Love the Beast (2009) User Reviews

A LABOR OF LOVE....IF EVER THERE WAS ONE!

[Tony-Kiss-Castillo · 8/10 · 8 January 2024]

You Don't often see the word LOVE in the TITLE of a DOCUMENTARY! Well... The EXCEPTION PROVES THE RULE!!!

BUT FIRST... Let us FOCUS on the Title´s Content and Context:

My wife and I caught this at the 2008 Orlando Film Festival. Overall, I'm glad we did. GENRES Listed here for LOVE The BEAST are: Documentary; Sports Documentaries; Car Culture; Motorsports...among others! They should have added: Eric Bana!

The three major draws here are....

A) CAR Culture-If you're REALLY into cars, you'll probably LOVE it!

As one would tend to gather from the title, The BEAST is an extremely intense labor of love. When you come right down to it, this film is more love story than it is Documentary!.

B) RACING- Over half this "DOC" is full-bore, super-charged racing in the 5-day, grueling annual race in Tasmania!.

There are some excellent CRASH sequences, taken with on-board cameras; and, of course....

C) ERIC BANA--I think he is the primary reason my wife seemed to enjoy this a tad more than I did!

Despite the fact that neither of us have more than a tepid interest in any of the A) B) or C) options, we were surprised at how much we BOTH enjoyed The BEAST. Watching someone on-screen share a single-mindedness of purpose that is the result of a lifelong passion/obsession, is virally infectious! It is certainly something you almost never encounter in the workaday world!

So overwhelming and intimidating are Bana's energy, focus and "try, try, try again" determination, that it gives me pause to re-evaluate his movie acting career and queue more of the films in which he appears! Please note that Eric Bana also Directs and is listed as one of the Producers.

So, LOVE the BEAST is a classic example of putting your money where your MUFFLER is! Ooops! Wait a minute...600+ Horsepower Muscle Car Race Cars don't have mufflers, now do they?!?!

ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!

My Rating: 6.5* My Wife's: 7*******

Any Comments, Questions or Observations... In ENGLISH... o en ESPAÑOL... are Most Welcome!!!

It might be a film about cars, but it's so much more if you think about it.

[RobertHolik · 8/10 · 25 July 2010]

I'm getting pretty fed up with people saying that this movie is for "car lovers only" because it's simply not true. This movie is for many people, collectors, Eric Bana fans, people who have a passion and want to see other people's passions etc.

It's a movie about racing and cars, about Eric Bana's car that has been a part of his life for a very long time, that right there is so beautiful to see. Eric Bana's relationship to his car is amazing, you would have to see it to believe it. And people who don't understand the love for cars will truly get a different opinion after seeing this film because it will grow on you, you will see how much something made out of tin parts (and then some) can become such passion and such love because of how long it will stick with you.

And to Eric Bana fans, if you love Eric Bana like I have, you HAVE TO see this movie. To me, Eric Bana is very much like his car is to him, I've grown up with Eric Bana and his movies and seen him grow as an actor, it feels as if he's my friend as with a couple of different actors. And if you really almost feel like he's family, you will have the same feelings as he does for his cars when you see how heartbreaking some scenes in this movie are. You will also see Eric Bana before a big movie premiere of his movie "Lucky You", it's a very rare glimpse into his life and how he feels before going to a premiere, it's quite cool and you'll see how awesome and down to earth he truly seems.

But do keep in mind that this is a documentary, it is mostly for car lovers, true, but it can still grow on you, because let's face it, it's not all just cars.

8/10

Overall, the film is entertaining, intriguing and funny, and definitely a credit to Bana. Go see it.

[glen-r-fuller · 9/10 · 11 February 2009]

Love the Beast attempts to capture and represent the intense enthusiasm that Bana feels for the challenges and collective memory inculcated in his 1974 XB Ford Falcon coupe. One of the central metaphors is that of a campfire. The car functions as a 'campfire' around which Bana and his lifelong schoolyard mates congregate.

The film explores the complexities of the relationship between Bana and his car through the various forms of action punctuating their dual biography. To provide an insight into these complexities Bana attempts to stitch together the multi-dimensional relationships that have formed over the years. I can picture it in my head a little like a schematic for a fun park ride, an influence from here, a tension over there, and the ways the social and socio-technical challenges posed by the car mobilise the enthusiasm of Bana and his mates in differentially repeated ways.

Bana faces the challenges inculcated in the car differently as a young bloke growing up (modifying the car, attending car shows, hanging out with his mates, etc) compared to the challenges manifest when a movie star/adult (going racing, getting the car built, etc). I would've liked to have seen more of this, more of a focus on his younger days. He rebuilt the car three times, I think the second one was just before the car appeared in a magazine and Bana raced at Targa Tasmania for the first time. More about this era would've been fantastic.

The film is not a cynical attempt to capture the enthusiasm of car enthusiasts by interpolating it into box office takings ala the Fast and the Furious franchise. The only other film I am aware that comes close to what Bana is attempting here is The World's Fastest Indian. TWFI also attempts to directly represent an intense enthusiasm, but does so in more of a narrative-based way. Indeed, TWFI is a fictional account of an actual set of events. Bana's film is 'real life'; although framed in certain ways.

Bana lays out the multi-dimensional character of his enthusiasm by using traditional documentary techniques and almost unbelievably blessed with old video (and maybe even super-8) footage of when he was a kid, teenager and young man with his car. Although the film does follow a rough dramatic arc leading up to his race at the Targa Tasmania, this is used more as a kind of dramatic infrastructure around which to organise the micro-narratives provide by his somewhat charismatic ('knockabout') mates, his mother and father, other racers, and the celebrity interventions of the other above-title luminaries.

I was not really convinced how much the 'celebrities' add to the film, but I guess I would have seen this film without them; therefore, they are not for me. I attended a media screening of the film in Sydney and from what I could deduce I was the only gearhead there (I am a writer for Street Fords magazine in Australia). The bourgeois cinephile beside me snorted a suppressed giggle at whatever came out of Jeremy Clarkson's mouth; Clarkson is entertaining in a boorish sort of way. Dr Phil surprised me a little bit. I always dismissed him out of hand for being a popularist TV equivalent of a parlour trick. However, here Bana brings out his best, and Dr Phil almost (but not quite) comes across as compelling.

Similarly, Bana designed the film to be watched by an international audience and the opening scenes about "what most people around the world think of Australia" were interesting for locating Bana in the context of his background. The international audience will get such references as Mad Max, the celebrity talking heads, and so on.

The editing is mostly superb with a fine use of montage to play on the rhythm of expectation (everyone knows what is going to happen to Bana's car at the end), building up the tension and then relieving it. The camera work here is a cross between race car event coverage with documentary footage, with a few long, gliding shots of cars moving during the race; a bit like surfing cinematography or skateboarding in the way the camera attempts to implicate itself in the action.

Overall, the film is entertaining, intriguing and funny, and definitely a credit to Bana. Go see it.

Eric Bana has made the most personal film of the year...his love for his car.

[bdk3385 · 10/10 · 9 March 2009]

I saw an advance screening for this yesterday (8/3/09) and surprisingly, I throughly enjoyed it. Eric Bana has constructed an entertaining and enjoyable look at his personal love affair with his first car (a 1974 Ford GT Falcon Coupe), the first car he ever bought as a teenager. The documentary extends beyond just any old "Car Flick", to focus on why we all have our obsessions and hobbies and the roles they play in our lives. You don't have to be a rev head to enjoy this and thats the point, as an interesting study of obsession and an insight to the private life of one of Australias best loved actors, this is definitely worth a look.

Eric Bana races

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 8 October 2015]

Eric Bana grew up near the airport in Melbourne. He and his mates were nowhere near the beach and grew up with a love of the muscle car. They decide to build their car and enter The Targa Tasmania Rally.

This also has Jay Leno and Dr. Phil put in their two cents worth. I don't mind Jay because he has a connection with cars. I can do without Dr. Phil and his psycho babble. Bana may think that it is significant but it is not dramatic. The movie isn't particularly dramatic. There's no suspense in the racing or the need to race. Bana doesn't do it for the money or even the prize. So the result is unimportant and I don't really care about any psychological needs. Being a hobby also diminishes the tension. This is a professionally made home movie.

Absolutely the best Doc/Story I have seen in years. "hands down", Bravo!

[fgoatboy · 10/10 · 4 August 2009]

This is what a camera is for, it is for capturing a story of love, spirit, tension, Passion and all the beautiful things that make us unique as Humans.

I think everyone will get something positive from this film even if they are not lovers of cars, because it is about connection with yourself and your world.

It evokes all kinds of feelings and therein lies it's magic.

It reminds us that we are not alone in this world. That our close friends are important for life. That our silly love for the smallest material object is not silly,it is important, and a dear part of us.

I can't say enough My heart and spirit are uplifted.

The Imperfection is the Real Beauty we possess as Humans, the very thing that our new Digital World is robbing us of.

The Human Spirit

Eric Bana Peace to your soul man

You are living The Dream, and thanks for sharing it with us.

Best movie I've seen in ages - Eric Bana has made an awesome film!

[tharford-nz · 9/10 · 8 October 2009]

I just watched this movie last night (DVD) and really enjoyed it. I don't think I'd agree that this film is for car buff's only - granted, a lot of the movie is based around cars, but I reckon the movie is more about the connection between men and machines more than just car's themselves.

The conversations with Jeremy Clarkson, Dr. Phill and Jay Leno were totally interesting too watch. Dr Phill provided a view point outside cars (loved his view points on hobbies and work), Jay Leno had some interesting points on why he crashed (ie. the latest iteration wasn't Eric's own hand work) and Jeremy Clarkson had some real insightful stuff on comparing machines to computers and how machines (ie. cars) exhibit more human traits than computers - hence why there is a bond there.

An interesting part of it is how a material object (The Beast) acts as a conduit for men to come around, work on the car and friendships/bonds are formed. I reckon it's the memories created by this is what makes people treasure their cars (and not always limited to cars).

I do have to admit that when about 30 minutes into it, I did look at the clock - not in a boring way and not in a way thinking when is this going to end. Probably because it is more of a documentary it didn't have my total interest in it.

The sorta sub story about the other bloke and his Ford was awesome as well - the personality of the dude (sorry, forgot his name - one of Eric's mates) doing the interviewing was great - his personality really comes across. Same deal with Eric's navigator.

The cinematography is awesome - very well done.

The build up to the crash was just simply great - I liked how Eric did this and built up to the event (and the spacemen conversation was funny as!).

How there is so much old footage is just unbelievable - it's like this movie was planned from a very long time ago! The insight into Eric Bana was also another interesting point in the movie - how he comes across is just a normal Aussie bloke. Top bloke! I've never had the privilege of staying in one country long enough to have friends for that long, but it's awesome how he's stayed real and kept his mates.

There's a lot more to this movie than just the car, but you do have to look past that to see it. Recommend watching the special features on the DVD (interview especially) cause it gives you a little more insight into the actions behind the movie.

At the end of the movie, I was inspired, still am - I've never bothered to write a review on IMDb before, but I liked this movie so much I thought I'd put one on here! It's not a movie like Braveheart or Contact (my favorites anyways) but it's also a lot more real than those movies.

If I had to pin-point my favorite aspect of the movie, it's how Eric Bana has portrayed his car, his family and his mates in the movie. You can actually get a feel of what the individuals are like, based on what has been filmed and what background dialog has been said about them. You can get a rough idea of what each person is like, solely based on watching this movie - and I think that's a pretty good accomplishment.

And I totally hope he rebuilds The Beast!

Great, i loved it.

[tcald · 10/10 · 1 October 2009]

OK, i am a car guy, but i believe the other reviews here are completely missing the point! One compared this with the " Worlds fastest Indian" , please, this was never meant to be such a thing, nor even a movie. This is a documentary, more about friendships, than cars. I am a 37 year old Australian, living overseas for 15 years, and some parts of this hit a nerve with me, and i confess, made me a little emotional. To say this is a car movie is plain wrong, it is a well put together, thought provoking documentary. If you like cars, as i do, it caters for that as well. Eric Banner has just gone up a few points in my mind, just a plain down to earth guy. There is a scene near the end, where Erics Mother is explaining how its time her husbands old car to go. There is true emotion on his face, and he never says a word. Later you see Eric and him driving in this car, and you can feel the joy. Its about bonds, father and son, memory's, and yes, it through a car, but she has no clue to this. This is a story of male bonding, through common interests, and i thought it was one of the best i have seen in a long time.

Love the Beast

[jboothmillard · 5/10 · 11 December 2010]

I saw the interview with the star of Chopper, Hulk and Troy on Top Gear where they mentioned this film, it did sound relatively interesting, and it was the actor's directorial debut, so I thought I'd see it. Basically this documentary sees Eric Bana talking about his relationship with his favourite car of all time, his Beast, and the car he hopes to race in The Targa Tasmania Rally, his Ford GT Falcon Coupe. He explains it is the car he saw in the film Mad Max and he has owned it for twenty-five years, and for all those years he has done everything he can both to keep it going, but also turn it into a proper racing car. He believes, and Jeremy Clarkson confirms with him, that most people think of cars as just something to help you travel, but they both believe that they are like living beings. Jay Leno also expresses his interest in cars with his garage of hundreds of old and new models and how much each one means to him, and he would never get rid of one. Bana also wonders if his car has a significance to his life, and Dr. Phil McGraw knows that if you have a passion for something you want to keep it going and never give up until you get some kind of result. So we see flashes of Bana's past with his love for fast cars, getting his Beast, the preparations for the race, and of course the race itself, which has a bad result when he accidentally crashes into a tree. It is interesting to see how passionate you can be about the most inanimate things, but at the same time, you can relate, I mean, there must be something unlikely in your life that means something to you. Worth watching!

Life as a car

[SamBlob · 9/10 · 8 January 2010]

This is the story of a man in crisis. It is the tale of someone who has taken his most prized possession, the obsession of his youth, the cornerstone of his dearest friendships, and has smashed it to pieces. He still has the pieces, but... what to do with them? What should he do? Is it reasonable for him to be so attached to it? Should he just give it up? This is his quest for answers to a lot of questions, about himself, about his family, about his friends, and, most fundamentally, about the fate of his Beast.

You don't have to be a car guy to get it, but it does help. Bana works his demons out in a way that incorporates his two great loves that appeared together in "Mad Max": cinema, and the Falcon XB coupe.

I saw this on SPEED Channel, and, although it was not literally made for the network, it fits right in. It is a 93 minute "Car Crazy Confession" with bits of "Jay Leno's Garage" and "Top Gear" thrown in for good measure. Unlike most "Car Crazy Confessions" though, it does not end on the happy note of acquiring or finishing the rebuild of the car of one's dreams; the Beast is still smashed at the end of the film. It ends in hope, though. We know that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Beast will ride again, just as Bana's father's Beast does at the end of the film, after having been abandoned for ten years and repaired by Eric and his mates. It will probably never see a racetrack again, except maybe the parking lot. Hopefully it will be put on the car show circuit, preferably right beside his father's car. It is a compelling tale even if no-one knew who Eric Bana was, as I didn't at the beginning of the show.

All in all, it's a story of Eric Bana's life and an insight into his soul. All it missed was Tracy Chapman's "Remember the Tinman" playing at the end.

Captures the essence of car racing.

[djaychela-461-682757 · 8/10 · 28 August 2012]

I was lent this on DVD a long time ago, and didn't get round to watching it, partly because I was worried that it would be a disappointment. I have taken part in Rallying for 7 years, and have been lucky enough to compete at a high level in an amateur capacity, and was worried the film would just be a "movie star spends a lot of money on a passing fad" affair, badly made and insincere, and the presence of Jeremy Clarkson on the credits added to this.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

From the beginning, this film appears to be a labour of love, and explanation of an obsession and a journey that has taken the majority of Eric Bana's life. It is beautiful to look at (aside from the quality of the in-car footage which sadly is a victim of the technology of a few years ago), and a real tribute to how Eric feels about his car and his relationship with his friends and family, with the car having been the centrepiece of this relationship - an excuse to get together which often men need to do so. It takes us through the history of the car, its transformations over the years including the current one to compete in the 2007 Targa Tasmania rally, 11 years after their first entry.

The feeling of competing and more importantly how it makes us feel is well articulated, and the relationship between Eric and his navigator is one I know well, and felt myself laughing when they behaved as I have done on the stages with little jokes between the crew or being told off for going too quickly or told to "GO!" when it was time to hurry up.

*SPOILER* - when the car is crashed, it is covered in a way which doesn't just show what happened, it shows the effect of it on the crew and their friends and family, and how they re-evaluate their relationship with the car and what it has meant to them over the years. Having been in the position that Eric Bana was, I really related to what he was saying about the car and what it meant to him, and also Dr Phil's description of the relationship between people and their cars. Seeing Eric's reaction to it was extremely interesting, particularly when he said he'd rather have a broken arm or leg than have 'killed' the car, and his apology to his navigator straight after the accident is something I completely identified with.

I feel that I've really learned something by watching this film - not only about Eric Bana's relationship with his friends via his car, but also my own. It articulated the feelings that cars and specifically rallying evokes far better than I've ever managed or even realised - so much so that I'd say it was the kind of film that anyone who knows someone who competes or who is car obsessed should watch, as it'll probably explain it far better than anyone else could, and into the bargain you'll have an enjoyable 90 minutes watching a well-made and honest film.

fantastic movie, captures the automotive passion spot on

[curlyk3 · 10/10 · 23 February 2012]

As a petrol head or gear head myself, I find this movie extremely easy to relate to and understand. The dedication and connection he has with his car is understandable to me, and the dream he had since his childhood is one that most petrol heads can find common ground in. "Fate, luck and circumstance" took him away from his passion, but his passion for cars, specifically his Falcon are something so many can comprehend.

This movie shows the trials, tribulations, and hardships that come with having a car addiction. I've been brought to tears watching a car drive away and felt the emptiness when something happens to the car. Cars are an extension of our personalities, they're than an analog or digital machine, they become a part of us and a part of our lives.

This movie is one of the first that has shown the automotive scene in such a positive light through dedication. It allows people a glimpse at the choices and the desires we have as car nuts, and gives them a grasp for what makes our wheels turn.

This movie is a must-see for anyone that loves cars.

A car buff must see!

[nickgrenfell · 9/10 · 4 January 2010]

I just saw this today 1/3/10 and loved each and every second of it.

It seems that Mr. Bana and I have similar tastes in our love of cars. His a Falcon (what we in the U.S. looks to be a Ford Torino) and mine a Dodge Charger. We both love our cars in a way that is hard to understand by someone who is not a serious gear head.

The documentary shows a love of cars by Mr. Bana and his friends growing up that had the same appreciation of the automobile

Seeing this film makes me appreciate my love of muscle cars that much better.

The documentary contains an insightful cameo by TV host, Jay Leno. An annoying one by BBC Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson and something in-between by Dr. Phil McGraw.