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Eric Bana, Jay Leno, Phil McGraw, Jeremy Clarkson, Barry Oliver ... see more see more... , Dr. Phil McGraw , Grant Denyer , Jim Richards , Steve Coad , Tim Lynas , Todd Kelly

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 dou... read more read more...bles 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

Flixster Users

77% liked it

573 ratings

Critics

59% liked it

22 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Eric Bana

Release Date: March 12, 2009

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DVD Release Date: July 13, 2010

 

Stats: 122 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (122)


  • July 1, 2010
    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 ... read moreFord 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!
  • February 10, 2011
    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 ... read morethe finish. Definitely one for car enthusiasts (who know what "leaf springs" are) and Bana fans.
  • May 6, 2012
    A cool documentary about someone, who happens to be famous, who is clearly extremely passionate about something.
  • August 6, 2010
    Interesting documentary by Australian actor Eric Bana about himself and his love for the 1974 Ford Falcon coupe he acquired as a teenager that he and his mates have rebuilt numerous times over the years in the garage of the suburban Melbourne home he grew up in. The documentary n... read morearrated by Bana goes back and shows pictures and home movies of his childhood up to the mid 90's when he and his mates entered the Ford in the Targa Tasmania road race. After achieving fame as a movie star over the years and indulging in professional auto racing, he decided to rebuild the Ford Falcon one more time and once again race in the Targa Tasmania a couple of years ago. I really enjoyed this film and would have given it five stars but Jay Leno & Dr. Phil McGraw appearing in interviews with Bana really soured the pace and enjoyability of the film for me.
  • May 27, 2010
    Part bio-pic and part car movie about Eric Banna. Banna has some serious man love for his Falcon XB Coup, an old muscle car popular in Austrialia due to Mad Max. He starts to enter rally races with his childhood car, and some of the racing sceens are great. We also get a littl... read moree insight into Eric Banna's life. Its a good movie for car people.

Critic Reviews


Megan Lehmann
April 3, 2009
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
March 19, 2009
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. Full Review

Allan Hunter
November 13, 2009
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. Full Review

November 13, 2009
Empire Magazine

An indulgent but moving account of a decades-long love affair with his first car. Full Review

Trevor Johnston
November 13, 2009
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... Full Review

Kevin Maher
November 13, 2009
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. Full Review

Catherine Shoard
November 13, 2009
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. Full Review

Jamie Russell
November 13, 2009
Jamie Russell, Total Film

Slight but unexpectedly sweet. Full Review

John Ferguson
November 13, 2009
John Ferguson, Radio Times

Although it helps to be a car nut to watch this, Bana's unpretentious passion is infectious. Full Review

Derek Malcolm
November 13, 2009
Derek Malcolm, This is London

You would have to love Eric Bana and his souped-up old racer to appreciate this car-themed documentary. Full Review

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Love the Beast Trivia


  • What Disney movie has the tag line The most beautiful love story ever told  Answer »
  • '...For who could ever learn to love a beast?'  Answer »
  • Because people need to pay more attention to the narration of movies... What is the TRUE period of time that the beast must learn to love and earn her love or remain a beast forever.  Answer »
  • Which movie has this tagline : " The most beautiful love story ever told "  Answer »

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