FORD V FERRARI – Review

FORD V FERRARI tells the unlikely but true story of the Ford Motor Company, the American maker of family cars, challenging Ferrari, the legendary Italian sports car maker, in one of the most difficult races in Europe, the 24-hour Le Mans, in the golden era of racing cars. But you don’t have to be a racing fan or a gear-head to enjoy this thrilling tale, since it is really about the people behind (and in) the cars, bonds of friendship and the struggle of underdogs, a tale set in the era of American know-how and individualism, as two men set out to snatch glory from the reigning king of racing.

It isn’t really Henry Ford II, the head of Ford Motor Company and grandson of the founder, who is the underdog here, but the scrappy guys he hires to pull off this feat – racing car builder, Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon, and the even scrappier driver, Ken Miles, played by Christian Bale, that Shelby hires to drive the car. James Mangold (3:10 TO YUMA, LOGAN, WALK THE LINE) directs this dynamic, exciting and human adventure tale. At heart, this is really a buddy picture, in the best sense, about friendship, second chances, and determination, as well as a fact-paced adventure. It is a tale of two friends who love cars and racing who get the chance of a lifetime, and a second chance in life.

When Henry Ford II (Tracey Letts) attempts to buy Ferrari, he is thwarted by the racing-legend founder of that company, who resents the idea of an American industrial power just buying up what he has spent a lifetime building. Through a translator, the elderly Ferrari hurls a few insults at Ford but the one that sticks is that the American is merely Henry Ford II, not the legendary founder of the company. In private, a seething Ford responds by setting his sights on taking down Ferrari’s domination of racing, by winning at Le Mans – no matter what it costs.

Ford turns to Carroll Shelby, a one-time race car driver and builder with a reputation for innovation and for winning, In fact, although Shelby’s reputation as a racing legend is intact, his driving days are behind him and now he is eking out a living building sports cars for rich guys who are never going near a race track. When Ford’ representative offers Shelby what is pretty much a blank check if he can beat Ferrari, he knows just who should drive the car. Ken Miles is a gifted driver and mechanic, who has an equally big reputation for being a hot-tempered troublemaker.

Damon and Bale are the heart of this film, and turn in Oscar-nom worthy performances as a mismatched pair who are as much battling brothers as collaborators in building and racing a winning car. While Bale’s Ken Miles is brilliant and fearless, he is also abrasive and hot-tempered. Damon’s Shelby needs to smooth things over, calling on his considerable charm, to keep the project moving forward but he knows that Miles is the only one with the combination of talent and nerve to pull off this unlikely coup on Ferrari. Shelby lays out a strategy for his attack on Ferrari, involving a fair amount of psychological warfare, but his plans are often nearly derailed by Ford executive Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas), who is more the film’s villain than Ferrari, who seems more interested in turning the whole thing into adverting campaign than actually winning the race. Jon Bernthal plays then-Ford employee Lee Iacocca, who is Shelby’s advocate to Ford, and the competing force within the company.

The racing footage is fantastic, as gripping and pulse pounding as you could want, and often putting you right in the car with the driver for unparalleled thrills. Audiences may be reminded of the thrilling race footage of 2013’s RUSH, another excellent film about racing that was more about the people than the cars. The cinematography by Phedon Papamichael is outstanding, and director Mangold gives us the perfect mix between exciting racing footage, humorous moments, and human drama. While the race to beat Ferrari drives the plot, there is a moving human story at the center, one of personal struggle, of friendship and family. There are moments of transcendence and the poignancy, particularly at the film’s haunting end.

The supporting cast is also terrific, with the always-wonderful Tracy Letts particularly good as Ford. One especially good scene has the executive taking a ride in the race car he is paying to build with Shelby, starting out with swagger and ending up both rattled and impressed, which Letts handles with the perfect blend of humor and drama. Caitriona Balfe, familiar to audiences from TV’s “Higlander,” plays Ken Miles’ steady, dead-pan wife Mollie Miles with charm, while young Noah Jupe as Ken Miles’ son Pete, steals a few scenes.

Whether you care about racing cars or not, FORD V FERRARI is a winner, likely to garner a few nominations and awards in the upcoming awards season race, just as Shelby’s car did.

RATING: 4 out of 4 stars