In 1963, Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) decides to buy the Ferrari company. The "Commendatore" himself, Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone), sells his company to Fiat instead. Ford decides to get even by building a race car. His goal is the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which Ferrari-built Cars are on a winning streak. Ford needs a maker and a driver.
His maker is Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), the last man to drive a non-Ferrari to victory. His driver is Ken Miles (Christian Bale), a hotheaded racer and mechanic. The two have a rocky relationship. But Shelby knows Miles is the best man for the job. A few Ford execs, namely Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas), don't approve of Miles. Shelby and Miles will have to prove them wrong with the GT40 Mk II.
They deliver.
The racing scenes deserve the big screen. The biggest screens possible. Editors Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland and the Sound Designers make each race perfectly fast paced and tense. You'll be cheering for Miles even if you came in mildly curious. Each crash will put you on edge. You won't believe that much of the stadium crowds are digital. For me, the Mk II lighting up like the Delorean time machine as Miles overclocks it was the most stunning effect.
Damon and Bale make a great duo. Individually, both men are likable guys. Together, they are fun. Their arguments are serious, but often resolved hilariously. It's awesome to see them work it out. Their supporting cast has a few strong players, including Letts, Noah Jupe (as Miles' son, Peter), Caitriona Balfe (as Miles' wife, Mollie), Lucas and Jon Bernthal as Ford President Lee Iacocca.
The screenplay by Jez and John Butterworth, with Jason Keller, mostly works. It sets up the plot, along with Shelby and Miles' issues, clearly and quickly. Where it doesn't exactly work is the ending. Specifically, the events after Le Mans feel anti-climactic after the highs of the race. They're also unexpectedly tragic, albeit historically accurate, but that's another thing. The ending is where the 152 minute runtime is most apparent. Everything else zooms by wonderfully.
Ford v Ferrari is an entertaining racing film. Its two stars entertain the audience on and off the track. Its racing scenes are some of the best on screen. Its only real flaw is the relatively slow-paced ending. Still, it's an awesome film that deserves a steady place in theaters this holiday season.
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