In the 1960’s, if you wanted speed and class, you owned a Ferrari. Known by racers and auto manufacturers alike, the standard of auto beauty and excellence helped them win races and hold trophies high. The problem though, is if you hold your pride in the wrong person’s face, they might take it as a challenge. Which is what happened when Ford wanted to foray into the racing world. A company known for quantity, they decided to attempt quality and speed. For that they needed someone to lead the charge, and that person was driver and designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon).
A legend in his own right, he needed something more than a fast car, he needed a fast and resolute driver. So with a heavy heart he tracked down driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale). Known to be difficult and sometimes downright unfriendly, Miles cared about only two things with love. His family and racing his vehicle to the absolute best of his ability.
With multiple hurdles before the race even begins, Carroll and Miles work to create the best options for Ford to win the Le Mans race. In this case though, the best and most vital part is getting Miles behind the wheel for the race, which is an uphill battle with his conflicting personality. Together with Carroll though, he grinds down just enough to be flush with Ford executives, while still holding the edge that could propel him across the finish line first.
A fun true story with many angles, this film was more than just a racing journey. I had fun as I was transported back in time, and seeing that executives were still a bit slimy, even back in the 60’s, is reassuring in some way. The race to make an amazing vehicle was evenly balanced to understanding Carroll and Miles as characters. For my money, Bale stole the show with his portrayal of the driver Ken Miles and the greatness he achieved to only be secluded to the shadows.
At two and a half hours, this film covers a lot of ground and explores more than racing and more than just Ford Automotive as we get background on Ferrari and the histories of what made these daring men, plus artistic visuals thanks to director James Mangold. This film is a lesson in cinema as much as it is a tale of racing, anyone that loves either will enjoy this movie at the theater. Whether Oscar will smile on this film or its actors though, might still come down to the finish line.
Grade: A-
Running Time: 2h 32m
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Review
Movie Review
RN review of Ford vs. Ferrari
Speed and substance reign, in this intriguing true story.
