I’m not normally the type to voluntarily offer up my time to watch sports documentaries, but WINNING:THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN is one of those rare exceptions. Here’s the catch, it’s really not a sports film, but a look into another, lesser known side of the life of Paul Newman, one of the greatest American actors of all-time, and as it turns out, one of the greatest American men of all-time as well.
When you define what makes the perfect man, the perfect American citizen, or even the perfect human being, what comes to mind? The answer to that question will vary greatly, depending on who you ask, and the truth is, it’s a trick question. There is no perfection when it comes to humanity. However, what I discovered from watching this film, co-directed by Adam Carolla and Nate Adams, is that Paul Newman damn near comes close, if anyone does, by my standards.
WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN is not a racing film. Its a film about a man racing to make the most of his life in the areas in which he enjoys and excels. The film starts off slow, taking its time to build up speed and find its mojo, but once it does, this little 83-minute documentary gem reveals some truly amazing content. Just on the surface, WINNING is well worth the watch just for the archival footage, most of which I — and certainly most others — have never seen or knew existed. We come to learn that, despite his accomplishments and fame as an Academy Award-winning actor, his heart really belonged to racing. This, despite the fact he did not start racing until in his forties.
Witnessing the drive and commitment of Paul Newman toward something other than what made him a household name was truly inspiring. We see how a man so publicly in the spotlight as an entertainer can somehow maintain a private life as an average Joe, an everyman with dreams and aspirations outside of Hollywood. We see how he embraces a lower profile, but does not succumb to the trappings of ego and elitism. We see as well his heart and compassion for his fellow man in the charitable work he and wife Joanne Woodward pursue, and even a glimpse into his passion for making salad dressings. Yes, Newman’s Own began as a personal passion of making the salad condiment for friends and family.
WINNING is not a flashy, well-polished film, but where it lacks glitz and glamor it excels at sincerity. Archival footage and photographs are interlaced with a multitude of honest, off the cuff interviews with colleagues, friends and family. The film features recollections and antidotes from the likes of Robert Wagner, Patrick Dempsey, Jay Leno, Robert Redford, Mario and Michael Andretti — amongst countless other racing stars — his wife Joanne Woodward, John Lasseter and more.
Coincidentally, about the only person of note mentioned in the film who is absent in the interviews is Tom Cruise, which is disappointing but also not terribly surprising. The film does, however, delve into the influence Newman had on Cruise early in his stardom, how he was something of a mentor, introduced Cruise to racing and ultimately led to his spending two years pursuing the sport as Newman himself had, before backing out due to safety concerns. Parallel to this, WINNING also conveys a sense of bravery and determination revealed about Newman’s character. I mean, the man continued racing professionally into his early eighties… who else does that?!?
The previously mentioned interview segments with John Lasseter, director of Disney/Pixar’s CARS, was a wonderful addition with which to end the film, as he discussed how crucial Newman was in his role as Doc in providing a sense of authenticity and racing credibility to the film that helped make it such a success. This further illustrates the multiple layers of legacy left behind by the surprisingly humble man and the life he chose to lead.
WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN is a film with a title longer than its running time, but this short nugget of American history is likely to stick with you for years to come and possibly even inspire and influence a few viewers to greatness of their own, in some form or another. This film only increased my respect and admiration for the iconic Paul Newman.
WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN
is available on
Video on Demand now
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
