Ford v Ferrari Review

There’s a moment in director James Mangold’s new racing drama Ford v Ferrari where the immaculate driver Ken Miles explains to his son the euphoric sensation of one’s surroundings going in slow motion when piloting a race car at electrifying speeds. In many ways, it feels as if Mangold takes that feeling and utilizes it in his way behind the camera, often slowing down the high-speed drama to heighten the small details of each scene for much richer payoffs. Driven by phenomenal performances from Matt Damon and Christian Bale and layered with thrilling sequences that build and release both humor and tension, Ford v Ferrari is a film crafted with adrenaline and confidence that movie and car enthusiasts will surely enjoy.

Based on the true story of motorsports duo Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, Ford v Ferrari chronicles their battle together for the Ford Motor Company in 1966 to create a car that could defeat the Ferrari in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. With Enzo Ferrari engineering miles ahead of them and corporate interferences burdening their productivity, the two men must figure out how to defy the odds and achieve something never done by an American car manufacturer.

There are instantly apparent cinematic methods that Mangold instills in both the visual and narrative storytelling of the film, allowing himself and screenwriters Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller ways to inject exaggerated elements of both humor and action without ever shattering any layers of believability, creating moments where the already memorable monologues and witty dialogue stand out prominently.

Perhaps where Ford v Ferrari stumbles most is in its unavoidable predictability, with some moments being far too linear due to the obvious non-fictional elements attached. These scenes are necessary for the sake of the story and character arcs that develop but can often be the parts of the film that feel the least inspired.

Despite those few cookie-cutter narrative elements scattered throughout, Mangold’s high-octane directing is often executed with a sharp confidence that’s embedded in every scene, adding much more weight to the entertaining performances and the gorgeous 60s cars and tracks lit beautifully by cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. Overall, Ford v Ferrari is not ground-breaking or inventive, but it’s a masterfully executed film that excites and electrifies, a clever racing film that’s sure to exhilarate most.

Thrilling and amusing moments reinforced with the focused direction of James Mangold makes Ford v Ferrari and fearless and effective film.

Produced By: 20th Century Fox
Runtime: 152 minutes
Rating: NR