Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman

Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman is a feature-length documentary film that serves to chronicle the fascinating, at times boisterous, 35-year long racing career of the noted actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman. Released in 2015, the film spotlights the global icon's lesser-known love affair with motor racing, narrating his journey from a Hollywood superstar to a highly respected race car driver. A plethora of remarkable figures from the racing world including Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, and Dick Barbour add depth to the narrative, offering their priceless insights and weaving together the gripping yarn of Newman's racing life.

The documentary takes audiences on a captivating ride into Paul Newman's intriguing and demanding world of motor racing, far removed from the dazzling glamour of Hollywood. Setting the pace, the film paints a vivid picture of Newman's debut into the world of motor racing which occurred after his exposure to the sport as a training for the 1969 film 'Winning'. However, what started as method acting turned into a lifelong obsession, and Newman's fascination with racing ultimately evolved into a serious racing career that would span over three and a half decades.

In interviews punctuated through the duration of the film, Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, and Dick Barbour lend their unique insights into Newman's driving prowess, his approach to racing, and his commitment to the daredevil sport. Through their stories, the audience learns about Newman's resilience, his pure enthusiasm for racing, and the remarkable command he had over his racing machines. All this, creating a portrait of a man who ruled not just the heart of Hollywood, but also the racing tracks.

One of the main aims of Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman is to underline a lesser-talked about facet of Newman's life - his passion for racing. Despite his late start in racing at the age of 47, the talented actor showed an intrinsic knack for the sport. He not only competed in globally renowned races but also emerged victorious in many of them. His sprint to becoming a professional driver was just as impressive, and this film makes sure his achievements are given the limelight they deserve.

A fascinating part of the documentary focuses on Newman's role as a team owner and his deep involvement with launching Newman/Haas Racing in 1983 along with Carl Haas. This venture went on to become one of the most successful teams in the history of Indycar. Boasting extensive footage from Newman's races, viewers are given an intimate and thrilling glimpse into his journey and accomplishments as a team owner. This story perfectly showcases his dedication to the sport and his unique ability to unite and inspire his team.

Chronologically arranging Newman's racing life, the documentary combines a beautiful blend of archived racing footage, personal interviews, as well as Paul Newman’s own recollections. The latter is nicely achieved using snippets from various interviews he'd given over the years. The interviews enabled us to hear, posthumously, Newman's thoughts on his twin obsessions – acting and racing, and how he came upon motor racing later in his life, which was as important to him as his acting career. A particularly poignant part of the documentary is a keen exploration of Newman's philanthropic efforts interlinked with his racing career.

Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman is not just a film about racing but an intimate exploration of a public figure's private love. What makes this film a must-watch is its successful attempt to provide an unbiased narrative of Newman's racing life while blending commentary from individuals who were part of his racing journey. The real charm of the documentary resides in its ability to take the audience deep under the surface, allowing a glimpse into the man behind the helmet - Paul Newman, the race car driver. For those who knew Newman as an actor and humanitarian, this film grants a richer insight into the man off-camera, behind the wheel, living out his passion on the racing tracks.

Loaded with perceptive interviews, thrilling racing footage, and poignant recollections, Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman is an engaging tribute to Paul Newman’s racing legacy - a side of Newman fewer people knew but an aspect that complemented his acting prowess and enriched his multifaceted persona on the world stage. It is a compelling watch for both race car enthusiasts and admirers of Newman's acting career.