Ford v Ferrari Review - No Plot Spoilers

Sometimes a movie is all about the ride.

I honestly love this cast so much. A significant part of me simply didn't want this movie to end, just so we could get more of their chemistry.

There are movies that are stand-out champions of cinema. Movies that push the envelope, or introduce engaging new ideas or themes. There are movies that are total dumpster fires, and only deserve study by an exercise of what not to do. A few movies have stellar casting or cinematography but compromise them with unfocused narratives and destructive stereotypes.

But I’ve noticed these days there seems to be less and less room for movies that can just be solid movies unto themselves. Our cultural hyperbole wants everything to be either terrible, or amazing. But oftentimes, you’re not going to get cinematic excellence or excrement. Sometimes a movie is all about the ride – how does it make you feel?

The cinematography, sound design, and score all blend together seamlessly and perfectly to make each race vividly memorable.

Make no mistake – James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari (also titled Le Mans 66 overseas) is a tour de force of filmmaking. Matthew Damon and Christian Bale as Carrol Shelby and Ken Miles carry such sheer chemistry and charisma that it’s hard to believe they’ve never starred in a film together before. Despite their recognizable faces, both actors blend seamlessly into their roles. The two make a compelling duo, Shelby as an ex-racer, current-manufacturer possessing a way with words and a devious competitive streak, and Miles as the hot-headed racing “bulldog” with a heart of gold. Caitriona Balfe and Noah Jupe give some needed heart and soul as Miles’ wife and son, while Tracy Letts takes every scene by force as Henry Ford II and Josh Lucas plays ever-slimy Ford executive Leo Beebe. Rounding out the cast, Jon Bernthal puts in a pleasantly subtle performance as Lee Iacocca (as much as I enjoy the brief Bernthal cameos we seem to get in every other movie, I love him getting a full movie to play in) and Remo Girone as the captivating Enzo Ferrari himself. The cast has all the chemistry and drive of an Ocean's movie, elevating this far above being 'just another' sports film. The fun thing about Ford v Ferrari is how the cast is both tightly contained – almost entirely focused on Shelby and Miles – but also how many smaller rivalries and relationships happen below the surface. The movie trades in and out a few different ‘antagonists,’ and at the end, it’s less a movie about Ford Motors against Ferrari Corporate, rather, it’s about the underdog innovators standing against powerful systems that would rather keep the status quo. It’s about determination, and perseverance, and about what drives you.

I'm realizing in retrospect how gorgeous every shot of this movie is. Also, the father-son dynamic in this movie is incredibly endearing.

It’s that central drive that gives the movie its substance. It’s Shelby fighting to prove himself and his car while also sticking out for his team at every turn. It’s Miles fighting to be the best driver, both for the thrill of the race, but also for the good of his family. Ken Miles being a good dad and hanging out with Peter Miles is everything. And these two men, Shelby and Miles, rising up against the world, is just a great, cathartic arc to watch. Is it wholly original? Not exactly – this movie is based off of real events, after all, and so you have a basic idea of how things will go. But again, sometimes a movie is all about the ride. And sometimes I feel like it’s been a while since we’ve had a solid, solid ‘feel good’ movie. A movie that is simply engaging and satisfying and is confident in being that. Ford v Ferrari is focused in scale and scope, never overstaying its welcome despite its surprisingly long runtime. Ford v Ferrari is practically watertight, balancing its heart with its intense, high-stakes actions.

While that action is few and far between, when it hits, it hits hard. It’s undoubtable to me that we’ll see this movie nominated in a few months for a Sound Design Oscar. While I’m no car fanatic, the adrenaline this movie creates in every race makes me want to be a car fanatic. The races are heart-pounding, utterly gripping affairs. The word I kept coming back to through the runtime was ‘visceral.’ Despite not knowing anything about racing, the movie outlines the rules enough to make every minute of every race compelling and intense. If that weren’t enough, the incredible score puts you directly in the driver’s seat, flying at 7,000 RPM with the world on your shoulders. Then, when things go wrong? Every single crash in this movie is brutal and gut-wrenching. Again, the races in this movie are so incredibly and completely visceral. And I love them.

Again, the fact that Matthew Damon and Christian Bale haven't starred together seems absurd. They are a perfect duo here.

That, I think, is the best thing I can say about this movie. Because as the movie began to ramp towards its conclusion, I realized I just wanted to sit with this team, with this ever-lovable cast, and in this incredible high-stakes environment. It’s a movie about the human capacity, and about disparate people coming together to do the impossible. It’s about friendship and conviction, and the kind of person you set out to be. It’s about love and loss and victory and failure. It’s a story that’s been told before, and will be told again, but that doesn’t make it any less good. Because sometimes a movie is all about the ride, all about how it makes you feel. And this movie feels incredible.