It’s the 1960’s and Ferrari is on top of the world; they have won the 24-hour Le Mans four out of the last five years, and it appears that whatever they put on the track next year will win the whole thing again. However, car mastermind, Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal), with the greenlight from his boss, Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts), has a plan to dethrone the champs and put Ford Motors back on the map as one of the greatest car manufacturers in the world. His plan includes famed American, Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and a rough-around-the edges driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale). While this is certainly a motley crew of individuals, they believe they have what it takes to match and/or exceed what Ferrari has done for years. The birth of Ford racing results in an all out battle known as Ford v Ferrari, one that will win over the world.
What can you say about a film led by a cast of superstars such as Damon, Bale, and Bernthal that viewers don’t already know? The world knows for a fact that Ford v Ferrari will be supremely acted and ultimately relatable in terms of character development, they know that every word uttered by each of these colossal talents will be believable and that, without a shadow of a doubt, these three will portray their respective characters with a certain vigor that is both inviting and engulfing. Anyone with these expectations would be one-hundred percent correct, as the three leads are nothing short of perfect and welcome viewers to a world of immense proportions and real life ramifications.
Essentially there’s no surprise at how well each of these three fair in a film of this magnitude, but, there is a cast that surrounds them consisting of Josh Lucas (Leo Beebe), Caitriona Balfe (Mollie Miles), Ray McKinnon (Phil “Pops” Remington), and Noah Jupe (Peter Miles) that are equally entertaining, even in their secondary roles. There is a dynamic present between each and every character that resonates with viewers. These individuals don’t feel modified in order to satisfy the masses; they feel real. There are moments when nearly every one of them feels immature, unaware of what the world really is, and, similarly, they have moments of clarity that mirror what takes place in the real world. The reality is that what really occurred between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960’s has been amended in some way to work for Hollywood, but nothing, and I mean nothing, is overdone.
The stakes are high and larger than life, but they feel intimate. Director James Mangold puts viewers in the driver’s seat, making them very much a part of Ford v Ferrari. The high octane races that take place throughout the course of the film envelop viewers in a world of intensity that refuses to relent from beginning to end. In addition to the acting, the intimacy attracts viewers and keeps them absolutely engulfed in what transpires throughout the film. Furthermore, the races, particularly the Le Mans, are extended to make viewers understand how extensive and trying the races are, pulling those viewers further into the story.
From start to finish Mangold does a wonderful job of ensuring that every single viewer is able to appreciate what went into and what occurs throughout Ford v Ferrari. The film includes exceptional acting, a feel-good story, relatable humor, and the perfectly intimate reflection of racing and all of its pieces. The reality present throughout Ford v Ferrari is truly exceptional, affording the film an Oscar nomination for Best Motion Picture of the Year at the 2020 award celebration. The film was rightfully honored for what was accomplished, and while the film did not win, its name will remain in the record books as one of the best films of 2019; and that title is well deserved.
Directed by James Mangold. Written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, & Jason Keller. Starring Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Tracy Letts, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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