'Ford v Ferrari' review: Amid the exquisite speed and exhaust the Shelby-Miles friendship shines through beautifully
As far as racing rivalry goes, there were quite a few that made headlines. Some on the track, some off it. 'Ford v Ferrari' is a bit of both. What started off as a "business proposal" went downright south and burned Ford so much that they decided to create a beast of a car that would leave Ferrari covered in its dust.
The challenge of creating the ultimate fast car fell on Matt Damon's Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale). The duo of Shelby and Miles came together after Ford’s GT40 was a damp squib at the ‘64 and ‘65 Le Mans. As reported by Motor Sport, the pair worked on the car and rang in changes to notch up its performance. The changes worked as the GT40 owned the track at the 1966 Le Mans - three of the Fords took the first three places. Miles, who was zooming in, would have finished first had he not been ordered to slow down for his teammates to catch up.
While a major chunk of the movie takes place on the track, director James Mangold makes an honest effort to bring out the relationship between the two. There's love and affection, there's mutual respect and then there's that funny and witty banter. The bond the duo shares is one of the highlights of the film and which works beautifully in the scheme of things.
Miles is introduced as one of the drivers managed by Shelby. He's the proper Cuppa-drinking, crisp-munching, wiry daredevil of a driver. There's a bit of a temper, some hot-headedness and the only man who he proabably listens to is Shelby. Shelby isn't a slouch either. A man of intergrity, with a passion for cars and a staunch believer in Miles' capabilities. One of the sequences sees politics rear its ugly head by trying to push Miles out of the team but Shelby goes all out to bat for the guy. The friendship the two share is a major storyline of the movie.
Of course we know how Miles' career ended. It was tragic, and in 'Ford v Ferrari' the aftermath of that accident gives valuable insight about Shelby's views on Miles. And it does take its toll on Shelby as he struggles to come to grips with Miles' death.
Perhaps, there was more that Mangold may have wanted to show. But in his near-accurate version, 'Ford v Ferrari' gives a prime place to the Shelby-Miles friendship.