Pairing up two of the most iconic actors of this generation. . . no, I am not talking about Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. . . Matt Damon and Christian Bale work together for the first time in the 2019 Best Picture nominee Ford v Ferrari, directed by James Mangold (Logan; Walk the Line).
An historical event that I’ve somehow never heard of before, this ‘based on a true story’ tale is set in 1966, and the times, they are a changing. A little over twenty years after the end of World War 2, a whole new generation was born when the soldiers returned home in 1945. . . these now teenagers/early 20 somethings (with more money than any other grouping that came before), are yearning for a new type of car (not their father’s automobile).
With this in mind, Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) is in panic mode, trying to adapt to this quickly changing landscape. Putting the burden on the shoulders of his gargantuan number of underlings, two conflicting voices will emerge, that of Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) and Ford’s right hand man, Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas – so good at making us hate him). Iacocca realizes that Ferrari has supplanted Ford, not with numbers of vehicles produced, but in developing a superior automobile that will go down in the history books as the best (and the type of car that this younger generation adores). . . pitching that they must develop a racing car that can beat the legendary Ferrari at the famed 24 Hour race at Le Mans – it will be Beebe that will attempt to warp this vision into a very Ford-like thing at every turn.
Wooing the great Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon – with a Southern drawl) – the visionary former racer (the only American to have won Le Mans – in 1959) and owner/creator of the present day independent equipment and customization company, he is supposedly given carte blanche to create this yet unstarted vehicle (in just a few short months time).
His first step is securing a driver, pursuing temperamental Ken Miles (Christian Bale – porting a voice that would fit in the commentary booth of any major sporting event). . . who has recently retired following some financial difficulties. This is not the preferred pick of the Ford Motor Company (as he is not the right image for them, and is known to put himself first).
What could have been a straightforward racing film, in Mangold’s crafty hands, it turns into a battle of wills – game playing and stratagem key at every turn. With a title like Ford v Ferrari, you would expect the Italian automobile company to be the main foe, yet Henry Ford II and Beebe, in essence, become the villains, but not in the traditional sense, instead impeding the good of the team for a combination of money, control and perception. Their power, combined with the company’s famed assembly line – which are not only for its cars, but also the way office positions are set-up (meaning that there are way too many middlemen), interfere with Shelby and Miles’ lofty goals. . . the lone voice of support coming from Iacocca (though, to keep his job, it must be a silent, or perhaps more accurately, hidden voice of support). Another important element revolves around (possibly) swallowing your pride. . . though even that is not straight-forward in this narrative.
Yet, in the end, most will likely want to see this film for its racing. . . and it is glorious. With Bale actually taking racing lessons from an old friend of Ken Miles, there is an accuracy and authenticity to the piece. From the exquisite sound mixing and sound editing (boy does the audio kick), to the intense pace, these elements help drive the story forward (the racing action never dragging things down or feeling too long). It feeds the story, never a guarantee that this will be easy, or even lead to an eventual win – for Shelby and Miles’ struggles are real.
A peppy, intriguing historical sports story, Ford v Ferrari is an excellent watch. With a superb ensemble cast (not that Bale needs any more adulation, but he lost seventy pounds in short order after finishing Vice to work on this picture – a more than impressive feat), awe-inspiring technical aspects (sound, editing, cinematography and visuals), and an engaging story, this has a little bit of everything (even some surprisingly laugh out loud comedy and some romance – though it didn’t really fit into my review, Miles’ wife Mollie, played beautifully by Caitriona Balfe – of Outlander fame, actually has a pretty meaty role). Lastly, listen for the authentic to the era soundtrack – from The Byrds and The Kingsmen, to Nina Simone, it will ‘put a spell on you’. So, don’t expect this one to throw a wrench into your viewing enjoyment plans, catch this dead heat before we move too far down the road.