, Marco’s boss. Oliver tells Anna it is lovely to see her and she looks back at him with distrusting eyes. He jokingly asks Silas if he is ready to finally lose to Team Honda. Silas admits that winning his seventh title probably won’t feel as special as winning his first. “But neither of you know that feeling, do you?” he says. Oliver smiles back and says “fair play”.

Rudra and Vishwas make their entrance and this catches the eye of Diego. He makes his way over to the pair and begins to lay on the charm to them. Across the room, Monica sips on a drink as she sees this going down. It is clear that something feels off about it to her. Her spying is interrupted by the entrance of her mother, Elena Veducci (Sophia Loren). Monica is surprised to see her and Elena says that she wouldn’t miss an opportunity to honor her late husband’s legacy. Monica gives her mother a look, as if to say she is fully capable of doing that herself. Elena mentions that she saw Diego and Rudra talking and wondered what that was about. Elena reiterates her stance that they should not sell the team, which Monica agrees with. Monica excuses herself outside for a smoke.

At the bar, Christian and Romain are having a conversation as two of the longest-tenured drivers in F1. Christian congratulates Romain on his qualifying run and contract renewal. Romain says he would congratulate Christian - on retirement or renewal - but he doesn’t know his decision. Christian laughs and says that no one does. He then speaks in hushed tones and says that he was originally thinking this was his last race. He then looks over to Diego schmoozing Rudra and says that he doesn’t like that. He wants to go out on his own terms and feels like he has a few more seasons left in him. Romain cheers to that, as hopefully they’re both not done yet.

The chairman of Formula 1 takes the stage and begins a tribute to Gianni Verducci, who passed away nearly a year ago. He invites Elena to take the stage to say a few words about her late husband. As she talks, she mentions how proud Gianni was to pass down the brand to another generation with his daughter Monica. However, Monica’s seat is still empty.

Outside, Monica makes her way to a nearby alley for a contemplative smoke. When she arrives, she finds someone else already there: Callum. He is well-dressed but has not yet gone to the banquet as he is not in the mood. Monica is surprised to hear this, as she would’ve assumed he’d be happy after his good qualifying run. He says it wasn’t good enough as he wanted to finish ahead of Marco. She says that if he and Marco finish where they’re at then Team Honda win the team championship - something she wish she was in current position for. He says that he’s frustrated because his father doesn’t seem to respect him and maybe that he’s intentionally holding him back because of Oliver’s own failure to achieve driving stardom.

Monica laughs and says that if he wants to talk about legacy, he came to the right place. She has multiple generations of legacy to deal with given her last name. She asks if he wants to know a secret and he nods his head. She says that her father wanted his son to take over the Motorsport division but he didn’t want it. So she only got the gig because her brother didn’t want it. He whispers that it’s not exactly a secret as all of the tabloids were speculating that at the time. They both laugh. She rolls her eyes at the mention of the tabloids and how difficult they make it to be a woman in motorsport. And then there’s the financial woes and takeover rumors and it’s all so overwhelming. Her laughs turn it to tears as she quickly wipes them away in embarrassment. Callum slowly puts his arm around her to comfort her and tell her he understands. After a beat, they both look up and into each other’s eyes. Callum leans in for a kiss and Monica reciprocates.

A montage begins as we see them passionately kissing, taking the elevator up to her room and start to undress. Down at the banquet, Diego finishes up his conversation with Rudra and Vishwas by shaking both of their hands. Oliver looks around for his son and is curious about why he never arrived. Meanwhile, Christian joins Silas and Anna and Silas asks if his teammate is ready to bring his A-game tomorrow. Christian smiles and says Silas shouldn’t forget that Christian was the best driver in the world at one time and, who knows, maybe he still is. They shake hands and affirm their wish to get the job done. In the background, Marco is leaving the banquet early to get a good night’s sleep.

RACE DAY

Crowds descend upon Monte Carlo as the race is only hours away. We get glimpses of all drivers and team principals getting ready in the morning.

Callum pulls up to the Team Honda and can tell his father is upset. They let the tension simmer as Marco also shows up, looking completely locked in. In the Adonis garage, Diego and Christian go over analytics reports on the car and it becomes clear that Christian would have what it takes to be a Team Principal some day. Silas arrives with Anna in his arms and she kisses him good luck.

When Monica arrives at the Verducci garage, Elena is already there. Her mother gives her a hug and wishes the team well today. A reporter approaches Monica and asks for comment on the breaking news. Monica isn’t sure what they are talking about until she checks her phone and sees a notification from Sky Sports reporting that Vishwas Chaddha is signing with Team Adonis next season. While she seems angry in the moment, she composes herself and says that she is sad to see him leave but that she has a plan in place. The reporter follows up by asking if Verducci Motorsport can survive without Rudra’s sponsorship. She reiterates that she has a plan. Elena squeezes her daughter’s hand to show her support.

We see Marco and Silas go through their pre-race rituals and warm-ups. Vishwas is talking with Rudra when a reporter starts approaching. Rudra advises him to not give any responses at this time as they will have a big press conference next week. The reporter asks Vishwas about the move to Adonis and he says no comment. The frustrated reporter follows up with a question that asks: if people thought he wasn’t fit for F1 while at Verducci, surely that criticism will only increase on the level of a team like Adonis. This annoys Vishwas and he wants to answer but looks to Rudra and once again says no comment. Afterwards, Romain approaches and congratulates his teammate on the move. He says that, although they never achieved major success together at Verducci, he knows that Vishwas has what it takes to be a top star in F1. Vishwas shakes Romain’s hand, thanks him, and says that he sincerely hopes Romain can pull it off today.

Christian receives the news that he is being replaced next season and closes his phone, deciding not to confront Diego about it and focus on the race instead.

Diego, meanwhile, goes to get coffee and finds that Monica is also there. There is an awkward tension in the air as Diego asks Monica how she is doing. She says that his move was pretty scummy and that she thought better of him. Diego says he is sorry to hear that but that, while everyone might view sports as entertainment, to him it is a business. Monica responds by saying that, to her, it is family. They are interrupted by Oliver, who has also come to get coffee. Oliver says that he has heard reports that Christian isn’t retiring and that it seems like a dirty way to treat a respected legend. Diego says that maybe it is Oliver who should feel guilty as it his Honda’s success that necessitates Adonis’s changes. Oliver turns his attention to Monica and there is a different kind of tension in the air, given what happened between her and Callum last night. After a moment, it becomes clear that Oliver doesn’t know about that and he wishes them both luck today.

As a reminder, here are where things stand heading into the final race of the season. Team Honda holds a slim lead over Adonis Racing for the Constructors’ Championship, given to the team with the most points. In the Drivers’ Championship, Silas Song is in the lead and a finish in front of Marco Silva will solidify his record seventh championship.

Photographers flash their cameras as the load of celebrities pouring over the pre-race ceremonies as the drivers start to get into their cars. When Callum gets into his car, he radios into his dad’s headset and lets him know that he is going to win today. Oliver says that he hopes so but that, if push comes to shove, Callum cannot get in Marco’s way. Callum gives him the thumbs up. As Silas drives up to take his place at the start of the grid, he makes long eye contact with Marco.

Engines rev, crowds cheer, and the race begins.

At the front, Silas and Marco battle for first but Silas is able to slightly edge out his rival at the first turn. Romain's start is subpar as he drops a few spots after the green flag and finds himself fighting to stay in the top five. Christian, on the other hand, shows why he is considered a legend as he maneuvers his way to take jump from eighth to third, crucially ahead of Callum.

Halfway through the race, Oliver nervously paces in the Team Honda garage as he sees how close things are and with Silas in the lead. After a moment of thinking, he tells his assistant “undercut”. This strategy involves pitting earlier than the car in front of you so that you are on fresher tyres. Marco makes his pit stop but it takes longer than expected - causing him to fall behind both Christian and Callum. When he re-enters the track and quickly approaches Callum’s slower car, Callum blocks him from passing. Oliver is in Callum’s ear, demanding him to let Marco pass. Callum finally does and then goes to the pit lane himself. However, when he gets there, he takes off his helmet and gets out of his car. Oliver storms over to the car and asks what the hell he’s doing. This is sabotaging the team’s chance at a title. Callum informs his father that he is signing with Verducci Motorsport next season and walks off. In the Verducci garage, Monica sees this on her TV and can't help but to smile.

Silas makes his pit stop and it is the quickest one of the day. Near the back of the field, Vishwas is pushing through the field as best as he can. He is up to thirteenth, seven spots from where he started. With Callum out of the race, we are down to a three-horse race between Silas, Marco, and Christian. Romain has settled in fourth but doesn’t have the horsepower to close the gap with the bigger team drivers. If Silas and Christian both finish in the top three, Adonis wins the Constructors' Championship but Marco can still win the Drivers' Championship with a first-place finish.

With five laps to go, it is anyone’s ballgame. Marco checks his rearview mirror and worries that Christian is catching up to him, in which case the two Adonis cars would be able to block him from a top finish. As such, he goes as aggressive as ever to lay it all on the line. We reach the final lap as we look at each garage and the tension within. As the final corner approaches, Marco attempts to shoot the gap and go for the win. Silas effectively blocks him at first but then overcorrects as they complete the corner and spins out of control. His car slams into the nearby barrier at full speed, causing his car to burst into a ball of flames. Marco completes the final stretch and finishes in first with his old rival Christian finishing second. Romain finishes in third, his first podium finish, while Vishwas is able to reach the top ten.

Sirens are blaring as a hush falls over the spectators at the Monaco Grand Prix. Some rush forward to get a closer look at what they see on the track, others stay back with tears in their eyes. An ambulance speeds its way through the track to finally arrive at the site of a fiery crash that is still being extinguished. In the stands, Anna looks on in horror as does Diego in the garage. The crews work to extract Silas from the vehicle while the drivers who crossed the finish line exit their car to look on. Marco, instead of celebrating, runs to the stands to comfort Anna in this moment. She sinks into his arms as he reassures her that it will turn out OK. 

After a delay, a somber podium ceremony is held as can finally celebrate his first Drivers' Championship. Oliver gives him a firm hug before saying he has personal issues he needs to solve. Monica congratulates Romain on his first podium finish and says that she hopes they see more of that next season. Runner-up Christian Richenbacher confidently smiles as he proved that he still has something in him. As the American national anthem plays, Marco abstains from celebrating with the champaign and instead raises the bottle in Silas's honor.

The camera slowly moves away from the city as a television report recaps the events of the day. Marco Silva became the first American driver in almost 50 years to win the F1 Driver's Championship as he also helped lead Team Honda to finally dethroning Adonis as Constructors' Champions. He will need a new teammate next year as reports coming out of the press are that Callum Forshaw is leaving his father behind and joining Team Verducci. Adonis will also see changes as Vishwas Chaddha replaces Christian Richenbacher, whose future remains a mystery. The latest word on Silas Song is that he is conscious but cannot feel his lower extremities. We all send out our best wishes to a legend of the sport.

THE DAY AFTER

Christian wakes up sore and checks his phone for the latest updates on Silas's condition. He leaves the hotel and his taxi arrives to take him to the airport. He tells the driver he's spent too much time in a car this weekend and, hell, his entire life. He's just going to walk. He begins striding down the streets of Monte Carlo as fans approach him for autographs and he seems at peace with himself.