Ford v Ferrari - Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

DON'T be fooled by the title of the film, as Ford v Ferrari is far more than just a movie about motor racing, made for car enthusiasts. Rather, it's the story of a friendship as well as an insightful look at the maverick spirit versus the corporate machine - a film that celebrates innovation, dedication and passion, whilst decrying the capitalistic forces that threaten to consume individuality and suppress talent.

Director James Mangold is the right person to direct, too, having had his fair share of brushes with the corporate machine (ie, film studios), whose intervention are said to have left him dissatisfied with the ending of The Wolverine. Yet when allowed to go his own way and indulge his creative instincts, the director has delivered masterpieces such as Copland, 3:10 To Yuma and Logan.

Ford v Ferrari focuses on the mid-’60s fued between the dominant Ferrari and the workmanlike Ford, whose boss, Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts), resolves to try and take on the Italian racing legends by building a car to potentially win the prestigious 24-hour race at Le Mans.

Enter US car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and racer Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who are tasked with putting together the machine capable of doing so.

The ensuing film may have a certain amount of predictability - and also takes certain creative licence with the truth - but it's nevertheless an enjoyable, and even surprisingly bittersweet, crowd-pleaser that embraces a classic style of movie-making (which, in its own way, represents an affront to the more CGI-influenced modern movie craft).

The race action was shot for real and has a thrilling intensity that both heightens the tension and shows the dangers of a time when drivers were a lot more vulnerable.

But the film also delivers on the central relationship underpinning it, with Bale and Damon highly affecting as the maverick duo leading the way. Bale is clearly having some fun with his Cockney accent and gutsy disdain for authority, while Damon is more calm and assured (classic Damon), albeit with a keen sense of authority whenever his control is threatened.

The ups and downs in their relationship are also nicely chronicled, so that when the film does hit its emotional highs and lows, the celebrations and commiserations feel genuinely earned.

And Mangold also deserves credit for allowing his film to offer an insight into corporate politics and bullying, not so much painting Ford as the heroes in this particular rivalry - but more a cog in a huge machine that has contributed to the current state of America and industry (where the big guys tend to win by any means necessary).

His film looks fantastic, too, whether in the sun-drenched valleys of California, or in the somewhat more volatile environments of the Le Mans race-track, which offers sun, rain and night-time action in equal measure.

Ford v Ferrari therefore delivers all that is expected of a film of its type, as well as a lot more besides.