Car Movies

“Le Mans” is Steve McQueen’s homage to the famous French 24 hour auto endurance race. The storyline features McQueen in a nicely understated performance as a racer returning to competition at Le Mans one year after a nearly fatal accident, one in which a close friend was killed. The movie follows his intense competition with an old rival on the track, and his slowly blossoming relationship off the track with the widow of his close friend.

Much of the movie is given over to an almost loving examination of all the sights and sounds of Le Mans and of the racers and the fans it attracts. Michel LeGrand’s score nicely supports the fast/slow pacing of the movie on and off the track. The racing scenes are well done, using a variety of camera angles and lighting effects. The race is hard to follow during a rainy night in the middle of the competition. The racers are often hard to distinguish from one another in their helmets and protective gear.

The movie has a number of highlights. One is an accident on the track that threatens to take McQueen prematurely out of the competition. A second moment, of almost pitch-perfect clarity, is McQueen’s explanation to the widow of why men race automobiles. A third is the tense conclusion of the race itself.

This movie is highly recommended to fans of endurance autoracing and of Steve McQueen.