Love the Beast (2008)
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59% of critics liked it
(22 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(649 ratings)
Millions of viewers are familiar with Aussie actor Eric Bana from his Hollywood blockbuster work, notably in Black Hawk Down (2001), Hulk (2003) and Munich (2005). Bana steps away from fiction and doubles as director-and-star with this unusual and highly personal outing, a documentary concerning the… More Millions of viewers are familiar with Aussie actor Eric Bana from his Hollywood blockbuster work, notably in Black Hawk Down (2001), Hulk (2003) and Munich (2005). Bana steps away from fiction and doubles as director-and-star with this unusual and highly personal outing, a documentary concerning the thespian's deep-seated love of his classic sports car. Nicknamed "The Beast," the vehicle in question is a Ford GT Falcon Coupe that Bana received secondhand from his father and has rebuilt on multiple occasions. The film explores Bana's ongoing, 25-year+ love affair with the auto, finds him discussing the nature of this relationship with celebrity psychoanalyst Dr. Phil McGraw, and documents racing in the famous 5-day Targa Tasmania Rally. Jay Leno also turns up and offers a tour of his massive collection of classic cars. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Directed By
- Eric Bana
- Genres
- Documentary, Special Interest
- In Theaters
- Mar 12, 2009 Wide
- Studio
- Madman Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Trevor Johnston, Time Out
Bana exudes downhome blokeyness throughout, but an hour of this will be enough for most, after which egomania fatigue sets in. Add another star if you're a petrolhead, two if you really like Eric Bana and cars, three if you're his mum.
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Megan Lehmann, Hollywood Reporter
Bana's easygoing manner and a lingering sense of nostalgia build a mellow mood overall, while shrewd editing by Conor O'Neill and a rocking Aussie soundtrack pump up the volume on the race sequences.
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Richard Kuipers, Variety
Bana packs plenty of visual grunt for revhead auds, but his misty-eyed narration and awkwardly staged probing of man-car love with an Oz TV psychologist veer close to vanity-project potholes.
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Allan Hunter, Daily Express
Unless you share Bana's worship of screeching tyres and throbbing engines then this is probably something you only really need to see on the small screen.
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, Empire Magazine
An indulgent but moving account of a decades-long love affair with his first car.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Eric Bana
as Himself
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Jay Leno
as Himself
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Phil McGraw
as Himself
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Jeremy Clarkson
as Himself
- Barry Oliver
- Dr. Phil McGraw
- Grant Denyer
- Jim Richards
- Steve Coad
- Tim Lynas
- Todd Kelly

