'Ford v Ferrari' review: A racing saga that is more than just two mean machines hurtling across track for supremacy
'Ford v Ferrari' is more than the thunderous thrumming and roaring of the cars, it is more than the racing jargon, it is more than the just a car-dominated story that eggs you to root for the man behind the wheel and the man who's got his back. The '60s retro racing piece boasts of a solid narrative of life in the fast lane and most importantly, of friendship. Matt Damon's Carroll Shelby, a champion racer, is forced into early retirement after diagnosed with hypertension.
His voiceover in the opening minutes is a message for the world out there on why racers put their lives on the line. And this sets the tone for the next 154 minutes where racing DNA, politics, some astute know-how about cars is woven into a streamlined plotline with specks of humor. If the horsepower in 'Ford v Ferrari' comes from a bit of a burl-looking Damon, the adrenaline-pumping dose comes from a gangly, elastic-ky Christin Bale. Cheeky, funny and intense, the man provides the acceleration for this tale as the legendary Ken Miles.
It all starts off in Detroit when Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) is distraught at what his company is doing. He's looking at ideas— whacky, original, torrid, anything. Anything as long as his set of wheels is numero uno. Lee Laccocca (Jon Bernthal) uses Ferrari as an example of success and proposes the idea of buying the Italian racing giant, which of course as we all watched the promos and trailers, ends badly. Deal gets a thumbs-down and a few insults extra. Ford's pride is hurt and then comes the ultimatum— build a car that will whoop Ferrari's a** at the Le Mans.
Calling the movie a crackling contest between two deathtraps with wheels is an understatement. One end has Shelby and Miles who are throwing manufacturing what could be the ultimate Ferrari-razing machine and the other, there's dirty, grimy politics. That's where Josh Lucas' cocky Leo Beebe comes in. Every fibre of his being seems to have a corporate principle. A class example is when he terms Miles a "beatnik" and "not-a-Ford-man). Well, you should have made suits then, your highny. The worst part is when men like these don't learn. And his refusal to give the racers space forms a major plotline in the film.
The supporting characters blend in seamlessly. Caitriona Balfe as Miles’ wife, who does know a thing or two about racing, a glossy-eyed Noah Jupe as the son to whom the dad is the ultimate Speed Racer and Ray McKinnon as Shelby's most-valuable and trusted engineer. Damon shines as the integrity-filled Shelby. But that doesn't mean he's the serious broody types. There are some wisecracks, some naughty smiles and glimpses of his 'The Martian's Mark Watney. And Bale, well. From boxer to the bat to the driver, is there anything the Englishman cannot do?
Make no mistake, this hurtling down the track racing tale is a fun watch. It is made even more enjoyable with some well-crafted racing sequences, the neck-to-neck edge outs and the crashes pack a wallop and makes it what can be rightfully called an "edge of the seat" film. As far as racing films go, this one is a fabulous car vs car encounter that needs to be viewed purely and only on the big screen.