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The first Oscar-worthy picture of the year has landed, and in all my years and tens of thousands of films viewed (possibly an exaggeration, but who knows?), I have never experienced a racing film quite this complete and masterfully done. At a robust two and a half hours, it's a bit long-winded (it seems like we experience the full twenty-four hour of LeMans near the end), but for some reason, it maintains focus and paces itself with the brilliant acting of two of Hollywood's best.
Based on the true story of Carroll Shelby's collaboration with Lee Iacoca and Henry Ford to create a car capable of competing with the Italian racing stalwart, Ferrari, in the mid-1960's. Blending elements of nostalgic Americana, the character-driven vehicle relies heavily on props, which in this particular case, is the drool-worthy supercar icon, the Ford GT40. Kudos to the authenticity and attention to detail by director James Mangold (more on him in a bit) and the production team. You feel like you are part of American history, the coming of age story of domestic automobiles.
Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) is a former racer-turned custom sports car maker who has an endearing relationship with the socially brusque, but genius mechanic/driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale). They tinker and test the limits of their new car (and their relationship) on and off the track. It's a magical relationship of mutual respect, and constantly pushing back against the iconic car manufacturer and the legacy of its founder. Josh Lucas plays Leo Beebe, the executive tasked with putting Ford up against Ferrari on the biggest stage of all, LeMans. His antagonistic approach strengthens the resolve of the unlikely duo, and makes this underdog story one for the ages.
Christian Bale will receive a Best Actor nomination for his work. He's absolutely phenomenal as a journeyman racer who keeps burning professional bridges with his hot temper, but whose comfort and precision behind the wheel is undeniably brilliant. Adding depth to the character is a quirky but loving relationship with his supportive wife, Mollie (Caitriona Balfa) and his constant shadow and biggest fan, his son Pete (Noah Jupe). The father/son relationship was subtle, but incredibly powerful from start to finish, and I'm looking forward to many years of Noah Jupe's work. He has the child "it" factor that many lack. He's going to be around in the industry for a long time.
Damon's portrayal of Shelby is fantastic as he's given most of the film's best lines in comic relief. His admiration and respect for Miles elevates the legendary status of the racing intrigue for the times when the camera is in, above, behind, or next to the beautiful GT40. Although the story is clearly centered around Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby is the star-power from the historical perspective.
The racing puts you on the edge of your seat with a low, throaty, rumbling idle that accelerates to nearly two-hundred and twenty miles an hour. What blew me away was that although there were several races, and the racing screen-time probably approached ninety minutes or more, it never got old or stagnant. The actors and director (and screenwriters) found a way to keep it fresh, interesting, and emotional.
Director James Mangold ("Logan," "Walk the Line," the underrated "Cop Land") delivers a stellar opus that will stand the test of time in the auto racing genre as one of, if not the greatest film to grace the screen. No offense to "Rush," "Days of Thunder," or even the "Fast and Furious" films, but "Ford v Ferrari" just takes exceptional racing, and mixes it with incredible acting, masterful direction, and a story worthy of a gold statuette.
I expected "Ford v Ferrari" to be good, but my expectations were overwhelmed. The only way to adequately describe the film is that it is complete. So many different elements are done exquisitely well, so I can confidently say that this is the current front-runner for Best Picture. Likely there will be something else that comes along in the next six weeks, but until then, the bar has been set. If you enjoy car racing in the slightest, this film is a must-see. If you like Bale or Damon, their performances make it a must-see as well. "Ford v Ferrari" belongs in the pantheon of great sports films, but also as a character study of resolve, ingenuity, and competition. 10/10.
