2022 MAMMOTH FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Rookie Season tells the story of Rebel Rock Racing in their inaugural season. Racers Frank DePew and Robin Liddell work together to put Rebel Rock Racing on the map and make it a household name. As they navigate their first season together and attempt to establish themselves in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, the world will see their greatest strengths, their biggest weaknesses, and everything in between. This is their story.
I’ve never really been into NASCAR, Formula 1, or any other form of car racing–but I’ve been obsessed with The Fast & the Furious, and the other films of the franchise, for years at this point. I’ve seen each film a number of times, I care for the characters, and the lore that surrounds the beloved films has resonated with me since I first jumped into the franchise back in 2001. Why am I telling you this? Well, Rookie Season, while it focuses on the struggles of car racing, the stress that it puts on relationships (of all kinds), and all of the real-world aspects of this sport, the way in which director Adrian Bonvento tells this story and develops this documentary feels very much like what I’ve seen in those aforementioned Fast & Furious films. The film, throughout its entirety, is high-octane–and the momentum never relents, as it drives viewers, at high speeds, through the tumultuous journey of car racing.
Beyond just the excitement present throughout Rookie Season, Bonvento develops something that allows me to better appreciate the sport that I’ve often avoided. The strategy, the preparation, and the immense difficulty that surrounds the sport were finally exposed to me in a way that I can understand and appreciate. You don’t have to be well-versed in this sport to understand what’s occurring throughout Rookie Season, as they explain the nuances and subtleties of car racing in a way that everyone is able to make sense of–and that’s a tall task. Not only does this express the prowess of these filmmakers, but it additionally allows them to showcase their in-depth knowledge of the sport and all that it entails.
I’m back to wondering how the subjects of a documentary are able to be so candid with cameras in their faces, but this time I know that it’s due to their passion for the sport. The passion present throughout Rookie Season transcends viewers and allows them to feel how emotionally connected this group is to their sport and their craft.
Rookie Season puts viewers in the driver's seat of some of the coolest race cars in the world, and the experience feels real. Viewers feel like they are sitting alongside DePew and Liddell and they are part of this journey. That immersive experience is breathtaking and captivating–giving viewers a reason to stick around and appreciate the story. This is a racing documentary made not just for fans of the sport, but for anyone who appreciates film, documentaries, or sports in general. It appeals to each of the aforementioned groups and does a wonderful job of providing each group a reason to become attached. The story of Rebel Rock Racing present in Rookie Season is interesting, but the nuances of the sport that Bonvento and the cast and crew are able to shed light on is the most interesting part of this enjoyable doc.
Directed by Adrian Bonvento.
Starring Frank DePew, Robin Liddell, Joe Hall, Andrew Davis, Phil Pierce, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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