Ford V Ferrari (2019) - REVIEW
"We’re going to make history."
Ford v Ferrari is a slick and exhilarating ride that aims to do one thing and one thing only; entertain. For better or worse. This isn’t a revolutionary film by any regards, nor is it one that will keep you guessing what will happen next throughout. It is, however, a well-acted biopic about two friends who were able to stick it to “the man” while sharing their passion of sports car racing. It’s sweet, charming, and a lot of fun, and though it may lean towards a much more generic narrative than I would have liked – it manages to maintain a steady ride throughout. Matt Damon, and especially Christian Bale, give some fantastic performances that really seem to be the heart of this film and carry it all the way to the finish line.
James Mangold (Logan, Walk the Line) is a competent and confident director but there really isn’t a lot of room for creativity or personal flair in a screenplay like this. Scenes where Ken Miles (Bale) is yelling his British ass off at any prick that crosses his path are just as entertaining as the cutthroat racing sequences that come and go throughout the second half of the film. There is a strong bond between the characters onscreen and that is what engages the viewer; this is essentially just the classic underdog story. Caitriona Balfe actually gave one of my favorite performances of the film, following our two leads, and provided a sense of grounding for Ken – which was desperately needed in some cases. Their relationship was surprisingly well done without diving too much into it and deviating away from the focus of the story itself. However, Ken’s relationship with his son (Noah Jupe) honestly seemed underdeveloped and I think the impact would have been greater if this was explored a little more properly throughout the film. The only times we really see Ken really connect to his son is when he is rambling on about him racing; though his son is interested, it just felt very one-sided and a bit disingenuous to me. Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas, and Tracy Letts give solid performances throughout the film.
All the racing sequences and the showcase of the cars are a huge highlight of the film as well, and for many, that might just be all that they need. And on that front, Mangold delivers hugely. For all the corny technobabble films like this can fall into, this movie does a proper job at keeping the viewer engaged and following along without giving into an excessive amount of exposition as well. The racing itself was really well choreographed and for the most part, I couldn’t tell what I was looking at was practical or CGI. So that makes it good – right? Right. The racing, and crashes along with it, all looked real which kept me immersed in the last third of the film – which is almost all just racing. The film, however, does get a little oddly paced towards the end – like most biopics tend to when they are forcing on too much of the story than the film can accommodate for (i.e. Rocketman). But that aside, Mangold manages to keep the energy and stakes at high for a majority of the final sequences.
Ford v Ferrari is a simple film that really succeeds with what it sets out to accomplish; tell a story about fast cars, angry old men, and an everlasting friendship. Though it doesn’t break any new ground or pose any philosophical question to be answered, it leaves you satisfied with one hell of a ride. And isn’t that enough?
