McLaren (film)

McLaren is a 2017 New Zealand sports documentary film based on the life of Bruce McLaren, founder of the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing team. The film stars Dwayne Cameron as Bruce McLaren and was directed by Roger Donaldson.

McLaren
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRoger Donaldson
Written byJames Brown
Matthew Metcalfe
Tim Woodhouse
Story byMatthew Metcalfe
Glenn Standring
Produced byFraser Brown
Matthew Metcalfe
StarringDwayne Cameron
CinematographyDavid Paul
Edited byTim Woodhouse
Music byJ. Peter Robinson
Production
companies
FB Pictures
General Film Corporation
Distributed byTransmission Films
Universal Pictures
Release dates
  • 25 May 2017 (2017-05-25) (United Kingdom)
  • 1 June 2017 (2017-06-01) (New Zealand)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

The film recounts the life of New Zealand motor car racer Bruce McLaren through interviews, archival footage, and recreations.[1]

Cast

Production

Scenes were shot at 590 Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland 1050, New Zealand, where Bruce McLaren grew up.

Release

The film premiered in the UK on 25 May 2017, followed by its release in New Zealand on 1 June 2017. The film screened at the 2017 Sydney Film Festival[2] before being released in Australian on 21 June 2017.

Reception

Ellie Walker-Arnott of Time Out gave it 4 out of 5 starts, writing, "A handful of dramatisations – intended to flesh out gaps in the narrative – jar while at times the film digs deep into detail in a way that threatens to alienate all but the most dedicated racing fans. But ultimately the human story of this scrappy and magnetic man keeps the doc on track."[3] Zara Horn gave it 5 stars for telling the story of a motorsports legend who overcame his childhood physical challenges to pursue his passion and establish an enduring legacy.

Steve Newall of the New Zealand Herald gave it 3 out of 5 stars, writing that the film "should hold differing types of appeal to various generations. For older viewers it'll be the retelling of a familiar story of one of their fallen heroes, whereas others may gravitate to the mid-20th-century motorsport environment".[4]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave it 2 out of 5 stars, calling it a "motor-racing film only for petrolheads" that "does not tell us why we should be interested in its subject" because it "makes no serious attempt at reaching out beyond its fanbase, connecting with non-petrolheads, or gaining any perspective on the sometimes scary and dysfunctional world of motor racing".[5] John Nugent of Empire gave it 2 stars, writing that the film is "assembled in such a way that can only appeal to the target Top Gear demographic. Non-petrolheads need not apply."[6]

References
  1. "McLaren – The Man Behind the Cars". 27 May 2018.
  2. https://www.sff.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/170510-full-program-announce-sff2017.pdf
  3. "McLaren 2017, directed by Roger Donaldson | Film review". Time Out London. 15 May 2017.
  4. Newall, Steve (1 June 2017). "Movie Review: McLaren" – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  5. Bradshaw, Peter (19 May 2017). "McLaren review - motor-racing film only for petrolheads". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  6. "McLaren". Empire. 21 May 2017.
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