Love the Beast (2008)

59% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(573 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Eric Bana
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Mar 12, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Jul 13, 2010
Studio: Madman Entertainment

Critic Reviews

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.
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.
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.
, Empire Magazine
An indulgent but moving account of a decades-long love affair with his first car.
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.
Kevin Maher, Times [UK]
An innocuous if not entirely successful attempt to convince "non-car people" about the joys of loving a 1974 Ford Falcon XB coupe.
Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK]
Bana may not be a star exactly swaddled in charisma, but what mystique he did have is disassembled as comprehensively as that coupe's innards.
Jamie Russell, Total Film
Slight but unexpectedly sweet.
John Ferguson, Radio Times
Although it helps to be a car nut to watch this, Bana's unpretentious passion is infectious.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
You would have to love Eric Bana and his souped-up old racer to appreciate this car-themed documentary.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
This self-directed vanity project shows the actor as a decent bloke who keeps in touch with his old mates from home, but that goodwill is squandered by earnest interviews with fellow petrolheads.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Petrolheads can probably go ahead and add an extra star but otherwise Love the Beast is a likeable and occasionally moving documentary, even if it's not quite the success it could have been.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
'non-car people' will find themselves forced into the position of disengaged anthropologist, observing all the vehicular bump and grind without gaining any real insight or emotional connection from the experience.
Anders Wotzke, Moviedex
Love the Beast is a solid film about car lovers, for car lovers. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them.
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
Through narration, interviews, and cinematographic fawning over their chassis, classic American cars are celebrated for their imperfect character, which makes them seem vibrantly alive.
Simon Weaving, Screenwize
Although it's the shiny red 1974 Ford Falcon coupe that occupies the screen time, it's Eric Bana who engages in this very personal look at the boy from suburban Melbourne, Australia who might have been a racing car driver.
Erin Free, FILMINK (Australia)
Digs enthusiastically into the rarely seriously discussed issue of the bond that can exist between man and machine.
Julie Rigg, MovieTime, ABC Radio National
Slight but engaging.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

In 'Love the Beast' two things are going on; 1) Eric Bana is learning how to make a film 2) Eric Bana is trying to be a racing driver. He doesn't really do a brilliant job at either. This feels like a real sickly buddy movie but without the buddy, or at least the buddy… More
In 'Love the Beast' two things are going on; 1) Eric Bana is learning how to make a film 2) Eric Bana is trying to be a racing driver. He doesn't really do a brilliant job at either. This feels like a real sickly buddy movie but without the buddy, or at least the buddy is a 1974 Ford Falcon coupe (A big red car). An anti-climax then when the buddy dies and Bana doesn't seem to give a toss, but then no one can stand up against the biggest display of egotism I've ever seen on screen, that and all the pointless interviews and moody shots of Bana 'Concentrating' make this a film that could have easily just have been a fairly decent 30 minute TV documentary. Not all of it is bad, it's nice to listen to passionate people, no matter what their passion and even though I'm not a 'Petrol-head', I quite like cars, American Muscle cars in particular, which helped, but in the end you know a film isn't up to much when Jeremy Clarkson pops up at the end and basically says 'This is a stupid film, based on a stupid idea, you (Bana) are stupid'. Quiet frankly you know a film isn't up to much when Jeremy Clarkson pops full stop! Although it is a good indication that this is actually a Top Gear production, so if that is your cup of tea and you are open-minded enough to watch a different ego act like a five year old instead of the usual three (Clarkson, May, Hammond) then this film is for you!
Marcus W

Bana makes a film about himself - a brave move for a directorial debut. Luckily he's quite an interesting person, as is the subject: his 25 year love affair with his car. The chats with Clarkson and Leno are great but the interest wanes around the middle and there's a sag… More
Bana makes a film about himself - a brave move for a directorial debut. Luckily he's quite an interesting person, as is the subject: his 25 year love affair with his car. The chats with Clarkson and Leno are great but the interest wanes around the middle and there's a sag before the finish. Definitely one for car enthusiasts (who know what "leaf springs" are) and Bana fans.