“Ford v Ferrari” Review

Courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter

By Eva Lynch

Director James Mangold dropped the highly anticipated Ford v Ferrari to the public in the United States in mid-November 2019, just in time for the current lovers of the “Cars” trilogy to enjoy a more mature adaptation of a racing legend. A star-studded cast list catalyzed much of the anticipation before the premiere with buzz names like Matt Damon and Christian Bale starring. 

Ford v Ferrari tells the intense story of car designer Carroll Shelby’s (Damon) and racing driver Ken Miles’ (Bale) collaboration with Henry Ford II in response to being double-crossed by the Ferrari company. This layered plot was inspired by and based upon A.J. Baime’s novel, Go Like Hell, which recounts Shelby’s and Miles’ united front against Enzo Ferrari and his corporation.  

As always, the storyline delves deeper, addressing classic issues of corporate suits who know nothing about racing, informing the racing practices of the blue-collar racers. Additionally, the story unpacks the relational problems between Miles, a British expatriate, and Shelby, a proud Texan, evidenced by the scene where Miles punches Shelby in the nose. 

As their relationship ebbs and flows throughout the movie, their entire team is tasked with tackling a plethora of seemingly impossible tasks: designing and manufacturing a racing vehicle as a company that has never made a racing vehicle before, procuring the best driver possible for this vehicle, overcoming widely-held perceptions that they would fail, ultimately beating Ferrari—manufacturer of the fastest car in the world, in one of the most anticipated racing events in the world—and overcoming their own interpersonal issues along the way.

This subtler underlying plot exposes the true genius of the movie. Undoubtedly had this movie been more focused on the evolution of racing automobiles, it would not have made more than $31 million in opening-weekend box office sales as it did.  By adapting this story to be relational instead of mechanical, Mangold ensured the box office success of his film. Even further, Mangold chose to focus on the less public relationship between Shelby and Miles instead of on the overt yet stagnant competition between Henry Ford’s grandson and Enzo Ferrari, whose battling egos do not make for compelling protagonists. After all, a fast-paced world necessitates a fast-paced storyline.

James Mangold is among the most experienced echelon of directors in Hollywood, having written and directed award-winning films like Kate & Leopold, The Wolverine, and Logan. At only 56 years old, he has already won two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globes.Even as one of the last releases of the decade, this movie secured many nominations from well-known critics, most notably four Academy Awards nominations, three BAFTA nominations, and a Golden Globes nomination as well. But its 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating alone, an accurate reflection of Mangold’s eye for a good story combined with the unmatched performing prowess of the cast, necessitates viewing by car lovers and haters alike. Overall, Ford v Ferrari met and exceeded critics’ high expectations for a golden cast’s renewed rendition of the golden age of racing.