Heads Up: New Audi Documentary About LeMans

[FastCarFan]

In case this hasn't been posted, I want to give the Pelicanheads a heads up about an upcoming film that sounds like a great movie. I first read about it in AutoWeek but I couldn't find the article on the AW Website (terrible Website). A Google search found a good article about the film on the Motor Trend Website (I don't normally read or like MT, but this is a good article).

I sounds like "must see TV" for sports car racing nuts. The MT online article has some good photos. I think it is showing on ESPN Friday, 3/20 at 8:00 p.m. eastern time, the night before Sebring. Check it out.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2008/112_0811_truth_in_24_movie_review/index.html

Documentary "Truth In 24" Follows Team Audi at Le Mans
Film Chronicles Audi's Fight For A Fifth-Straight Victory at Legendary Le Mans 24 Hours Race

It's been 37 years since Steve McQueen bet everything on what would arguably become the best feature-length racing movie ever. "Le Mans" doesn't have much plot to speak of, but if you're a true race fan, you don't mind. Despite being fictitious, the movie has a documentary-like feel to it, making it all the more authentic. Many have tried to bring auto racing to the big screen, with limited success. Most efforts have been heavily tainted by Hollywood's need for plot, and the actual auto racing in the film suffered for it. Enter "Truth In 24," a feature-length documentary about Team Audi's quest for a fifth-straight victory as it faces its first serious challenge in years from Peugeot.

In a break from tradition in sports documentaries, the film studio chosen to shoot the film did not specialize in the sport. Rather than use a crew from SPEED Channel or the like, "Truth In 24" was created by NFL Films. Director Keith Cossrow and co-director Bennett Viseltear readily admit taking on the project with very little knowledge of auto racing, but rather than hurt the film, it actually enhanced it. Both have won multiple awards for their sports documentaries, though this film was the first feature-length documentary for either. Coming in cold, as Viseltear would put it, they were able to bring an outside perspective to the sport. The result is a film that's engrossing for auto-racing enthusiasts and average movie-goers alike. Any sports film runs a fine line between being too technical for non-enthusiasts and too watered-down for hard-core fans. Here, Cossrow and Viseltear have struck a comfortable balance.

With unprecedented access to Team Audi and to the tracks, "Truth In 24" explores Team Audi's recent history of domination at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as its missteps, as the team prepares for the 2008 race. Audi has won seven of the last eight races leading up to the 2008 Le Mans race with its R8 gasoline-powered car and its revolutionary R10 diesel-powered car. For the past four years, the diesels have dominated the competition, but as Audi prepares for a fifth consecutive victory, a serious challenger arises in the form of a diesel-powered car from Peugeot. In qualifying and races leading up to Le Mans, the Peugeot is consistently faster than the Audi, forcing the defending champions into the unexpected position of underdog.

Along the way, the film jumps back and forth from final preparations before the 2008 Le Mans to earlier races in the season and significant moments in races from seasons past, including disappointing showings at Sebring and Monza. The film culminates, of course, with the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Audi must find a way to win against the faster Peugeot team. Audi fields three cars: Car 1, piloted by "the old guys," Frank Biela, Marco Werner and Emanuele Pirro; Car 2, piloted by the top drivers, "Mr. Le Mans" Tom Kristensen, who had won a record seven times at Le Mans leading up to 2008, Rinaldo "Dindo" Capello, and Allan McNish; and Car 3, piloted by "the youngsters," Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Alexandre Premat. Will "the old guys" show them how it's done, or will "the youngsters" step up? Can "Mr. Le Mans" win a record eighth time? Take my advice, if you don't remember who won Le Mans this year, don't Google it before see the movie, it's much more exciting if you're not sure who will win.

With several of the driver's personal stories woven into the bigger challenge from Peugeot, "Truth In 24" doesn't need a Hollywood-style plot to be entertaining. The story sells itself, and the driver's personal struggles only increase your interest in the outcome. Along the way, you get to know the drivers and engineers well, both in interviews and candid footage. The drivers themselves are interesting characters in their own right and quite funny, giving the film several laugh-out-loud moments. The team as a whole comes off as one big family, and regardless of how you feel about one manufacturer dominating the race for years, you can't help but get caught up in the emotion of their story. When the team members aren't speaking for themselves, the movie is narrated by actor and Audi aficionado Jason Statham, whose accent and dispassionate reading give the film a serious undertone and European feel. The narration was written by Cossrow, Viseltear, and Gerry Reimel and offers interesting insights into the team's past and each driver's history without being overbearing. Most of the time, Cossrow and Viseltear let the team members do the talking, and they're all comfortable enough in front of the camera to make the interviews and candid sequences engrossing.

"Truth In 24" has been screened at several film festivals around the U.S. and is expected to play at several more. In the meantime, NFL Films is still hammering out distributions possibilities, but we're told that they would like to see the film receive at least limited release in theaters, as well as showing on TV and later becoming available on DVD. The film was well-received at its Los Angeles premier last night and featured a post-movie Q&A session with directors Cossrow and Viseltear and drivers Emanuele Pirro, Mike Rockenfeller, Alexandre Premat, and Rinaldo Capello. While Premat and Capello were rather quiet, Pirro was happy to talk all night, when Rockenfeller wasn't holding him back. The chemistry between the drivers was obvious and added credence to the film's portrayal of the team. There are no forced pleasantries here, these men may as well have been family.

"Truth In 24" is an excellent film for auto sports enthusiasts of all degrees, and it won't put your date to sleep, either. As Cossrow put it, they've created a film that your wife can still enjoy. "Truth In 24" is one of the best documentaries on motorsports to come out in years and will likely find a place on the shelf next to McQueen's "Le Mans" in many fans' collections for years to come.

by Scott Evans

[FastCarFan]

Here is a link to the AutoWeek article about the documentary.

http://www.syncspeedinc.com/documents/AutoweekLeMansreview.pdf

[Doug E]

Thanks for the reviews, I hadn't seen those. This has been on my calendar and programmed into the DVR for awhile now ... looks like it is going to be an instant classic and must see for any true racing fan.

Here's a link to the trailer that I found on the web. Based on just the cinematic quality of this trailer the show has got to be a homerun:

http://www.truthin24.com/?csref=34012711212613240#/the_story/

And the best part is we can enjoy the 12 hours of Sebring the next day !

[FastCarFan]

Bump. I don't want anyone to miss this show. It sounds like it is fantastic!

[Heel n Toe]

Yeah, let's keep bumping it... 8-10 Eastern on ESPN.

[Heel n Toe]

bump

[mike monde]

Cant wait to see it

[masraum]

sweet, thanks, I'll have to program my DVR when I get home.

[Stanley]

Remember for west coast people it's on at 5pm

[Monza_dh]

watching it now. Nice work especially the lap behind the wheel. the only issue is that stupid constant ESPN NCAA ticker on the bottom. Why not drop that for a while??

[Doug E]

WOW, what a show ... incredibly well done. The behind the scenes footage was amazing, especially the radio transmission between H and TK at the end regarding the tires.

Kudos for a fantastic job to NFL films. The only problem was that dang ticker that Monza mentioned but that was ESPN's doing and not part of the film.

Definately going to be watching this one again

[AndyK!]

A vary well done documentary. I am looking forward to seeing how the new Audi does in it's debut later today in Sebring.

[TGTIW]

Just listening to McNish narrate a lap was amazing.

[ros74911]

saw this on espn yesterday. it's pretty cool.

[porsche4life]

Will there be a DVD version? I dont get ESPN and my internet doesnt agree with torrents.

[Skytrooper]

That was a very interesting program ! Thanks for posting the notice ! I am watching Sebring right now

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by TGTIW

Just listening to McNish narrate a lap was amazing.

+1 I think it was one of the hightlights of the show.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Will there be a DVD version? I dont get ESPN and my internet doesnt agree with torrents.

You can download a DRM version from Apple iTunes (i.e. no DVD Burning) or wait for Audi to issue the DVD soon (or so they tell me).

[porsche4life]

Ya I found that out. Already watched it. Pretty cool really.