Ford v. Ferrari Is As Tense And Exhilarating As The Historic Race It Dramatizes
At a time when the Ford Motor Company was struggling to maintain its foothold in the automotive industry, a handful of individuals would prove instrumental in Ford remaining a valued American institution. In director James Mangold’s latest film, Ford v. Ferrari, the story of two of these men, Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, would be told. Portrayed by Matt Damon and Christian Bale respectively, the film recounts Shelby and Miles’ efforts to help Ford create a car and racing team that could beat Ferrari at the 24 hours of Le Mans in the mid 1960s, ultimately changing the face of racing for the foreseeable future. Rest assured, the journey to the finish line was anything but easy.
The fascinating thing about Ford v. Ferrari is how many interesting moments there are in the film that occur outside of depicting the historic 1966 Le Mans race. The creation of the Ford Racing Team was a means to an end for Henry Ford II, as the carmaker had to contend with a growing youth market more interested in sports cars than the more utilitarian vehicles Ford had been producing up to this point. Admittedly, there’s almost as much excitement in scenes taking place in boardrooms and factories than on the race track. The rivalry between Ford and Ferrari, especially as it relates to Ford’s failed attempt to buy the Italian automotive giant, made for some particularly tense moments in the film. Henry Ford II was struggling to build and expand on his grandfather’s legacy, and Ford v. Ferrari employs just enough dramatic license to make the rivalry feel larger than life without being cartoonish.
Tracy Letts’ introduction as Henry Ford II is easily one of the best scenes in the film, painting him as a frustrated yet measured individual who needed a softer touch if he was going to remain prosperous. On the flip side of this is Jon Bernthal as Ford marketing executive Lee Iacocca, turning in a surprisingly slick and charismatic performance that I was not prepared for, given his penchant for playing aggro tough guys in shows like The Walking Dead and The Punisher. Even the scenes featuring Ken Miles as a devoted family man are thrilling to watch, aided by the performances of Caitriona Balfe and Noah Jupe as Miles’ wife Sophie and son Peter. Sophie especially, has always known what type of man Ken was, and is assertive in her demand that he never lie to her about what he wants out of life, and Balfe does an exceptional job in conveying this to the audience. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention Ray McKinnon as Shelby’s partner, Phil Remington. In a film with so many passionate and energetic performances, McKinnon’s stoic, deadpan delivery is just what Ford v. Ferrari needs to keep things grounded.
Make no mistake, though. This film belongs to Matt Damon and Christian Bale as Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. Both are phenomenal independent of one another, but their scenes together are easily some of my favorite of the year; the personalities of Shelby and Miles clashing and meshing with each other simultaneously with great success. Both men understand the nature of racing, but each has their own goals and motivations that they’re working towards, and when there’s conflict, it’s great to watch it play out with Damon and Bale as the leads. Bale especially (who you would never have guessed had played the considerably heavier Dick Cheney just the year before), turns in another lived-in performance, portraying Ken Miles as hot-tempered and too smart for his own good at times, but someone who feels a spiritual connection when he’s behind the wheel that we as the audience can believe in. Shelby understands Miles, being a former racer and former Le Mans champion, and has to be to conduit between Miles and the engineering team, and the executives at Ford, as they develop the Ford GT as a competitive race car. Damon’s natural charm shines through, even when Shelby and Miles come to blows in one particularly hilarious scene.
In terms of racing scenes, it is a credit to Mangold and the other filmmakers involved with Ford v. Ferrari that they were able to capture so much detail in recreating the 1966 Le Mans race, and make it captivating from start to finish. The speed, the smoke, the exhilaration, it’s all there on the screen in grand fashion, and never feels monotonous or boring. Even the trial and error of testing the Ford GT, and seeing the techniques they used to make the car competitive against the dominant presence of Ferrari is thrilling to watch. The development of this vehicle marked a major turning point for Ford, essentially revitalizing the brand for a whole new generation, and created an enduring legacy in the automotive field, as well as within the racing world.
As true-life dramas go, Ford v. Ferrari is one that stands out thanks to its subject matter, meticulous direction, and a stellar cast. Matt Damon and Christian Bale bring humor and heart to the tale of two men who had a daunting task put in front of them, and had to put their blood, sweat, and tears into everything they did, ultimately making history in the process. The film puts the audience in the driver’s seat never lets its foot off of the gas.
4.5 out of 5
