What do you get when you combine three icons on screen at once? An absolutely must-see cinematic experience, that’s what. In this case we’re talking about The Chase For Carrera, a particularly unmissable new action-comedy that celebrates the 60th anniversary of TAG Heuer’s landmark Carrera collection.
Now, we don’t use the word icon lightly here at Man of Many, but when it comes to The Chase For Carrera there really is no other way to describe all three stars of the show. The first of these is the stunning TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox (more on that a little later); the second is the Porsche 911 Carrera, which is front and centre for much of the film’s high-octane action; and finally, the third is the man behind the wheel of said Porsche, the one and only Ryan Gosling.
Ryan Gosling wearing the TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox | Image: TAG Heuer
From Action Cinema’s Finest
Produced by action cinema maestro David Leitch (the man behind John Wick, Deadpool 2, and Bullet Train) and shot in Sydney while both Leitch and Gosling were collaborating on their new blockbuster, The Fall Guy, The Chase For Carrera is a no-holds-barred film within a film that sees Gosling on the run from his latest movie’s prop master (played by the incomparable Vanessa Bayer) as she tries to retrieve a TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox that’s firmly strapped to the star’s wrist.
We can see why Gosling is so determined to hang on to this particular timepiece, particularly with its signature blue dial and blue calfskin leather strap. TAG Heuer CEO Frédéric Arnault and the brand’s Heritage Director Nicholas Biebuyck recently agreed on stage at Watches and Wonders 2023 that it was the best example of a Carrera that the brand has ever made, and having seen it in the flesh we can attest that it’s an undeniably beautiful piece of watch making. Like the film in which it stars, the TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox was designed to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Carrera collection and has somehow simultaneously perfected the Carrera aesthetic.
TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox | Image: TAG Heuer
An Icon Perfected
Taking inspiration from the brand’s ever-popular “glassbox” design, the watch’s stainless-steel case is topped with a sapphire crystal that takes direct inspiration from the 1970s, while ensuring the curve of the glass now meets the case more seamlessly than can be found on previous models. To complement this, the watch’s flange and indexes have also been curved, while the look is completed with new pushers, shaped and positioned to maximise ease of use. This ease, deftly demonstrated by Gosling, is part of what makes the new Carrera Glassbox such an immaculate distillation of the racing spirit that lies at the very heart of Carrera.
Said racing spirit can be found all throughout The Chase For Carrera. Whether the need for speed is being fulfilled by the aforementioned Porsche 911 Carrera, a heavy-duty truck, or an electric production buggy, the chase in question is always on – for proof of this, keep an eye out for the film within a film within a film that’s revealed towards the end of The Chase For Carrera’s runtime.
Ryan Gosling wearing the TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox | Image: TAG Heuer
Attention to Detail
Further, eagle-eyed Carrera fans may also notice a number of smile-inducing easter eggs throughout the movie, each a nod to the Carrera’s storied history. The first of these comes when we see an old lady standing in a hallway in the opening shot. Those who know their racing (and fashion) history may notice she’s wearing the distinctive white sunglasses of the legendary Jacqueline Evans de López, a British-born Mexican actress who was not only the first woman to compete in the infamous Carrera Panamericana race, but did so in her own Porsche five years in a row from 1950-1954. If that doesn’t embody the Carrera spirit then we don’t know what does.
This is just one example of the attention to detail that Gosling, Leitch, and their team put into The Chase For Carrera, and those who watch closely will be rewarded with further easter eggs that call back to this watch’s fascinating legacy.
Best of all, you don’t have to buy a cinema ticket to see Gosling’s latest blockbuster as you can simply watch it above (although we recommend getting the popcorn ready first). And once you’ve done so, be sure to discover more about the incredible TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox via the link below.
