Ford v Ferrari Excites, Informs, And Thrills Audiences With Both It's Action And Heart

   

      With the 2019 winter movie season underway, not only does it come with a batch of holiday-oriented films aimed at achieving box office glory, but also films designed to achieve award season recognition. With Ford v Ferrari, the film aims to not only achieve that stature but also work as a triumphant sports action drama. Premiering at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30th, 2019, the film later received its US theatrical release on November 15th 2019, grossing a total of $206 million worldwide. Along with the films box office success, it landed on the National Board Of Reviews top ten best movie list of the year with Christian Bale receiving a Best Actor nomination at the Golden Globes. Having seen Ford v Ferrari, the film is most deserving of its praise as the story is well-told with strong performances from both Matt Damon and Christian Bale in the lead roles, along with impressive race car sequences. As an American sports drama, Ford v Ferrari hits all the right notes despite the films excessive running time.

       The story for Ford v Ferrari centers around the true story of an American car designer Carroll Shelby (Played by Matt Damon) and a British mechanic/ driver Ken Miles (Played by Christian Bale), who developed the famous Ford GT40 Mark ll in 1966 to beat the indomitable Team Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. With a story like Ford v Ferrari, the film is a slick combination of history mixed with thrilling race car sequences combined with top notch performances from it's main stars. The film delivers on the action aspect of it's story involving intense racing sequences, including shots of race cars being flipped over or crashing, with those moments being balanced by others containing gripping human drama. The film aims for two audiences, the first being race car enthusiasts and those knowledgeable of their history with the second being those who are non-racing enthusiasts looking for a film, that has both powerful drama and action. Given that the film aims for both audiences, it does a very good job of being appealing enough to cater to both sides. Whereas the story is solid, it's the performances of the main stars that make the film as strong as it comes across as being. Ford v Ferrari is a well-executed drama about overcoming opposition, politics, and exploitation in the Ford Company. The film emphasises the unusual partnership of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, who went against the odds to succeed in developing the only American car to win at Le Mans.

       The partnership turned friendship between Carroll and Ken serves as being the heart of the film largely thanks to the performances of the main cast. Both Damon and Bale prove to be the duo this film required in order to effectively convey it's story on the big screen. Out of the two leads, Bale is the one that steals the show with delivering a superb performance as Ken Miles in a role that shows him taking control of the story, much like his character takes control of the race track with his impeccable driving abilities. While Bale is terrific, Damon manages to hold his own as Carroll Shelby. Rather than both actors trying to outdo the other, they manage to play their parts the way the roles required them to with both their chemistry as well as their charisma shining through. With the main characters, Bale and Damon effectively show the progression of the characters friendship as the film progresses with the audience becoming fully invested by the films end. One can't imagine a different set of actors playing these parts as Damon and Bale feel like the perfect fits, putting their full charisma on display. As for the films supporting cast, Jon Bernthal shines in his role as Lee lacocca, vice president of Ford. Other notable performances are Tracy Letts as CEO of Ford and grandson of automotive pioneer Henry Ford named Henry Ford ll, Caitriona Balfe as Miles wife Mollie, Josh Lucas in a role thats designed for audiences to automatically hate with him playing Senior executive Vice President Leo Beebe, and Noah Jupe in an impressive minimal role as Bales son Peter Miles. As a whole, the cast does a masterful job of playing their characters, making the story engaging with characters the audience come to both love and dislike. While Josh Lucas and Tracy Letts roles feel like rather generic ones in a typical sports drama despite being based off real people, they still manage to do a fine job of making their characters appealing as well as giving the roles life. While the supporting cast all deliver good performances, it's the performances of Matt Damon and Christian Bale which ultimately make the film an exciting and powerful ride.

      The films directing by Logan director James Mangold is well-handled with the films cinematography being stunning to watch, particularly during the films racing sequences which are breathtaking. Mangold brings a perfect blend of excitement and realism to the story with the narrative remaining straightforward in regards to showing the history behind the race car shown in the movie. The film perfectly blends humor, action, and drama together with the historical aspect of the story. On a visual note, the racing sequences are visually stunning despite running a bit long. The films editing is well-paced to where the film is constantly moving despite it's 150 minute running time. The action sequences are lengthy, but never feel boring with those scenes being brilliantly filmed thanks to the films appealing cinematography. The films score is memorable with the music managing to back up the action with outstanding sound effects to drive the adrenaline of those key sequences involving the races. In terms of the films art-set decoration and costume design, the films sets and cars look authentic with the designs resembling the actual ones. With the directing, James Mangold gives this film the energy and heart it needed in order to make the story believable, as well as appealing to audiences. He does a very good job of crafting a story about friendship and testing ones limits around the basis of technology without the film losing sight of it's main goal, which is to both entertain along with giving audiences a taste of the history behind the Ford race car. In that regard, Mangold succeeds and showcases his pure craftsmanship as a director. He does an exceptional job of handling the films action sequences to the point where the audiences are left biting their nails to see what happens next.

      The films screenplay by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller is well-written and does a noteworthy job of driving the story on and off the race track. What the films screenplay does so well is despite the story being a autobiography of the two main characters, it takes the time to make their partnership/friendship a personal one that makes it feel less generic but down to earth for the audience to connect with. The audience truly cares about Damon and Bale characters, especially by the films third act with a climax which has the potential to leave a few tear drops in some audiences eyes. The relationship between Carroll and Ken serves as the heart and soul of the film with the history behind the creation of the GT40 Mark ll serving as the backdrop of what started as a bitter rivalry turned genuine friendship. The film also manages to give a well-balanced presentation of the facts surrounding the rivalry between the two automotive companies in the 1960's. Whereas the audience should be disliking the opposite side of Ford in the rivalry, they actually end up disapproving of the corporate powers attempting to keep Bales character from racing or find ways to hold back Carroll and Ken from meeting their goals. The screenwriters succeed at making the complicated friendship between Carroll and Ken at the start a fun one with the two clearly not approving of the other in the beginning with it even leading to a hilarious fight sequence between the two in which they come across as acting like bumbling friends, thanks to both the stellar writing as well as the convincing performances from the main actors. The key to writing the script for this film is time with it being well spent on developing these characters and allowing the audience to become fully invested with both men along with their families and story. The scenes involving Ken with his wife or his son go a long way with getting the audience to gain a sense of the type of person Ken is, and what his dreams are not just for himself but for his family. Ken's character is presented as being the underdog of the story, despite the characters bluntness for telling it like it is with others that alienates him from progressing in society until he meets Carroll. What appeared to be a tricky friendship to bring to the screen is handled with both tremendous care and depth thanks to the writers and Mangold's directing, that it feels like a natural progression of both characters and their bond that became a winning ticket.

      Overall, Ford v Ferrari is a rare sports drama that essentially looks and feels like the full package. The movie literally gives the impression that it's going down a list of essential ingredients required to make for a great sports story and manages to check off nearly all of them. That's not to say that the film itself isn't without it's faults (The film could've been shortened by 20 mins and still would've been just as effective in regards to telling its story), but it still manages to come across as being a highly effective and extremely well-crafted autobiographical drama that carries with it charm, heart, and some deeply thrilling racing sequences. The film is handled so well in terms of it's story being told, that it feels like it can appeal to fans of racing as well as non-racing fans mainly due to it's thrilling action sequences on top of the films themes regarding friendship, loyalty, competition, and striving above all to be the best. With great performances, solid directing, screenwriting, and great technological and visual components, Ford v Ferrari proves to be an ideal catch in terms of delivering it's subject matter in a way that comes across as being informative, exciting, personal, and ultimately inspirational. The film rightfully earns it's spot as being one of the best films of 2019 with Christian Bale giving another Oscar caliber performance.

Final Verdict: For racing and non-racing fans, Ford v Ferrari is worth seeing with the film giving a well-balanced portrait of history as well as showing a friendship that ultimately became a game changer for Ford.