Like the racers at Le Mans, director James Mangold can’t be stopped. Following up one of the most well received superhero films of all time in Logan was never going to be an easy task, but he’s done it with his latest racing feature Ford v Ferrari. A thrilling tale of two men and the lengths they will go to to achieve their dreams, this is engrossing, engaging cinema at its finest and undoubtedly one of the best films of the year. Every aspect of the film blends together perfectly: the performances of Matt Damon and Christian Bale and the entire cast, the score by Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, the tension filled race scenes and the airtight story all coalescing to create one pure adrenaline shot of a movie that should not be missed.
Don’t be fooled by the title, this is first and foremost a character study of two men: former racer turned car salesman (and the first American to win the 24 hours endurance race at Le Mans in France) Carroll Shelby (Damon) and down-on-his-luck British racer Ken Miles (Bale), who Carroll has his eyes set on to drive in the 1966 Le Mans championship. The racing comes second to the deep dive we take into these two men’s psyche’s; both damaged from their past and from different worlds but who share a unified passion and goal in their love for racing and desire to be the best and chase that perfect lap. Damon and Bale are pitch perfect in their respective roles and their chemistry is electric. Their friendship is the heart of the film and they sell it wonderfully, coming to understand and value each other more and more as the race looms closer. Each party is tested in their own way, whilst the other witnesses the lengths their friend will go to in order to chase this dream. This slow reveal of just how important this race is to both men in turn influences the audience, as you find yourself becoming more and more engrossed in the story as each new obstacle on the way to Le Mans is overcome. It’s an extremely effective and subtle way of making you care and by the end of the film you’ll likely find yourself on tenterhooks as the race unfolds, as you know full well what is at stake for Shelby and Miles.
As complex as these two characters are they are also a ton of fun, with both men getting to chew the scenery in different ways. Damon gives his best Texan accent here as the loud, proud Shelby, who succeeds as a car salesman by charming clients with stories of his racing heydays, which he longs to return to after being forced to retire due to heart issues. He plays these loud, braggadocios beats of Shelby with supreme confidence but it’s the quieter moments with Shelby that really allow Damon to explore the character, and he does this extremely well, whether it be through a simple facial expression or the tone in his voice on a quiet telephone call. He’s constantly forced to make hard decisions and is torn between his own self-preservation and putting it all on the line to win and it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Damon doing justice to the role. Bale as Ken Miles alternates between a quiet, reserved man – the opposite of Shelby – and a powder-keg, ready to explode at a moment’s notice at whoever draws his ire and insults his skills with a car. It’s a more obvious range than Damon’s and while he may seem like the more predictable, easy to read character, Miles harbours some real trauma and self-doubt – struggling with the choice to chase his dream or give it up to provide for his family – which Bale portrays in a variety of subtle ways. It’s rare that a movie these days allows you to learn about the character in real time with the other people in the film and it’s a welcome choice, helping you to invest yourself more in the plot and in Miles.
The supporting cast is all excellent and every character’s involvement in the plot is specifically tied to Miles and Shelby (whether serving as obstacles or inspirations), never distracting from the task at hand and further narrowing the film’s laser focus to these two men and the race to come, tightening the tension as we come to realise how many other people’s fates are tied to Miles and Shelby’s mission to win Le Mans. Caitriona Balfe excels as Mollie, the tough-as-nails wife of of Ken and the only one able to really keep him in line, whilst running the household in his absence. Balfe makes her presence known when she’s on screen, commanding the scene as she does all she can do to ensure her husband fulfils his destiny. Similarly, the character of Ken is further fleshed out through his relationship with son Peter, played by Noah Jupe. Jupe is fine in the role, playing a boy who completely idolises his dad, but who also recognises the extreme risks associated with the race and is torn between his desire to see his father win and to keep him safe. The scenes between Peter and Ken are some of the most heartfelt and help to flesh out the character of Ken, giving him something to lose but also a reason to succeed. Rounding out the cast is a bevy of Ford employees who both help and hinder the two men as they approach the race, including Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas and Tracy Letts. Lucas is at his dastardly best here as Leo Beebe, a Ford executive who is vehemently opposed to the decision to have Miles race the first Ford race car and who goes out of his way to make sure it doesn’t happen. It’s a character that you love to hate and Lucas hams it up in all the best ways, creating someone who audiences purely loathe, but who also has understandable motives.
On a technical level Ford v Ferrari is a masterclass in filmmaking; with Mangold utilising every trick and technique up his sleeves to ensure that every element of the film is there to enhance the story being told. This is perhaps no better demonstrated than in the racing scenes, with quick cuts between shots of the cars , point of view shots from the driver’s seat and reaction shots of the people outside the car helping to sell the speed and intensity of the races. The quieter moments are equally well assembled; shot gorgeously and with purpose – a particular scene between Ken and his son is shot against a gorgeous sunset, setting the tone for the emotional exchange to come. It’s this kind of attention to detail that goes that extra mile (sorry) to envelope you in these two men’s story and it makes the whole affair an absolute joy to watch. Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders’ score elevates the film to another level, adding to the quieter moments and capturing the electric intensity of the races, which Mangold makes even more impactful by fading the score in and out so that when it comes in booming you feel it and the music almost feels earned after the heart-stopping scenes preceding it.
Ford v Ferrari is a special film. A near perfect blend of classic moviemaking skills that perfectly captures the spirit of 60’s Americana and racing; the inherently simple premise disguises so much more, at the centre of which is a wonderfully deep and realised friendship between these two men and a story of chasing your dreams no matter what. This is a film that will stick with you long after you leave the cinema: it’s blend of heart, action and humour never disappointing and keeping you glued to the screen. The best film of the year so far in every way, a Skywalker is going to have to rise pretty high to clear the bar Mangold has set in order to overtake Ford v Ferrari.
Ford v Ferrari stars Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Noah Jupe, Josh Lucas & Tracy Letts – In cinemas now.