Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari

Starring Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Tracy Letts

Directed by James Mangold

I often make fun of NASCAR, calling it a pseudo-sport because it doesn't require as much physicality as it would be for a football or basketball player to accomplish their task - and that's saying a lot, since I'm not a sports guy at all.  Yet after seeing "Ford v Ferrari," I have a newfound respect for those who race, because it is indeed a sport, filled with danger, risks, and an undying love that goes beyond fanatical for both the spectators and drivers themselves.

The film takes place in 1963, when the automobile war was in full swing.  The American Ford company - led by Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) - wants to purchase the cash-strapped Ferrari chain, but Enzo Ferrari refuses and insults Ford and his company, leading to his ego getting bruised. To combat this, he comes up with the idea to take Ferrari down at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an epic day-long race in Le Mans, France, that Ferrari has continually won - and no American car ever has.  To accomplish this, he enlists American automobile designer and former 24 Hours winner Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), and gives him an endless supply of cash.  Carroll brings in hothead British race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to be his driver, which angers Ford senior executive vice president Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas), who considers Miles a beatnik who shouldn't be the face of Ford racing.  As Shelby and Miles work on crafting the perfect racing car, they come into conflict with Ford's image, which tests their friendship and working relationship as the time looms near to show that Ford can indeed defeat Ferrari.

"Ford v Ferrari" stars two of Hollywood's most talented actors in their first film together, and are tied together by an acclaimed director who knows what he wants to make, and manages to produce a historical film that's filled with tension, humor, and intense car racing that needs to be experienced on the big screen to get the whole impact.

Matt Damon and Christian Bale share a comradere on screen that's palpable, and you feel like these two have known each other for decades.  Both men are the salt of the earth, men who have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and truly relish in what they do so much it's fanatical, and you can't help but get into the trenches with them as well - which was something I wasn't expecting, as I've never really watched a car race so I wasn't expecting much, but found myself totally engrossed in the story.  Damon's Shelby is the bridge between the suits and Miles, and you can tell he suffers from the pull and tug from both sides as he tries to make them both happy.  Bale once again envelops his role as Ken Miles, a no-nonsense Brit with a dry wit and who goes against the grain, a man who doesn't work well with others and who gets into confrontations with others that is a pure joy to see - but he knows his cars, and seeing his brain work in rapid succession is absolutely amazing to see.  These two men anchor the film and makes it relatable and engrossing, giving you two people to really root for.

The film is interesting in that the good guys and bad guys aren't so cut-and-dry.  You may think with a title like "Ford v Ferrari" that the good guys would be Ford and the bad guys Ferrari, but that's not the case.  Shelby and Miles are the good guys who must work for the bad guys to combat another bad guy, and it doesn't seem like the good guys can truly win.  Holding their thumb to Shelby and Miles are Henry Ford II and his second-in-command Leo Beebe, and both are totally reprehensible and vile: both only see money, and hold incredible egos that are easily bruised.  To that end, Tracy Letts and Josh Lucas play excellent villains in the sense that you really feel anger and seething hatred for them, and wonder how Shelby and Miles can come out on top.  Rounding out the stellar cast is Caitriona Balfe, who plays Miles' wife Mollie who is just as gruff and strong as her husband; Noah Jupe who plays Ken's adoring young son Peter, and Jon Bernthal who isn't given a lot to work with as Ford vice president Lee Iacocca, but still manages to be memorable in his own right.

James Mangold manages to craft a drama mixed with racing spectacle in equal measure, providing pulse-pounding action with incredible dialogue that's both engrossing and engaging.  Seeing Ken behind the wheel is exhilarating and seeing him participate in several races really gets the blood pumping, like you're seeing a real race on screen.  The sound reverberates throughout the theater and shakes the seats, and is edited so perfectly that you can't help but cheer with the audience.  Ultimately, the film is about American ingenuity, the desire to never give up, and overcoming something that's seemingly impossible - and nothing epitomizes the American dream more than that.

With pitch-perfect performances by Matt Damon and Christian Bale, "Ford v Ferrari" is filled with intense car races mixed with volatile drama that really immerses you in the world of race car driving, and provides a classic David vs. Goliath battle with generally good guys to root for.

The Score: A+