Maximum Elevation

“I’ve always been interested in speed.”

Joe Kosinski

He admired Antoni Gaudí’s work in Spain, the futurism of Erich Mendelsohn’s Einstein Tower in Potsdam, Germany, and in particular Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural legacy at home. He also expanded his studies to include music, which is in his blood. “My grandfather was a jazz trumpeter, my mom a concert pianist.” He played piano as a three-year-old and then switched to saxophone at the age of ten. Like his grandfather, Kosinski played in a band – primarily classic jazz: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and the like. “But I was smart enough to realize that I didn’t have the talent for a professional career.” Still, his musical knowledge helps him today when he works with the world’s best film composers, including Hans Zimmer, who he collaborated with on Lady Gaga’s Hold My Hand for Top Gun: Maverick, for example. French duo Daft Punk was nominated for a Grammy for its soundtrack to Kosinski’s 2010 cinematic debut, Tron: Legacy. “Music can have an overwhelming emotional effect,” emphasizes the filmmaker. “That makes it just as important as the shots.”

Kosinski’s career in filming kicked off during his studies in architecture in New York – when he began producing his first short films. The Desert House flick was just two minutes long, but still managed to win over marketing experts at Nike. Soon thereafter, Kosinski filmed his first of many high-speed commercials.

Speed is not the only element that connects his movies. Kosinski’s work often reflects his childhood enthusiasm for cars and his passion for Porsche. “The DNA of a Porsche is much like a movie when you can immediately tell who directed it.” He purchased his first model, a 718 Cayman S, at the age of 33. “The mid-engine made for a fantastically balanced car! But when our first son was born, I bought a 911 Carrera S, type 997.” Additional 911 would follow. “The best was the 911 Turbo, type 991,” he says. “I spent an eternity selecting the equipment and had to wait half a year for it.” That was in 2017. But the joy didn’t last for much more than a year. “A parking garage employee was racing the Turbo and collided head-on with one of his coworkers on the ramp.” It if were a movie, it would be a comedy. In reality, the loss is still painful to this day.

Kristin and Joe Kosinski now have two sons – twelve and eight years of age – and a two-year-old daughter, all of whom fit inside the Cayenne GTS Coupé. Next to it is a 911 Carrera Coupé (993) built in 1996. “The car is compact and lightweight. I love the sound of the air-cooled engine and can tinker around with it myself.” Most of all, he enjoys driving his classic car on the windy Tuna Canyon Road, which is the only one-way canyon road in California. “And on Mulholland Highway in Malibu, I appreciate the confidence of the Cayenne.” The aficionado trains at the Porsche Experience Center every few months and is already looking forward to the 911 GT3 with Touring Package he ordered. But things really pick up pace when he climbs into the cramped cockpit of a new monoposto in preparation for his next movie. “I want to understand the driver’s perspective before the crest of a curve.” Brad Pitt already drives in Formula 2. “This movie needs to be authentic, too,” explains Kosinski. Seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton is on board as an advisor and producer. “And we’re working closely with the Formula 1 management, which is comparable with the navy collaboration.” Kosinski is willing to reveal a key element of the plot: “The story is about disruptive outsiders.” Brad Pitt plays a former race car driver, an up-and-coming star in the 1990s who lost his chance at success. Decades later, he returns as the leader of a team of underdogs. The technical team leader is female.

Strong women are important to the American. In addition to female Top Gun pilot Phoenix, who he always had fly with real, female navy pilots, he also created the character of Penny Benjamin for the box office hit. “An independent businesswoman and proficient sailor who can keep pace with Maverick.” At the romantic end of the movie, Penny drives up in her sports car, the 911 S built in 1973, which is more than a homage to the 356 Speedster from the first Top Gun movie. “The scene with Jennifer Connelly and Cruise had to be an iconic Top Gun moment,” explains Kosinski. “I definitely wanted to use one of the most beautiful Porsche models ever built.” The shots are personal like Kosinski’s signature. It’s no coincidence that he and the car come from the same year.