Le Mans Review

Le Mans
Documentary style story set around the famous Le Mans car rally.

by empire |
Published on
Release Date:

01 Jan 1971

Running Time:

106 minutes

Certificate:

PG

Original Title:

Le Mans

Speed was a ruling passion for Steve McQueen, and despite the fears of his wife, producers and insurance agents, it was one he persisted in pursuing on screen.

This is a pseudo-documentary re-creation of the famous 24-hour French race that had become something of an obsessive goal for the actor, but proved far less enthralling to the public. The print transfer looks nice, but the feature remains a flaccid, largely plotless yawn - the relationship between McQueen and the widow of a driver killed in an accident in which he was injured takes a back seat.

Otherwise, it's all atmosphere and pit stops, lifted here and there by a flinty 'king of cool' gaze or slow-motion right-off filmed and edited from all angles.

For gear heads only.
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