Ford v Ferrari (2019 Film) Review

James Mangold teams with Matt Damon and Christian Bale for a 1960s-set underdog story. Does "Ford v Ferrari" have the advertised rip-roaring thrills?

To compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, automotive designer Carroll Shelby and race car driver Ken Miles team up to build an advanced automobile for the Ford Motor Co.

"Ford v Ferrari" stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale as Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. Tracy Letts and Jon Bernthal portray Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca, respectively. Caitriona Balfe plays Mollie Miles, Ken's wife, while Noah Jupe plays Peter Miles, their son. Rem Girone plays Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the manufacturer Ferrari.

James Mangold ("Walk the Line," "Logan") directed "Ford v Ferrari." Mangold co-produced the film with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping. Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and Jason Keller wrote the film. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed the film through 20th Century Fox.

Overall Thoughts

As soon as I heard the sound of a race car revving its engine over the opening logos, I knew I was in for something special. Sure enough, James Mangold’s latest film had me locked in my seat until the credits rolled.

I’m no automobile aficionado, but "Ford v Ferrari" grabbed me from the first scene, with its top-notch production quality and cinematography. For a 152-minute film, there is never a dull moment. Once the film takes off, it never slows down. Now that's not to say the film goes too fast, to the point where you lose a grip on the narrative. Rather, it's perfectly paced throughout, showing you every detail important to this story. I expected to get lost when it came to the automobile lingo, but thankfully, all the know-how dialogue was explained rather simply.

Matt Damon and Christian Bale are in top form here. The two actors, with the aid of an emotionally rich script, explicitly outline the bond between Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. Their shared joy in racing produces some of the best moments in the film. When it comes to the pivotal race, Bale puts on a grand show. In the heat of the moment, he fuels his lines with such fervent emotion that he brings a tear to your eye. Damon portrays the same kind of enthusiasm for his role and entertains with his signature charm and charisma. As Shelby, Damon makes some clever acting choices. Because you're clued in on what he's trying to accomplish, you enjoy watching him display such subtle resourcefulness.

In addition to being a classic and well-told underdog story, "Ford v Ferrari" is a commentary on the relationship between the creative minds and businessmen. In film, this relationship is often portrayed simplistically. Typically, the business suits are vilified while the visionaries are idolized. "Ford v Ferrari" goes a different route, saying that both sides are fallible, but that both are needed to accomplish a goal like winning Le Mans. It's about collaboration; it can't be one side dictating the other. That's essentially why Ford's initial proposal to purchase Ferrari failed, as seen in the beginning of the film. I appreciated how the heads of Ford Motor weren't stereotypes of the simple suits you typically see portrayed in film. Between Tracy Letts as Henry Ford II, Jon Bernthal as Lee Iacocca, and even Josh Lucas as Leo Beebe, you see the Ford executives in different lights. Sometimes they have to deliver the hard facts, but then they are able to enjoy the work and savor the satisfaction in their accomplishments.

The racing sequences are polished, yet portray the danger as practical as possible and nothing is held back. Normally, I find it challenging to get wrapped up in the tension when these films are required to follow history, however loosely filmmakers adapt it. This is not the case with "Ford v Ferrari," which manages to have its dramatic effect while being historically faithful. Marco Beltrami completes the film with an inspirational and exhilarating musical score.

Rating: ★★★★

Conclusion

James Mangold's "Ford v Ferrari" is a powerful underdog story with drama, heart, and one of Matt Damon and Christian Bale's best performances. I highly recommend you see this one in theaters as it's one of the best and most immersive racing films to date. Regardless of whether or not you're into racing, there's no resisting this enthralling triumph.

This has been my review of “Ford v Ferrari." I hope you enjoyed it. Have you seen the film? If you have, share your thoughts in the comments below. Should you feel inclined, recommend a film for me to review next. Thank you for reading, I'm Dallin, your resident film fanatic, and I'll return soon with another review.