Ford v. Ferrari (2019)

In 1966 the Ford Motor Company raced their Ford GT40 in the twenty-four-hour Le Mans. The car was built by Carol Shelby and his team with the aid of Ken Miles. Miles would then race the Ford GT40 in the Le Mans. This is the story of those two men, Shelby and Miles, their battles and their legacy.

Ford v Ferrari is a misleading title, the film is rarely concerned with the feud between corporate entities. Individuals are the interest of the film. When there are scenes of Henry Ford II or Enzo Ferrari, they talk about their individual legacy and pride. Carol & Ken v. Ford & Ferrari would be a more fitting title. In some European markets, the film was titled Le Man' 66. A title more fitting than Ford v. Ferrari. The one-hundred-fifty-two minute runtime is mostly spent putting Matt Damon (Carol Shelby) and Christian Bale (Ken Miles) center stage, as they struggle to make their mark on history.

The plot is very digestible. There is nothing that should lose the average viewer except for the odd outdated reference or motor vehicle related jargon. Knowing the history the film is based off will detract from the impact of certain scenes. Going in blind is definitely the best way to experience the story. Some moments are predictable, which can burden the over two-hour runtime. Thankfully the plot chugs along at a relatively fast pace. As far as the second act goes, Ford v. Ferrari doesn't slump too hard in the middle. The plot is light, fast, and full of middle-aged white men, just like the cars on the raceways.

The visual and audio technique is the ingredient that sets Ford v. Ferrari apart from many of the other reasonably average films that came out in 2019. Performances are another key mostly because of how well they play into that technical energy. The heart and soul of the picture is "the drive." The state of piloting these machines at incredible speeds. The camera communicates that feeling beautifully as it rockets around the race track. Every aspect of the sound design accentuates the power of the cars and the insanity of the speeds. Risk is always so present, and these elements never let you forget that. When there is no racing happening on the screen, the camera is noticeably less energetic. Clearly, most of the planning and execution was spent on the racing scenes.

Energy doesn't just come from the camera. Christian Bale and Matt Damon are fantastic. Bale, as Ken Miles is the kind of character you can't help but love. Miles is totally himself regardless of how other people feel about him. He knows he's a good racer and he loves driving fast cars. In the racing scenes, Bale breaks up what would be endless shots of fast cars, with little quips as he passes the other racers. It's a blast to watch him race. Damon, as Carol Shelby, had a slightly more challenging role. Most of Shelby's conflict is off the race track and in the corporate arena. Carol is a natural-born salesman, a people person. Although he would rather be in his shop building cars, he spends most of his time talking to people about cars and the men racing them. Damon brings life to board room chats and impromptu office visits that could otherwise be left on the cutting room floor. When Ken and Carol are first seen on screen together, Ken wears white while Carol wears black. This subtle costume decision establishes the yin and yang element of the duo.

Ford v. Ferrari is a good movie. Whether or not it deserves a spot in the Best Picture category is questionable. It's clearly not going to be remembered for years to come as an achievement in any aspect. It's a story about the legacy these men left behind and who they were at their core. It's an endearing look back at a powerful moment for the American motorsports industry. It's a film that most people could connect to on at least some level. While it doesn't have that much depth, it's still mostly worth its runtime if you are only looking to be entertained. Ford v. Ferrari will not challenge you in any way, but it may pique your interest in the world of racing.