Exclusive Books' recommended May reads
Push the limit in Unsolicited, a thrilling debut from Andrea Shaw, with twists and turns sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. We meet Fatima Matthews, a quick-witted and sharp-eyed detective juggling a murder case, a plagiarism scandal and the chaos of menopause. Detective Matthews must face her frailties as the threats escalate and the chance to redeem herself starts to slip away.
Their non-fiction selection for May is a combination of topical reads for anyone wary of AI, inspiring stories for much-loved figures and reflective reads for rainy days. Find comfort with Sameer Rawjee in the growing integration of AI in our daily lives in Taking the Anxiety out of AI, a helpful guide outlining the co-existence of human talent and the power of technology.
Oprah's Book Club pick The Tell by Amy Griffin is a heartfelt memoir exploring memory, trauma and the healing power of time. Prompted by Griffin's 10-year-old daughter wishing to close the distance between them, Griffin is propelled to confront what she spent her life running from.
Feel inspired by the journey of the greatest Formula One driver of all time in the definitive biography of Lewis Hamilton, Sir Lewis by Michael E Sawyer. From karting on local tracks to becoming a seven-time world champion, this biography examines the legacy of an icon on and off the grid.
Markus Zusak brings a poignant, funny and disarmingly honest memoir of family, love and companionship in Three Wild Dogs and the Truth. Zusak shares the story of his family's adoption of three wily rescue dogs and the madness, hilarity and inseparable relationships that ensued.
Discover the history of the SA film industry in Hollywood on the Veld by Ted Botha. Secretive millionaire IW Schlesinger had ambitions to rival Hollywood from a film studio in Killarney. This is the never-before-told story of the rise and fall of the strangest, most unique empire ever.
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Lewis Hamilton opening up Ferrari to 'interesting' ideas, says Charles Leclerc
With his wealth of experience in Formula One, Lewis Hamilton is a cut above the rest of the drivers in the paddock. At 40 years old, Hamilton is now producing movies and helping Ferrari better design their cars. And he is doing it in style. The seven-time world champion made the headline move to Ferrari at the end of last season, as Mercedes' domination came to an end after the FIA introduced the ground effect changes. Hamilton is chasing an eighth world title and moved to Ferrari with the intention of seizing it in a red Prancing Horse. While the first half of this season could not be described as successful when looking from the outside, fellow driver Charles Leclerc suggested that Hamilton has opened Ferrari up to a world of knowledge they never knew. Winning seven titles does not come without a deep understanding of the machines he drove and thus Hamilton possesses a skill very few drivers on the paddock have - an ability to provide meaningful feedback that can allow engineers to make the necessary adjustments. It's Hamilton's first time driving a Ferrari, whereas Leclerc has been in the Ferrari since 2019, but still, he thinks Hamilton's got some interesting ideas.
The South African
05-07-2025
- The South African
Brad Pitt reveals why Tom Cruise passed on Ford v Ferrari
Brad Pitt revealed why he and Tom Cruise pulled out of starring in the acclaimed racing film Ford v Ferrari . The two Hollywood icons were originally set to star in the film about the legendary 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race. However, the project fell through over a simple yet very Tom Cruise-like reason: he wouldn't be driving enough on screen. In a recent interview with The National , Pitt explained that both he and Cruise were eager to take the wheel in the film. Cruise wanted to play Carroll Shelby, the visionary car designer. Brad Pitt aimed for the role of Ken Miles, the daring British driver. However, Cruise discovered that Shelby's character wouldn't be behind the wheel much. This didn't sit well with the star, known for performing his own high-risk stunts. 'Tom and I, for a while there, were on Ford v Ferrari with Joe [Kosinski] to direct. This was about 10 years before the guys who actually made it — and made it a great movie,' Pitt said. 'What it came down to is that we both wanted to drive. He wanted to play Shelby, and I wanted to play Ken Miles. And when Tom Cruise realised that Carroll Shelby would not be driving much in the movie, it didn't come through', according to The Hollywood Reporter The roles eventually went to Christian Bale as Ken Miles and Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby. They were cast under the direction of James Mangold. Brad Pitt's revelation gives a new perspective on what might have been a thrilling collaboration. Pitt, who recently starred in the Formula One drama F1: The Movie , also spoke about the possibility of a sequel. He admitted he would love to get back behind the wheel but acknowledged the story's focus would likely remain on the younger character Joshua Pierce, played by Damson Idris. 'Where does Sonny [Pitt's character] fit in? I'm not sure. Sonny's probably out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting speed records or something like that,' he said. Brad Pitt also expressed enthusiasm about potentially working with Cruise again on a follow-up to Cruise's 1990 NASCAR film Days of Thunder . 'I'd love to,' Pitt said, 'but I'm not going to hang my ass off aeroplanes and stuff like that'. This is a nod to Cruise's famously daring stunts. As Pitt put it, 'F1 is still the focus. It needs to be on Joshua Pierce and the rest of the team fighting for a championship.' But for now, fans can only imagine what might have been if Cruise had taken the wheel in Ford v Ferrari . Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
04-07-2025
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The race problem behind the racy ‘F1' movie
Everybody loves a good sports movie, especially as streamers feed the insatiable hunger binge watchers have for documentaries. With the likes of David Beckham and Usain Bolt pulling back the veils from their misunderstood lives, the cinema of fast-paced flicks is slowly taking over. Coming into the fold is Joseph Kosinski's F1, which follows his winning trajectory of fast-paced dramas. Starring Brad Pitt, who plays the fictional Sonny Hayes, F1 follows a former American Formula One driver on the verge of a career comeback late in life. After a horrific crash earlier in his career, Sonny's life spiralled out of the limelight and into destructive behaviours and career changes. His former teammate Ruben Cervantes (played by Javier Bardem) pulls him from the chaotic world of NASCAR and back into Formula One racing in the hope of reviving fictional motor racing company Apex. Each cast member shines in what is a definitive movie that has pulled audiences back to the cinema, hitting $146m in its first week. While the movie successfully scores, directs and costumes Pitt into what could easily be an Oscar favourite, it runs into a snag with its supporting cast. Its most glaring issues can be seen with Apex GP's rising talent, Joshua Pearce, played by Snowfall star Damson Idris. With barely enough wins to save the company from a troubled reputation, the pressure is on Joshua to make the right moves on the track to secure a much-needed win. However, with Sonny looking to make a comeback, the story creates a conflict between the two, which makes for great tension. While Idris shines alongside Pitt, it does seem he may be miscast in this role — not due to a lack of talent, but because of issues left bare in the writing room. While Sonny is framed as a recluse loose cannon brimming at the helmet with talent, Joshua is framed as a template for a fame-obsessed rookie. However, with Idris being black and quite talented at showcasing the pain in Joshua's training, the storyline falls flat as a judgmental gaze at the pressures of success. The initial scenes on meeting Joshua showcase a number of these elements. He exposits about a former teammate who has been benched (in favour of Sonny) and racially discriminated against, with Apex GP's marketing team forcing Joshua to suck it up and fake it for the press. This is the same expectation thrust on Joshua when he meets Sonny, who makes an aloof entrance and does not co-operate with the Apex GP team. So much so that it costs him and Joshua multiple wins. Joshua confronts Sonny's insubordination but is met with little support from senior members of Apex GP, leading to a blow-up between him and Sonny, where cameras catch them in a heated exchange. Joshua reverts to his signature pose and a wide smile, playing nice for the camera and an impenitent Sonny who shames him for keeping a good face in light of the conflict. These moments go on to define Joshua's experiences, where there's very little understanding of the racial context to what he is experiencing. Joshua's experiences in F1 echo studies into black fatigue and code switching, which are efforts made by black people in workplaces where they have to work twice as hard as white counterparts to fit in to the professional environment. Joshua is the only other person of colour in the Apex GP team and with a lot of chatter from the corporate members around him looking to have him axed, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust his standing in his workplace. As a solution, Joshua and his manager cut outside deals through club appearances, brand-sponsored social media posts and an intense workout regimen that constantly gets contrasted with the detached world Sonny lives in. Rather than alleviate this pressure, we see Joshua struggle to secure his living due to not feeling as secure as Sonny or the benched colleague. This is also echoed in the many mistakes Sonny makes while Joshua is lambasted for one slip that the story continues to bring up until he accounts for it. As part of the flubbed attempt at making Joshua seem like an arrogant, fame-hungry member of the team, the movie constantly displays a dislike for technology. Whether it's Joshua's use of social media or the hi-tech training equipment he painstakingly uses to keep up with the high standards placed on him, the movie makes him the poster boy for a future that conflicts with a past it can't seem to fully define. In its poor attempt at stereotyping Joshua's character, it creates a supporting cast filled with uninteresting roleplayers who fall into tired tropes we've seen too many times before. It is especially glaring with Kerry Condon (Banshees of Inisherin), who is underutilised as a trope often mocked by TikTokers and today's leading ladies. A scientist whose place in the team is questioned based on gender and becomes defined by becoming the lead character's love interest. Rather than celebrating differences and allowing its main character to shine as an impulsive leader, F1 takes a wrong turn from a thrilling redemption story that's oversteered into a movie that longs for but can't quite give meaning to nostalgia.
