Ford v Ferrari

American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co. Together, they plan to compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966. 1966 was a historic year, not just because the 3 Lions brought it home but also because a ‘little’ automobile company called Ford managed to defeat Ferrari’s army of 330 P/4s to win the Le Mans. This film tells the story of that moment, all the way from Ken winning amateur races to racing in the biggest race in the world - it covers a lot of themes from his personal life, relationships, rivalry and of course the roar of a 7 litre Ford engine. It follows the story of not only Ken but also the story between two fierce competitors. But here’s the main question, does this film blow its engine before it’s even got over the start line or does it finish with a triumphant victory? Here are my thoughts. All great racing films start off with a thrilling scene. They make your comfy chair feel like you’re in the driving seat of a racing car, and by doing so give an awesome and adrenaline filled start to the film. This film takes a different approach though. It's positive though. Not only does it feel fresh, but it excites us and builds up that initial race, giving it meaning and purpose, and then puts us in that driving seat. The start of the film begins by establishing two key characters, Shelby and Ken, discussing a race and ultimately Ken winning, but what I love is how not only are we introduced to Ken’s playful and fiery attitude through a racing environment, but how it still manages to bring the same thrills as if we were thrown straight into a race, seeing lines of old racing cars, people selling food, journalists and drivers roaming around making last minute adjustments feels amazing. Not only does it give us a great yet subtle introduction to Ken as a character (especially smashing his boot to conform to racing standards and throwing a wrench at Shelby) but it also builds up a really exciting feeling to the race, and then by putting us in the driving seat we feel like there is a purpose behind the race, which adds meaning to our other emotions (mainly synonyms for excitement!!) But genuinely this feels great. It takes a new perspective on racing, by giving us a much wider and open perspective of racing and what the film is about - Ken and the track. If I was to argue that the feelings of speed and excitement are what makes this film so epic then I’m sure many people would agree with me. The racing scenes are the best though. I love how it really grips us by giving us roars of the engines in a way that is impossible to describe. The variety of quick and slow-motion scenes during many of the races provide a real thrill because they really get us close to what it’s like to be in the driver's seat of a legendary racing car, but they also provide some really intense and exciting views though which really help to get us genuinely interested and thrilled by races, overtaking manoeuvres and even simple things like Ken racing the legendary Ford GT40 around a runway feel so immersive and intense because we see cut shots of him concentrating, which cut to close up engine shots which unleash the roar - when I say that this film had some breathtaking scenes from its driving I really mean it - even the County Squire being raced around feels fun and exciting because the film cleverly pieces camera angles and shots together to make us feel like we’re in the driving seat, and to provide us with quick and breathtaking scenes which feel unlike any other. What I thought really made this film stand out from other, typical racing films though is how it wasn't just about the cars, it was about the teams and the greats, Henry Ford the 2nd and of course Enzo Ferrari. I love how special it feels throughout the film, seeing various characters like Enzo being spoken about so highly, about his legacy and passion and then seeing him. I absolutely love how the film makes it more than just about cars, but encompasses motorsport as a whole by referring to two greats, Enzo and Henry Ford. Seeing scenes like where Ford tried to buy out Ferrari was really key to the impact of the film, because the way the film is laid out helps to make us nervous and excited about Enzo's decision, but it's also powerful too because the emotions of the characters feel really raw and personal. You can see the disgust on his face when he is told that he wouldn't be allowed to race if Ford didn't want to and when he begins the name-calling, we really delve into how personal the rivalry goes which really adds a lot of purpose and meaning to the film because we can really feel the passion behind both companies and their teams really wanting to win and doing whatever they can to achieve that - and that is what makes the storyline so exciting, because it feels raw and it explains itself really well. I also really like how well laid out the film feels too and how it establishes the variety of characters and companies too. As usual, the film uses the 'underdog' theme, and by constantly playing Ford down as a company that make 'ugly cars in an ugly factory' and Ken as a winner on the race track but a loser off it, it really helps to gain our support for them both, a theme that is used very commonly but feels well implemented here, because of the way that we see the rivalry. It's not that we see Ferrari as an enemy but seeing the passion and raw emotion from Ken, his wife and son and the Ford team really helps to make them seem real, and by doing so ensure that we are subconsciously rooting for them throughout. As I mentioned before, the racing is where the film is at its strongest for sure. Races in this film are just something else, but it's not just about the actual race. Scenes like Ken's son drawing his own version of the Le Mans circuit, and them walking around the track really help to personify and strengthen the film's strong passion for motorsport. It doesn't just make us feel interested in the racing and the storyline, but it engulfs us in it, and really shines the passion that Ken has for perfection, for racing and for winning which is just amazing and so exciting and fun to watch - the emotion and passion feels so realistic too, seeing how characters eyes light up at the sight of the cars, and how excited they feel to drive and modify the cars is great to see and just adds that little cherry on top, by making it believable. It isn't just racing, but it focuses on the culture and really makes it feel immersive and real. Some scenes though add in an element of suspense which is amazing and really well executed here too. Scenes like where Ken's car blows up really helps to intensify not only the racing in the film but the dangers of motorsport and of the Le Mans race too - but by doing this not only does it make the film more tense, but it really helps to thrill us and once again, shows off the really exciting and dangerous side to motorsport. Of course though, the main section of the film is the actual Le Mans race. After building it up through multiple races, the Daytona feels equally as amazing as the others, and equally as fast paced and thrilling too. I love how well not only the race is bigged up, but the actual track is too, and seeing the characters running to their cars and racing around the track is amazing and definitely the highlight of the film. The amazing sense of speed, excitement and intensity that are provided in this race are amazing and honestly prove to be one of my favourite racing scenes of all time. It gives such an amazing sense of speed and wonder, seeing the cars weaving in and out of each other, whilst taking corners at 150mph + feels so exciting and thrilling, but this combined with shots of Ken swearing and joking in the car and the purring and roaring of the cars engines which are just breathtaking because it combines a sense of realism with a sense of pure joy and pleasure - as I said, this is definitely my favourite scene of the film and for good reason too. The film also adds to this intense experience by getting us actively involved too. Camera angles which show close up shots of Ken, faraway shots with cars whizzing by, shots from the front of the car weaving in and out of other cars is so enjoyable because it really keeps the race feeling so exciting and fun for us, whether you're a car fan or whether you aren't - this film is full of scenes which will excite you and make you want to get the next ferry to France and down to the track (regardless of whether you drive a supercar or a city car!) But what's most interesting is that even during these really exciting and fast paced scenes, the film continues to remind us of the characters and their imp[ortance, seeing crucial dilemmas during races such as whether to slow down, whether to go into 7th gear, whether to change the brakes all add to the overall feeling of the film, because they keep the film feeling fresh and enjoyable. Of course the Le Mans race isn't just racing, it involves sleeping, dilemmas, risks and this film takes all of them and adds them in perfectly, whilst following a selection of great characters. In general the film feels amazingly well put together. Not only does the film flow really well but it's also thoroughly enjoyable. Matt Damon has rarely had the opportunity to show quite such a range, from a confident showman to a vulnerability that we rarely see. Christian Bale as always disappears into his character and delivers another stellar performance, and Tracy Letts layers his performance with strength and flair. Ultimately, James Mangold's masterwork delivers on all fronts. From the very first frame, he sets the tone with exciting, bold and energetic images that are visually arresting, alongside a great score that never overwhelms or feels generic. The editing is outstanding, as the pace is so fast-moving, pulsating with nail-biting excitement, especially in the racing sequences. I also love how it feels like the full package too. It isn't just racing but we see the characters from all fronts, on and off the track which I love and definitely shows the hard work and risks that were taken with this film - amazing! The film then feels like it comes to a climax perfectly, I won’t ruin what happens but it feels like the ending of the film is very surprising but totally in line with the film and feels like a perfect ending for an almost perfect film. Not only was the film made amazingly but the characters follow suit too. I love how personal they feel, for example seeing how Shelby reacts to never being able to race a race car again at the start of the film is really devastating, mainly because of how the film shows his emotions, but even before much else has happened we instantly feel sadness and sympathy for this character. I know I said that the racing is the best part of the film, but the characters and the character models are a very close second. They are amazing, they show humour, sadness, guilt, shock all perfectly well which makes them feel super engaging. Even subtle things like the nod from Enzo after Ferrari lost helps to solidify the strong connections that this film creates for its characters. What also really impressed me is how realistic the characters feel, from glares between Ford and Ferrari drivers whilst going 200mph+ and each one edging a little further ahead as they catch each other through the windows whilst side by side, to sadness from Henry Ford 2nd when claiming he wishes his father could see and experience the GT40 for himself - this film is bursting with raw emotion and excitement and the characters are at the very heart of that. They also seem to get on like a house on fire too. Seeing Ken and Shelby wrestling around whilst joking about, compared to their serious conversations whilst talking about Business shows the depth that the characters have. Different emotions and character styles in various scenarios really help to make them feel realistic and immersive in their culture. I also really like the family aspect to the film too. It isn’t just a race for Ken, but he has his family too to look after, and they add a lot of emotion too which helps to remind us that even though he is a hotshot racing driver, he still has that family element to his life which keeps him from floating away. I also really like how the film uses a variety of different character models to create a wide variety of different personalities and emotions for them. Not only does this mean that they feel more realistic because they are individual but it also has a great impact of making them unpredictable and exciting. For example, seeing Ken’s playful nature means that during some scenes he is unpredictable as to how he will react to different scenarios and events – this then makes him so much more exciting because there is an element of unpredictability surrounding him. I also love how passionate the characters feel, especially Ken – the way in which Christian Bale steps into this character is amazing because when Ken discusses racing lines, tracks and fixing/modifying cars it is really exciting because of the passion we see from the way he speaks, his facial expressions and the general feeling behind the character when he is on the race track or behind the wheel – it is great and really exciting to see and adds a lot to the film, but it isn’t just Ken who feels immersive. It’s the other characters too who help to really make the film feel immersive, there are so many types of characters here, businessmen, racing drivers, workers, families that may initially seem complicated but the film manages this really well and makes each character feel recognisable which is great because it means that we can follow the individual stories of the characters, as well as the overall story because the characters feel well established. Characters aren’t just racers and spectators but they have real and raw emotions and passion too, which gives them a real purpose, I also like how genuine and fun they feel too. Lines like “Boys, I’m going to France” and “Oooo can I take this?” give the film a really informal feeling but that’s intended and I think that it helps to solidify the fact that it is meant to be a gripping and exciting film. It takes risks with its characters by providing a variety of different types but it pays off because they feel so exciting and enjoyable to watch. They get us involved really well into the story too, and help to make it feel so immersive and exciting – the passion and emotion shown by the characters are immersive too and is key to the overall impact that the film has on us. The film isn’t perfect though and it does have a few loose screws which affect the overall performance of the film. After the film finished I was definitely left wanting more from the film. I really wanted there to be more racing scenes - these were the best parts of the film and personally there weren’t enough towards the start of the film to justify the fact that Ken was a top racing driver. Sure he won the Indy 500 so we know he’s a great driver but his career doesn’t have enough coverage to make this feel believable. A small issue, but something I wasn’t too sure about. I also wanted a little bit more of a backstory. Typically films like this show the main character as a child/younger version with an interest in cars. Not only does this help to really make the character feel immersive but it also helps to give them a bit more context. Even if it had only been a short scene – it would’ve been helpful to get some more context on his character working his way up as a racing driver. Although if I’m honest, I’m being very picky. There is a lot that this film does right, and not just good, but very good which leaves it feeling exciting and immersive and for many people, it may even be a contender for their favourite film of the year. Overall, I would give this film a 9.3. I really enjoyed it. Not only does the actual plot feel very strong and well thought through but the film contains a lot of amazing and breathtaking scenes involving races and high-speed driving which feel really exciting and enjoyable. But as well as this, the film has a really well thought through and strong story. It follows the story of Ken well and allows us to get immersed not only in his story but in the overall culture and ecosystem of the characters of the film. Allowing us to delve into this is really exciting. The film takes a lot of risks too which pay off and help to make the film feel fresh and unique – leaving audiences on the edge of their seats throughout. Sure, the film had a few issues regarding timings but to be honest, these are a little picky because the film feels really good and really enjoyable. I also love how the film is enjoyable for audiences who love cars, as well as audiences who don’t and just use a car to drive to work – because of the gripping, fast-paced and exciting scenes throughout the film. I would definitely recommend checking this film out when it is released later this month, not only does it provide an exciting insight into 1960s racing but it also delves into an infamous Ferrari and Ford rivalry which makes the overall film feel really enjoyable for all types of fans. Thank you for reading my review. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did watching the film and writing this review, I hope you have a lovely day! If you would like to check out my Official Facebook page where you can see sneak previous and more film insights then please consider checking out the link below! https://www.facebook.com/Film-Talk-605719843173687/