Ford v Ferrari

FORD v FERRARI

In the race to the 2020 Oscar award season, Christian Bale may edge out Matt Damon in this semi-historical Ford v Ferrari car racing drama showing the years leading up to the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans (The Grand Prix). The Grand Prix auto race in France had always been won by European companies, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz.

In the 1950’s, Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts, The Post, Lady Bird, Little Women) wants to win the Grand Prix. First, he tries to buy Ferrari, but when that fails he is determined to win the Grand Prix with a Ford car.  He and his two executives Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal, The Peanut Butter Falcon) and the cocky Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas, Sweet Home Alabama) begin the process.  They team up with Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) a former driver – who now makes cars for high-end buyers – to develop the best car in the world, the Ford GT40.

Shelby demands that Ken Miles (Christian Bales) an irritable professional racer and sort of a “car whisperer” help develop and drive the car.

The racing scenes are extensive, the best I have ever seen, especially when seen in Imax. Every racing movie aims to have you experience racing at 200+ mph, this movie succeeds at this. However, this is a character-driven story about corporate America working with an innovative small company that has a lot of personality.  You get to know and understand these characters so well that you appreciate the dedication and hard work it takes to get to 200 mph.

The acting is superb.  The corporate executives are what you expect.  The execs are greedy, demanding, drink during the day, big egos and mean.  But the acting of Christian Bale and Matt Damon, the independent entrepreneurs, especially when together, is just perfect.  They fight, disagree, and at one point are on the ground “fighting” like middle-aged men, but they show great loyalty and respect throughout.

The almost unrecognizable Christian Bale as Ken Miles pushes the character further than Matt Damon.  Christian Bale again reengineers himself for this role, losing 70 pounds since his last movie Vice.  He portrays an obsessive, hard to work with race driver who can sense what the car needs.  He remains loving to his supportive wife Mollie Miles (Caitriona Balfe, Outlander) and his adoring son Peter (Noah Jupe, A Quiet Place, Honey Boy).  The Ken Miles character helps you best understand what driving at 200 mph means.  You become obsessed with racing through this character.

Matt Damon as the sometimes, soft-spoken Texan, Carroll Shelby donning a black cowboy hat emotes confidence and is willing to gamble it all to do it his way.  Damon is solid as usual and becomes Carroll Shelby. He is the leading protagonist in Ford v Ferrari which holds everything together.  The Carroll Shelby role satisfies the entrepreneur part of us while we watch him develop an amazing car.  He then pushes the car to the limit, 7000 RPM+.

© 2019 20th Century Fox − All right reserved.

To further help understand the feeling of speed, Shelby takes Henry Ford II for a ride in the Ford GT40.  Henry breaks down inside the car and can’t contain his emotions.  “I had no idea. I wish my daddy…were alive to see this. To feel this”. Henry II says through his tears of joy and fear.  An amusing but important scene.

It takes 2 hours for the Ford v Ferrari car racing drama to get to the final race.  It is an enjoyable 2 hours, with plenty of racing, but the final race does not disappoint.  This should be nominated for the best picture of the year, and Christian Bale nominated as best supporting actor.

[Nominated for Best Picture in 2020. Won Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing]

Published November 2019