Ford v Ferrari

by Philip Price

Director: James Mangold
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale & Jon Bernthal
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hours & 32 minutes

“Ford v Ferrari” is what one would call a well-rounded picture. Meaning, that it is wholly and completely a feel-good movie while also carrying a significant amount of weight. In other words, it will break your balls and your heart at the same time.

“Ford v Ferrari” is a big, flashy and somewhat indulgent large-scale studio filmmaking in the most classic sense of the idea as director James Mangold (“Walk the Line,” “Logan”) casts two larger than life personalities to portray two larger than life personalities against the backdrop of an historical event that is globally appealing yet couldn’t feel more American at its core. This is somewhat ironic given the type of racing Matt Damon’s Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale’s Ken Miles are seasoned in and the kind the Ford Motor Company is interested in engaging in is far more popular in the rest of the world than it is the United States, but like I said ... well-rounded.

While “Ford v Ferrari” boasts an impressive ensemble cast and truly immersive racing sequences that sometimes almost literally put you in the driver's seat the film is at its best when focusing on those two larger than life personalities and dissecting these men who, in many ways, are rightfully convinced of their own certainty but who take blows to their egos when they have to deal with things they aren’t expressly exceptional in. Whether it be Shelby coming to terms with his fragile mortality, Miles dealing with the bureaucratic nature of corporations as his intelligence and skill come face to face with entitled money and extending even to Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts, who's terrific) as he - someone who has every reason to believe he's in full control of every aspect of his life - is humbled in an instance where he comes to not only realize, but understand that there are things he simply can't understand and will never be able to control. 

“Ford v Ferrari” isn't necessarily about the tampering of men's egos and it doesn't aspire to explore the manifestations of as much through these cars and the amount of risk being taken by their drivers, but more it seems to seek to better understand these people through this thing they've given their life over to whether it be out of passion or inheritance. With such strong attitudes and strong points of view on display these characteristics are naturally lent to the film itself giving the entirety of the production this sense of confidence and control; both of which a good movie and a good driver require in order to be successful.