Ford V. Ferrari
Ford V Ferrari is an absolutely thrilling film that fires on all cylinders that had me enthralled for its entire runtime. Ford V Ferrari is a pure adrenaline rush from start to finish.
Ferrari dominates the 24 Hours of Le Mans for much of the 1960s. Ford decides to throw their hat in the ring, in hopes that a victory at Le Mans will raise their struggling sales. The former racer turned car salesman Carol Shelby(Played by Matt Damon) and his difficult, but extremely skilled and passionate racer pal Ken Mile(Played By Christian Bale) are both brought on to help Ford craft a car to get them to the finish line.
Christian Bale and Matt Damon are 2 of our most talented working actors today and are a large part of what makes this film work so well. They haven’t worked together on-screen and yet, they interact with the ease of old friends. The performances complement each other, it doesn’t feel as if they’re trying to outdo one another. It’s an on-screen duo with charisma to spare that you get invested in. Beneath the technical polish and gloss, the friendship between Shelby and Miles is the heart of the film.
We all love a good underdog and this film is a classic underdog story. Shelby, Miles and their team working to take on Ferrari. Ford V Ferrari about much more than the race at Le Mans, but the human struggles encountered to get there. Not just the pride and jealousy that constricted Miles and Shelby at times, but the rigid corporate system of Ford Motor Company they had to overcome just to get on the track. It’s an expansive, mesmerizing real-life story that feels perfect for the cinematic medium.
Ford V Ferrari puts you in the driver’s seat with the racers, but not in the way I was expecting. I was more transported by the sound than I was the images. The stellar sound design and mixing are some of the best I’ve ever heard. They give the racing sequences not just an immersive quality, but a transcendent one that I can’t quite describe. James Mangold’s direction is excellent. He gives you absorbing racing sequences that will put you on the edge of your seat. More so, Mangold has a strong grasp on pacing. The film knows when to slow down and emphasize character and emotion and when to fill its engine and hightail it to the next scene. In a film this long, it’s remarkable it feels as breezy as it does. Even if you know this story start to finish, the ease, technically and narratively, in which it’s told makes this ride one worth taking.
Even if you’re not a race car fanatic, there’s a good chance you’ll love this film. This is easily one of my favorites of the year.
