Ford v Ferrari (2019) Review

Release Date: November 15, 2019 (USA)

Director: James Mangold

Budget: 97.6 Million

Ford v Ferrari is a fun old-school Hollywood film that captures an important moment in motor history. I watched a Documentary about this little-known moment in history prior to my viewing of the film, so in terms of going in cold, I wasn't clueless to the history.

Ford v Ferrari is directed by James Mangold (Walk the Line, Logan), and it stars Matt Damon (Bourne series) and Christian Bale (Dark Knight series). The film is based on the real story of the Ford Motor Company, headed by Henry Ford II, looking to beat the sales of the seemingly unstoppable General Motors. He tells his workers to come to him with an idea if they want to keep their jobs. Ford’s Marketing Manager Lee Iacocca, played by Jon Bernthal (Netflix’s Punisher, The Walking Dead), says that sales are determined by which company wins the biggest races. His idea is to beat the unbeatable Ferrari in the biggest race in the world, The 24 Hours of Le Mans. Iacocca enlists one of the only Americans to win the race, Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), to build him a car. Shelby tells Iacocca that it takes more than speed; it takes a good driver. Shelby then recruits his longtime racing associate Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to help build and test the car for him since Shelby can’t race due to health reasons. What follows is a battle of science, speed, and corporate intervention where all roads lead to the 24 Hour endurance test at Le Mans. Will Shelby risk his entire livelihood on one driver, and will Miles prove his worth to his family and the world?

I’m not necessarily a car guy. I love a beautiful car like any other person, and the revving of an engine is awesome, but I don’t care what type of engine it is or what shape of headlight came with what model. With that said, I really appreciated the restraint shown here. Movies like the Fast and the Furious series focus on spectacle and explosions,scantily clad women, exotic cars, and contemporary music. Ford v Ferrari uses visual and audio aesthetics of 1960’s America to place you in that time period without using tired conventional methods. Rolling Stones music anyone? There’s almost no 60’s music here, only original score, which works in the movie’s favor. Too many times do we see period movies focus too much on reminding you which era the movie is set in instead of just telling the story. Thankfully, Mangold is a great storyteller.

What really stands out here is the acting. Everyone here nails their performance. The standout being Christian Bale as Miles. Once again he transformed his body after gaining weight to play Dick Cheney in Vice, he lost it all to play Miles. His relationship with the Ford Corporation and his wife and kid are what tug on your heartstrings. He’s so likable that you want to see him succeed. His passion for driving brings this movie to life. He perfectly plays off of Damon’s dry southern humor and you can tell Miles loves cars and speed. All he wants is to prove he can win Le Mans. Damon does a great job portraying Shelby, and his arc is the one that drives the relationship between Miles and the suites at Ford.

Though the film is great, it isn't without a few flaws. What might turn a few people away is the almost three-hour run time. Did I have to take multiple restroom breaks? Yes, but it was also my fault for drinking a massive diet coke. Did the movie feel like three hours? No. The fast-paced dialogue great camera work, and racing action set a nice pace that never felt like a chore to sit through. Even though Bale is great at conveying his character's passion for racing, he can sometimes come off like a jerk, treating others around him like dirt for not seeing things his way. Luckily those moments are few in number. In terms of the story, I only had one moment near the end that left me asking, "So...that's it?" There is a character who's story doesn't feel completed and was missing one last scene. 

For the sound design alone, this is a must-own. The massive IMAX screen and booming speakers does this movie a great justice. I'm excited to see the Dolby Atmos home experience. You don’t have to be a car nut to enjoy this film. I think the standout here is Bale and awards will surely be coming his way. Is it a little long? Sure, but you're so enthralled with the action that you never think about looking at your watch.

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