The plot about the confrontation of the GT40 sports car of the Ford team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race against the champions of that time Ferrari. It can be divided into two parts - the story of the people behind the creation of the legendary car and the directly realized visual series of the races themselves.
Henry Ford II has a special ambition that his cars will not only be popular, but also the most titled. By that time, things are not going well for the Ferrari team, and the best option would be to buy the team along with all the developments. But thoughtful Italians play their game ', so the deal does not happen, in addition, Enzo Ferrari refusing thereby greatly hurts the pride of Henry Ford II.
Therefore, the management involved in the creation of a new car legendary racing driver and car designer Carroll Shelby, who in turn hired the brave British racer Ken Miles. The tandem between Shelby and Miles led to the fact that the version of the car codenamed GT40 was improved, which was later able to become the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 4 times.
The dramatic story looks very artificial. First of all, because of a completely unsuccessful casting. The only character that looks a little bit in the frame is Ken Maisle played by Christian Bale. It retains the features of a racer with a complex character, but with elements of professionalism and love for his work. Ford executives are exhibited by caricature villains, and Carroll Shelby in the person of Matt Damon, looks like the man who accidentally walked into the set and everything that happens amuses and delights him. Momentary relationships within the Miles family are created to show the difficult situation Miles found himself in and cause a stingy male tear in the middle and end of the film. Thus, until the final credits, there is a feeling that you are watching the amateur activity of university students who do everything according to the textbook, but have absolutely no experience in understanding the processes occurring in people’s lives.
The scenes with the races were apparently performed by another film crew. There is already a good feeling of opposition not only cars, but also riders. Machines in the frame is the only link that works in a positive way, because the plot allows you to fully immerse yourself in what is happening on the screen and appreciate what is happening on the screen now. The visual component conveys a sense of speed. It is a pity that the race is given very little screen time.
As a result, the authors were unable to show a clear dramatic narrative about the events taking place in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, as they were unable to reveal the characters. One of the thoughts of the film is that you have to stick to your single point of view until the very end. While Ken Maisle was improving the car and racing as he saw it, he was the winner. As soon as he followed the lead of the bosses of Ford and decided to become a team player, his legs were quickly wiped over him and Miles lost an important victory for himself. Only two hours of screen time, the director fails to reveal the characters and everything remains at the level of advertising for Ford. At the same time, according to the plan of the producers of the film, the main villains are all the management of Ford, except of course Henry Ford II. We just have to enjoy the scenes where the cars flash and the pilots fight - this is the only real life in the film.
7 out of 10
He said 'You're not Henry Ford, You're not Henry Ford II'
I wouldn’t say racing movies are one of my favorite movies. But I like these cars from the '60s. Take even the same workshop from Carroll Shelby, which shows the supercars of those years. The same Daytona Coupe, which accelerated to 305 km / h. There was no VAZ in our country this year. And they already had cars with such a mind-blowing design.
On the other hand, Damon as Shelby didn’t seem very convincing to me. It is said that Enzo Ferrari was a man of rather bad character. And the actor who performed it in this film was very convincing. At the very least, Shelby must be a man of iron character, on whom the piano will fall and the piano will break. And here it is as if not too confident consumption junior researcher, working in a closed research institute at harmful production.
What else did I like? Cars. I seriously doubt that the originals of these cars were used here, probably graphics. But it's cool.
Well, the plot itself was quite predictable based on the title. It is clear that there is a cool Ferrari car, it is clear that Ford Jr. was offended and in anger ordered to build a car that would disgrace Ferrari. And then the kind Ken Miles wins Lorenzo Bandini, and Bandini is shown as such a villain. In reality, he was not a villain. He was a great rider, as a villain he clearly did not look.
It's just a movie though.
What I can say in the end is that I liked the movie. I even watched it twice. I don't rule out doing that later.
It is a pity that movies about races rarely come out. That's what they're worth, though. Especially if the quality of the work is at the highest level.
In my opinion, this is one of the best films of 2019. Since 'Race' Ron Howard, there haven’t been any really cool movies on the subject. A real story about the confrontation between two companies. Although, in the end, it becomes clear that the film should have been called 'Ford vs. Ford'.
The movie is perfectly built. Everything is pleasing to the eye, and in fact, at some point it seems succinct. I didn't know the real story, so the end really surprised me. After all, in fact, the story is purely happy ending. But the result makes it unrealistic to think. You understand that not ordinary people won, bureaucrats and the government won. And it's a very bitter aftertaste. In fact, the main villain is not Ferrari, but Ford and his assistants. And all the others are just cogs in the conveyor.
The film has a great sound and picture. The hum of the engines excites. The music is beautiful. The cars themselves are chic. All actors are in place. I especially liked Enzo Ferrari and Henry Ford Jr. But, of course, the best Christian Bale. You really believe him. He's always great. The final race is cool.
I can't help but compare it to the movie 'Race'. It was darker. There is a lot going on here in a cheerful and joyful way. But that's not a bad thing. And yet that movie, for me, is a benchmark. But 'Ford vs Ferrari' practically on the same level with him.
9 out of 10
It's a beautiful movie. Complicated story. Interesting relationships of heroes, interesting life and events. The characters themselves are well conveyed, you fall in love with them humanly. And cry, and laugh, and think. In part, I was reminded of situations in life when they demand results and do not listen to opinions. Some moments and scenes are masterpieces. And yes, I'm also bribed by movies based on real events.
'7000 revolutions in a minute, that's when it happens. You feel it coming, it's creeping up on you, on your ear, and you hear the question, the only important question: Who are you?
“There is a point at 7000 thousand revolutions when everything is lost. The machine becomes weightless, just disappears, and only the body, rushing through space and time, remains. 7,000 rpm, that's when it happens. You feel it coming, creeping up on you, on your ear, and you hear the question, the only important question: Who are you?
Happy is the man who has found his work in this world, because he will not work a day in his life. Ford vs. Ferrari is an amazing film about the friendship of two people with different characters, but similar passion, incredible dedication to the cause, about the ups and downs, about sports and speed, about courage, injustice, betrayal, about the courage to be yourself and tell the truth and the price you have to pay for it, despite real merit and talent, about personal choice and the fate of each person, about the confrontation of companies, about how intrigue leaves behind the best, and how, despite everything, he gives himself to a cause that he knows like no one else.
The film is based on real events. The story is very moving. The shooting of the races is very cool, it seemed to me that I myself participated in them and experienced feelings, empathized with Ken Miles, worried, breathtaking, happy, suddenly there was a feeling of frustration and sadness. Christian Bale is great as Ken Miles. His charisma fights hard. A very interesting role of an emotional person who chops the truth seems complicated and intractable, but at the same time is very sensitive to his work, shows tenderness and care to his wife and son.
The film has philosophical dialogues that allow you to think and understand the characters. The script of the film is very successful, the writers revealed the characters and their feelings. Matt Damon’s character has a calmer character. On the contrast of characters there are funny, funny and curious moments.
The film is very naturalistic, with the effect of presence, spectacular and very soulful. It is primarily about people and their passion for racing. For them, racing is life. These are unforgettable moments of happiness. Racing is an indescribable drive, a vivid sight. Ford vs. Ferrari is a film about how to live life to the fullest, sincerely love your business, give yourself to it without a trace, value your friends and always maintain a sense of dignity. This is a film about the struggle of incredible people. It touches the finest strings of the soul and makes us think, what is the meaning of our life, what is our recognition, is there a cause we burn? The film honestly tells about the backstage of athletes, injustice and drama. And that's why he's very touching. The movie falls in love with racing. I highly recommend the film to those who love the genre of drama and biography, and of course for those who are interested in sports.
Shot effectively and professionally, played medium, written poorly
The film is completely built on the patterns of traditional Hollywood cinema of the 80s - 90s about a talented, but intractable and stubborn loser in any field (most often such films about sports).
Genre elements are inevitable 'body-movie': there is a partner friend, more accommodating, and able to connect a talented nugget with an industry in which he could be realized.
According to the laws of Hollywood drama, there is something that personifies the inhuman, the inanimate, the soulless - in this case, these are auto corporations (Ford and Ferrari, somewhere behind Fiat and Chevrolet flashed). According to the same laws, the worst in the corporation is not the main boss, but the one immediately below him (which in general must be admitted and often happens in life).
Each character in the film has its own clearly spelled (and almost immediately understandable) role, and they do not go beyond it.
All dramatic moves, dialogues, techniques are also very predictable and template.
Only a high technical level and more deeply written and played characters can save such a movie.
Old stories come to life thanks to interesting people.
The first is, and the second alas did not happen, even though Bale is a talented actor.
Each character remains an idea, and does not become a person: the role of stubbornly and achieve, the role of the other to resist, the role of the third to interfere passively, the role of the fourth to demonstrate the ruthlessness of business, to show that business is human and can empathize, the only woman in the picture plays the typical selfless wife of a talented and risky guy, etc.
They are like figures on a chessboard, you can even draw a scheme.
There are no living people in the film.
The picture is beautiful, genre clichés are observed, so one looks generally good.
A great film about the confrontation of huge corporations, but not without mistakes
Look for mistakes yourself, as you may have made a mistake or written incorrectly.
The film is good, definitely good, as they say. He can tear down and get a drive and a grudge. I thought it was my favorite movie until I revisited the Fight Club and revisited Ford v Ferrari again in 3-4 months.
In the film there are historical mistakes, for example, Ford in reality was not kind and fluffy, he wanted to buy Ferrari, while determining what he will go to the race, determine which cars to produce and what races to drive. Also, for example (but that's not a big mistake), Lee Iacocca already knew Shelby, not as shown in the film - "Oh hello - hello, you want to build a racing car for Ford?" - Yes, I do, but your name - Oh, I'm Lee Iacocca, we'll meet you - very strange. We can also say that Carroll did not steal any stopwatches and did not adjust the breakdown at Ferrari.
There are plenty of mistakes and places to get to. For example, Leo Beeba – in the film, muck is rare, but you can agree with him somewhere, and somewhere you want to hit him directly. Josh Lucas – My respect to you for acting like this. Josh gives 10/10
Matt Damon and Christian Bale are just a tower, especially loved the moment of their friendly brawl. Christian Bale has lost weight again, from fat man to lean man, well done, again respect. Damon played great, he can laugh, and show sadness, anger and more. Matt - 9/10, Christian 10/10.
Tracy Letts also played a great Henry Ford II, he is majestic, can be frightening with fear, but at the same time some whining (remember the moment where Carroll drove him in the GT40) 9/10.
Katrina Balfe and Noah Jupe played the wife and son of Ken Miles well, but not that they are very cool, they are kind, can attract the game, but it is difficult to empathize with them, but you can. 7/10.
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Remo Girone (Enzo Ferrari) played a formidable man who does not want to be perceived as a good grandfather, as Enzo was in principle, but he has little screen time. so you can not fully understand how Remo Girone played Enzo Ferrari. So 9/10.
John Bernthal also played on top, he played a man you can trust, but he seems to be hiding something, but his role as a brutal Punisher for me influenced his role as Lee Iacocca.
As a film not based on real events, it's just as great as a film based on real events - good, but not as good. I was really impressed with the movie when I saw it.
Ken agrees to test the drive of an already finished car after a while (which surprised me because they didn’t show how the car was designed and assembled, so they got a minus).
9/10 story. The finish and finish are definitely good.
In any country or company, there are worthy stories to tell.
But not everyone can tell them well and interestingly. Remember at least the sad film “Temporary difficulties”. One of the advantages of Hollywood directors and screenwriters is that they manage to make very exciting films based on real events. Maybe they're taught storytelling at school.
I have divided this story into several chapters.
Chapter 1. Ford vs Ferrari
The confrontation of two large companies in the desire to rub each other's nose and show who is in charge. When I watch movies like this, I always think about what happened on the other side. What were Enzo Ferrari’s thoughts/feelings when Lee Iakcock came to see him? What was going on at his factory at that moment, how they were preparing for the race. After all, if you make the film from the point of view of Ferrari versus Ford, it would be a different story. I think that in films like this, where there is no good or evil, it is important to remember this. If you try to put the enemy in a very bad light, it will come out as in the story with the boxer from the movie “Knockdown”. But Ferrari's shown here is acceptable and if he actually nodded to Ken, it's very dignified. In this chapter, Ford wins. But I don't think my grandparents would be happy with my grandson's behavior.
Chapter 2. Passion vs. marketing.
In the film, there is a phrase about the fact that if you find the work of your life, you will not have to work for another day. She was not credited to anyone, especially Steve Jobs. Jobs is one of the few people who combine passion and great marketing, which has helped his company become one of the most expensive in the world. Leo Bibe is not portrayed as such in the film. He may have been a good manager and macrotologist, but he certainly lacked passion. He couldn't understand Shebly or Ken. But maybe they couldn't get the whole point. You can make a separate film about Lee Iacocca, then he is neither fish nor meat.
Chapter 3. Masters of business versus destiny.
No matter how much professionalism and effort was applied to the creation of a car there is always an accident. Like that Ferrari nut or the Ford door. In my opinion, racing is one of the most dangerous sports that requires unrealistic concentration and reaction speed. You can control yourself and your car, but you can't control others. You can control the entire process of assembling your car, but you can’t do it with your opponent’s car. And you can do great, but because of the breakdown of the opponent, you can lose.
Epilogue.
I expected more from the film, but this is a problem of my expectations, not the director.
8 out of 10
Director James Mangold's filmography did not have frankly weak films. After collaborating with Mangold on two projects about the X-Men and, in particular, in the extremely successful Logan, the studio 20th Century Fox decided to entrust the director with one of its most important festival hits - "Ford vs. Ferrari". The film brought under its banner Oscar-winning Christian Bale and Matt Damon. So what happened to that?
1960s. Car tycoon Henry Ford II, grandson of Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, is extremely unhappy with the current state of affairs in the company and intends to implement reforms. One of the steps to strengthen the brand bosses and managers of the company is the opening of the racing department of the company and a victorious entry into the world of auto racing. However, it is dominated by Ferrari, which does not go to partnership agreements. Therefore, we must begin a war for the throne. For this, Ford invited the best people - the team of Carroll Shelby (Damon) - the only American who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the race, and the driver Ken Miles (Bale), against whom almost the entire concern is set. As you know, during a war, problems can arise from anywhere: both from a competitor and from within.
The genre of sports drama has long acquired its own plot canon, from which most directors are afraid to depart. “Ford vs Ferrari” does not create new rules of the genre, and uses already familiar, but trouble-free. The heroes of Mangold’s picture can be found in every second sports drama: a man who lives with sports passion, but has not yet achieved his dreams, a former champion who left the sport for various reasons, a bureaucrat who inserts sticks into wheels. All of these characters are in the film, and it does not add to his audience points.
On the other hand, entering the path of recreating the already worn classical composition of the film does not mean that the picture automatically loses the means to engage the viewer. But it is still difficult to imagine why, in such conditions, it is sports dramas that repeatedly fail to bring their viewer to the emotional peak at the most necessary moment. The secret of “Ford vs. Ferrari” probably lies in the drive, sky-high adrenaline and thorough approach of the creators to the relationship between the characters of the picture, not deprived of a decent dose of pathetics. The latter property is possessed by almost all major dramas of American major studios, claiming film awards, which is why Ford vs Ferrari can be called the indigenous film of Hollywood.
Comparison of the picture of Mangold with the tape of Ron Howard “Race” is inevitable, because there and there the rivalry goes beyond the race track, but the design of “Ford vs Ferrari” is somewhat heavier – more conflicts, arches of characters. But still, in my opinion, "Race" is more emotional, mature, psychological and even driving film, knocking the ground out of his feet than the tape Mangold has, but to a slightly lesser extent.
The straightforwardness of “Ford vs Ferrari” makes it as simple as possible, in which you do not need to waste time on speculation – everything lies on the surface. For this, directors usually choose a more meditative, slow-moving style of storytelling, providing the viewer with digging opportunities. Mangold has two and a half hours of unrestrained testosterone drama, not “turning off” for a minute. There is a small flaw in the film - the line with the tricks of the hero Damon, which is closed by nothing, clearly breaks out of the general moral canvas and does not develop his character in any way.
From a technical and acting point of view, the film has no problems. The creators tried to create the perfect product: sound, camera work, editing – all this is at the highest level, and the on-screen duet Bale-Damon is organic to the point. A bright spectator movie that is unlikely to get bored.
I have always loved sports movies. Why? Because such films fully reveal the personality and strengths of the athlete and, at the same time, show his great victories. Knockdown shows a strong man who fights for his family, Rocky seemed like a poor man who has no chance to fight with eminent athletes, and Legend 17 shows how much one team member can mean to others. And here's Ford vs Ferrari - a film about the legendary 24-hour race at Le Mans, where Ken Miles beat the hitherto unbeatable car designer Enzo Ferrari. It seemed to look quite typical for a sports film and, to some extent, even cliched, but it was not a good idea. It's not that simple.
First of all, this is not just a work from the category 'David vs. Goliath' where they try to show an unequal fight. No, not at all. This is the story of two completely different and at the same time similar friends. They are performed by the notorious Matt Damon and Christian Bale in the roles of Shelby and Miles, respectively. And they were threatened not only by losing to Italian rivals, but by not making it to the track at all for the battle of their dreams - too many obstacles were in their way from the not-so-benevolent employees of Henry Ford's company. Only the strongest manage to get on the track, having passed all the obstacles. Shelby and Miles are like that. This is not so much a sporting story as the story of moving towards a cherished dream, so impossible, but so real.
It is also worth answering to those who believe that there are many historical inaccuracies in this film. Yes, there are inconsistencies in the film, but they are made for the sake of entertainment and beauty of the action. As they say - ' Any good story is not a sin to embellish'. Indeed, everything that was invented for real events solely for the sake of a more interesting and beautiful story. And most importantly, it works. The storyline with the Miles family, the problems with creating a new car, the conflicts with Henry Ford, the race itself, after all, everything, everything has artistic inconsistencies, but everything works at the proper level. That’s why from an emotional point of view, Ford vs. Ferrari is much stronger than these pictures, all of which we have seen in sports before, but it all works well.
Ford vs Ferrari is a racetrack-like movie. At the beginning follows a winding road, acquainting us with the characters themselves, then acceleration, swift and lightning fast, and the finish line is not without tragic events. And the whole race is damn interesting to watch. For that, I consider it one of the best, if not best, films of the year.
To begin with, I watched this film not in the cinema or in the original / with subtitles, but in full dubbing. These points may constitute some inaccuracies in the impression.
I love the structure, so I will tell you in order.
The cast
Beautiful! Long known for their professionalism - Christian Bale and Matt Damon, secondary - Katrina Balfe, John Bernthal, Josh Lucas, even Noah Jupe (who has already managed to get familiar and soon, I feel, will become a new star child) and others who play their characters for everything and create a complete immersion in the film. But as much as there are no questions about their acting skills, so much there is a question about what exactly they play. And here we go to the 2nd position.
The plot of the film
I will not waste time on retelling the main essence, you can read it on the website KinoPoiska, I will draw your attention to the name: 'Ford v Ferrari'. Everything seems simple and clear - there are two well-known factories that work in the same segment and compete. Nothing complicated. Except for one ' but' - the film specifically this "main story" was given very little time. Most of the film was devoted to the mental anguish of the two main characters and what decisions they should make. Neither Ford nor Ferrari were there. If this does not bother you, let’s move on to the 3rd position of my speech.
Characters
To be honest, I haven’t seen a movie in a long time where you can’t cling to any positive qualities in the characters. All of them were repulsive to me because one couldn't keep his word, the other was so selfish that he only did what was more comfortable for him, without looking at all the additional factors. The third showed no firmness of character, and the fourth during a short stay changed features an incredible number of times. And all this is not scary, because not all of us are always good / good / positive characters, the scary thing is that they do not cause any emotions. While watching, you don’t want to empathize with them, because they don’t have the core, the basis of their characters. They are completely unstable.
Other
Moreover, the list of genres stated 'biography' and then I have a lot of questions. From ' Why was Carolle Shelby's injury shown that way?' before ' What's wrong with Lee Yakkoka in this movie?!' Why was it necessary to distort the history of people and events around them? From time to time I wanted to exclaim ' Does anyone know who these people are?!'
The music didn't catch on. The strange behavior of Henry Ford II killed. The shooting of races is tedious and predictable (although the first can be written off, because I did not watch in the cinema). A pompous and frivolous end. Opposite the task of "grabbing the viewer for the last" you can check the box.
For some of my friends, the film seemed spectacular, and high-quality, and with an interesting story, and well served. But in my opinion, it is overrated, due to the prevailing number of sequels, prequels, inboquels, etc. at the moment of the development of cinema.
As a result, the film should be called 'The Way of Pride by Ken Miles' or ' The story of one rider' as the movie tells exactly that.
For those who love movies.
Modern Hollywood content already almost half consists of biographical and based on real events pictures and, if earlier scandalous stories, investigations or biographies of bright and sometimes odious characters could cause a wow effect at first, then today it is quite difficult to single out a biopic, during which the viewer at least once does not yawn. So how do you add a biopic of dynamism and sharpness? To remove a biopic dedicated to racing, namely the confrontation of major players in the automotive industry Ford and Ferrari, held in the sixties of the last century. Doubly intriguing it will turn out if in the creative team of the project there is a director ' Logan', ' Cross the line' and ' Police' James Mangold and screenwriters ' Edges of the Future' the Butterworth brothers, on the drafts of which the script was written, and the main roles are played by Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
The plot of the picture tells about the confrontation between Ford and Ferrari, which unfolded at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race and the creation of the famous Ford GT-40 sports car with the help of car designer Carroll Shelby and racer Ken Miles.
James Mangold managed to present not only a visually magnificent and dynamic picture that can keep in suspense throughout the timekeeping, but also a great drama, a story about people without whom corporate giants would not be able to achieve the greatness that exists now. ' Ford vs. Ferrari' demonstrates the essence of American capitalism - the classic history of exploitation as talented managers like Lee Iacocca or no less talented designers and racers Shelby and Miles, who put everything on the altar of ambitions of a descendant accomplices of fascistsors. 39 Go home and don’t come to work until you have a fresh idea. Those who succeed in doing so will save jobs'—this scene alone tells you all you need to know about Ford. But, despite endless bureaucratic obstacles and corporate intrigues, the heroes of the picture - ordinary people who are engaged in their favorite business manage to achieve the merits that the corporate giant will rattle for decades to come. It can be achieved even at the cost of your own life. It is about them first and narrates 'Ford vs. Ferrari'. The incredible dynamics and entertainment of the picture is supported by the acting of Bale and Damon, who perfectly entered the role and, in particular, Bale manages to give his best for the picture as zealously as his historical character laid out behind the wheel. ' We are lighter and faster, and if this is not enough, then we are angrier' - a quote that succinctly describes this picture - another merit of Mangold as a director who can squeeze the maximum even from a biopic.
Pros: Production, script, acting, dynamics.
Cons: No matter how filmed, a biopic remains a biopic with all its optional attributes.
The magnificent historical tape of James Mangold touches an important stage in the formation of automotive companies. It is characteristic of the film that it is not about racing, but about people related to them. It is the human views, possibilities and zeal that create the striking drama on screen, and the duo of Matt Damon and Christian Bale steal the heart of the audience.
Legendary Carol Shelby reveals the history of the famous 24-hour race of Le Mans, only the sound of the engine, darkness, rain and serious face of Matt Damon. The film captures the confrontation not so much on the track as in car factories. Meet Christian Bale in the garage, skillfully presenting his genius in the field of cars. The friendship between Damon and Bale is a terrific chemistry throughout the film, as the characters go through wins or defeats together. This is the part of the tape that covers the whole story, despite the opposition of the companies and the race.
The motivational speeches of Henry Ford II at the factory penetrate completely, and the workers in bewilderment try to come up with something new, faster and more victorious. While the main characters have not leaked into the main ribbon of competition, we are shown important bosses of large companies who try to resolve disputes in offices, not in racing cars. Here is the main irony of the picture: high-ranking people decide matters, whose knowledge about cars is small, and racing experience is completely absent. But they have the power and a lot of money to arrange races.
Victories are not made by orders and threats, they are made by riders. This is where Carol Shelby comes in. The film moves into a new direction, demonstrating the mind and logic of an experienced person and entrepreneur. They want the same thing, only different approaches. Theory versus practice, corporation versus mechanic.
Characters of the characters are an important component of the tape, since all faces have “pros” and “cons” that they reveal over time on the screen. It’s a wonderful feeling of argument, trying to prove your point in practice and finding a compromise for one goal. The positions of the highest and lowest members of the team are magnificently played out, Christian Bale in the role of a hot-tempered but intelligent racer contradicts the deputy of Henry Ford II, and the presentation of a new car at the plant, made with all honor and joy, is showered with criticism and ridicule.
A key role in the creation of the car is played by the phrase said by Dominic Toretto in the first “Fast and Furious”: “It does not matter what the car looks like; it matters what it has under the hood.” And while big cones in strict suits and glasses of expensive whiskey lead important meetings, putting different terms of transactions, at the bottom, at the lower level, the main characters create a new creation. These are real fighters of the racing front, who just forge victory.
A huge stream of motivation comes after strife, conflicts of close friends and disagreements with the leadership. What's going on is going through you. Brilliant presentation of endurance and aspiration, proof of their rightness and trial of new opportunities. The plot “throws sticks in the wheels”, tries to play by the rules of the bosses, when everyone realizes that it was Bale and Damon who had the honor to change history.
Racing. After all the disagreements, conditions and disputes, tribute is paid to the races. From what is happening is breathtaking, and tests allow you to identify new nuances of the car. Another rivalry is rising, this time the rules of the race commission are faced with the opinion of the riders, who understand more than all the theorists sitting in offices. From the start to the stop at the pit stop does not take much time, but these few minutes permeate the viewer as a whole, impressive as lovingly about the track, about the car, about the race says the driver, he lives it, he loves it and strives for it all the time. Christian Bale has a low bow for this role, only his transformation with the body (before Ford v Ferrari was Power) affects the actor, however, he is the best in his field. Great emotion, great connection with Matt Damon, who also played Carol Shelby very well. Perfect duet, great intensity of emotions and excitement from what is happening.
This is a great movie and not just for boys. Beautiful combinations of joy and sadness, puzzlement and determination, drama and comedy.
The whole film is a contrast: emotions versus reason, self-realization versus selflessness, mass and uniqueness, the talent of designers and the talent of salespeople, PR and legacy, sales reports and achievements. An amazing cocktail of racing action drama, comedy. One of my favorite movies. Half an hour after leaving the cinema, I was very impressed.
I want to give a full review, but for now I only do reviews so that you understand that the film should be watched.
Ford vs. Ferrari is a rare type of movie where the message is so strong in every frame and gesture of an actor. When just a full eyebrow or a dull look makes everything clear, and does not give rise to the thought “well, this is too much, it is inappropriate to writhe like this.” That is, the actor is so high that you involuntarily wonder why it is so great to play in a movie about cars. Then it becomes clear: firstly, because, perhaps, this is the best biopic about cars (Race is also beautiful), and secondly, perhaps, it is not about cars, but about love for them and about the complexity of this love, about all types of people, thanks to whom this love has appeared in the whole world. Some scenes of driving a car get to goosebumps ... Feelings are similar to the real, when you drown 200 km / h at a real wheel on a real track.
For me, Christian Bale as Dicaprio is a top actor who lives the role and creates something amazing in cinema. Here, Bale is an arrogant and talented Briton who, for the sake of his family, begins to work not for himself, but for the Americans and gives himself (literally...) to make this work better. This is how the legendary FordGT appeared.
And yes, car lovers here will be extremely interesting, because the film as clearly and reliably reveals the automotive world: both sales and production.
“There is a moment at 7,000 revolutions when everything disappears, the machine becomes weightless, just disappears, and there is only a body rushing through space and time ... and you hear the question, the only important question: Who are you?” Speed is life for those who breathe racing. To win is to survive. In 2019, the company “20th CenturyFox” pleased fans of biographical drama, releasing James Mangold’s feature film “Ford vs. Ferrari”.The script of the film is based on the book by American writer and journalist E. J. Bame “Run hard: Ford, Ferrari and their battle for speed and glory at Le Mans”. The script was written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller. The Butterworth brothers are not the first to create a masterpiece of biographical drama, many are known for their film James Brown: The way up, which was praised by critics in 2014.
The film “Ford vs Ferrari” describes the eternal confrontation between two titans in the production of cars – Ford and Ferrari. The fierce struggle of the heads of the two companies, caused by personal accounts, results in a racing competition. On the part of Ford (played by actor and playwright Tracy Letts), victory in this competition is not only a victory over an opponent, it is a victory over oneself. He must prove that he is not inferior to his great grandfather. He must cast off the infamous nickname of Henry Ford II, which Enzo Ferrari dubbed him. Creating the perfect race car and defeating a three-time race champion is the challenge for Ford Motors. To create a suitable car, the company hires car designer Carroll Shelby, but he sees the victory of the company only in one case - if his friend Ken Miles is behind the wheel. Friends go to work and at the cost of incredible effort after a hundred failures create a Ford GT40 racing car, which later became famous.
Christian Bale plays Ken Miles, an outstanding rider, but a man with a very difficult character, a man who is not used to changing his beliefs and adjusting to any conditions. To beat Ferrari, to beat the race favourite, to beat time, only he can do it. The skill of the actor contributes to a comprehensive disclosure of the character. Miles is shown during work, and in a relationship with his wife and son, and in friendship with Shelby. But he always remains himself. The same can be said for Shelby, played by Matt Damon. The actor surprisingly accurately managed to convey his character as a person bound by obligations to the leadership, who can not always make decisions on his own. He bears the burden of obligations and restrictions, but despite this, he does not betray a friend. Former driver Shelby understands that only together with Miles they can create the perfect racing car and win the race. The fight scene most vividly shows the true friendship of Miles and Shelby. After all the offenses, friends only joke with each other. The character Noah Jupe plays Miles' son. Ken owes a lot to his son, because he motivates his father, does not let him give up.
The editing work is also admirable. Viewers do feel that the events unfold on the “racing loop” at Le Mans, although no episodes were filmed in France. The filming took place entirely in America. Racing cars impress with their appearance, power and realism, despite the fact that the image of most racing cars present in the film is generated by a computer based on available 3D models and historical photos. In many scenes, the characters are shown sitting inside the cars close-up, and there is no doubt that they are actually sitting behind the wheel. However, close-ups of the riders were filmed in the pavilion in empty car bodies installed on an air cushion. Impressive scenes where burning cars and the heroes themselves. The way these scenes are created is also fascinating. To achieve the highest degree of realism, the director combines special effects with the work of stuntmen. The schedule is at a very high level. It seems that everything that happens on the screen was real.
The film will be interesting not only for fans of racing, cars and speed. It reveals in its own way the problems of fathers and children, real friendship, family relationships. The film tells about real men - with iron will, nerves of steel, firm character, decisive and strong, able to do everything possible to win, literally grieving at work. This biographical drama is imbued with the romance of the 60s, the sounds of jazz and rock 'n' roll. In all its glory, the classics of European mechanical engineering are presented. Sharp plot, exciting moments, deep thoughts, witty jokes, laughter and tears - this film has everything.
Another film-candidate for the main award of the year, which at the last "Oscar" did not use its full potential. But this limitation, most likely, arose not because of the weakness of the work of James Mangold, but because of the strong competition, fortunately present at the last ceremony of the main award of the cinema.
The film is quite suitable for the usual templates of the Academy – the popularization of “their own”, an adapted script based on real events – however, as the result with the benefit of “Parasites” has already shown, at the last ceremony, the academicians decided to rewrite history and not go into the templates, and, perhaps, as a result of this, the film was limited to only a few nominations, leaving behind the next physiological metamorphoses of Christian Bale.
Nevertheless, the film provides an excellent insight into the history of the automotive industry and its competition - at a time when the world is only talking about Ferrari in status car racing, no one would have thought how close to them Ford would come. "Ford vs. Ferrari" dosed commercial themes, staging track races and drama of the main characters - which makes watching this work quite an entertaining thing, and even two and a half hours of screen time do not become an obstacle.
Let this film and dropped out of the race for most awards "Oscar", this does not mean that you will like it less than the other contenders for the main awards. It is also worth noting the acting of Bale, who remained outside the five nominees, but still managed to give his fans an interesting acting job.
8 out of 10
Geniuses are famous for actions and intelligence, not image
The story follows a true story directly from the 1960s. We dive into the origins of the racing industry of Ford, which is actively breaking into the competition for the name. The antagonist is Ferrari, a world-famous car brand that has already had fame. Carroll Shelby - American actor Matt Damon, who played the new car designer Ford, notes that the "pasta" are famous for their spirit, because every major race is won by Ferrari, despite their pre-bankruptcy state. This is how the name of the Italian brand appeared on everyone’s lips. Ford, by contrast, builds the highest-grossing sports cars without seeing the limit.
“Ford vs. Ferrari” – why exactly? At the beginning of the film, director James Mangold absolutely accurately shows the viewer the mood of both companies. During the plot, the characters are repeatedly changed sides, and it becomes unclear whether Ferrari vs. Ford or still Ford vs. Ferrari. Like any company, Americans lose their spirit when they become famous through bureaucracy and marketing. The Italians are also experiencing unsweet years when they see a rising star. Meanwhile, Henry Ford | and his team are unveiling a new sports car, the heavily modified Ford GT-40. By the way, the number “40” is the maximum and at the same time the minimum height of the car to reach the prestigious test – the Le Mans race. The racer Ken Miles, known for his victories in sports cars Ford, was elected a participant. This was achieved by Shelby, who refused to work without his old friend - motorsport hero Miles.
You can talk for a long time about such a long and two-point climax as in this film. But in order to do without spoilers, I will say: it is not often possible to meet such a rapid development of the plot and an instant denouement paired with a dynamically changing plot. Amazing is the skilful adaptation of the real story. This should look like a real documentary – the viewer is simultaneously amazed by the action, and reads a historical story. You can’t compare this work with single-genre blockbusters like “Fast and Furious”. The team of writers managed to prove that in the film industry of the 21st century you can do without a “children’s” unambiguous plot, presenting the world the picture “Ford vs. Ferrari” – a really noteworthy film.
(c) set them against a couple of conditional or well-conscious antagonists;
d) get them to chase each other to some fashion soundtrack until the screen says "Directed by Robert B. Weide".
In general, this scheme would be quite viable if we were talking about another sequel to the Santa Barbara Furious. However, today we got in the clutches of the animal much more skillful and claiming the icon “necessarily watch” for lovers of really high-quality films, as well as people who have special feelings for the sounds of roaring engines and prohibitive speeds.
As it becomes clear from the title, “Ford vs Ferrari” is based on the real story of the confrontation between the two giants of the automotive industry, in the time period when Henry Ford II decided to create a racing car that could wipe the nose of Enzo Ferrari himself, who firmly strengthened his leadership position in the racing field at that time. Yeah, okay, all we have to do is figure out if we can do the impossible. Having stretched his brains, the top of the board hires an uncle with a name that speaks for itself - Shelby. The latter, in turn, attracts his friend, at first glance rustic, but full of enthusiasm car industry guru and amateur racer - Ken Miles. So begins the beginning of this difficult path, and then follows only the genuine magic of cinema. And creates it – James Mangold, whose recent films were distinguished by extremely non-trivial plots. I still wonder why he decided to dedicate his next film to this story. One can only speculate about what this plot inspired him, however, it will be quite difficult to argue with the fact that he managed to transfer a very significant episode from the world of auto racing of the 60s, through the prism of the camera lens on large screens with the highest professionalism.
The film is almost perfect in terms of narrative, there are no moments that would give a reason to get bored, yawning and looking at the clock. Even in the intervals between races, when the stage of direct preparation or some family scenes is shown, what happens manages to keep the same pace, the same fixation of attention, without sifting for a minute. Well, when the races begin, then hold tight and prepare to take a deep breath, because the immersion in the atmosphere will be so deep that you will literally feel your presence in the audience stands, and in places feel like a pilot of a high-speed sports car. And there is not a drop of exaggeration, because the operator will endlessly pamper not only the most spectacular shots of flying wheelbarrows, but also twist the camera around the faces of the pilots themselves, conveying in close-up every emotion they experience. In addition, the instrumental soundtrack, authentically adapting to what is happening, further enhances the entire drive, adversarial spirit and a high degree of tension.
Surely there is no such person who would look at the poster for the film and see the star duo in the lead roles performed by Damon. Bailey would doubt the level of acting. And this will be a purely correct look, as they give a first-class performance, living with their characters every second of their time, while setting a high bar for all the other actors of this film. By the way, this duo reminded me of the movie “The Fighter”, in which one of the roles was also played by Bale. In the story, they, along with the hero Mark Wahlberg, also prepared for competitions in order to win. I remember this not only because of the associations that have arisen, but also because if Bale is given the role of a secondary plan in “FpF”, despite the fact that his name in the credits is second only to Damon, in my opinion, this is the case when the contribution of both actors is equivalent to each other. None of them is trying to pull the blanket over themselves, on the contrary, it seems that during the filming they were able to find a balance, a middle ground, so that throughout the screen time, they harmoniously complement each other.
In conclusion, I find myself wanting to watch Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles go to war against Ferrari again. Isn’t that a good indicator of a good movie? Of course! After all, the team of this film, like the Ford team, managed to make a strong sports drama and one of the best performances of the outgoing year, and most importantly, show how everything freezes at the mark of 7000 revolutions per minute.
Best moment - test drive GT-40 with Henry Ford II
Yeah, it's a good movie. But he's a typical Hollywood template. Different from others, the main character dies. I really liked Bale in "Machinist" and "Train to Yuma." It's just a jewellery game in the Machinist. And then replays. I don’t like Ford vs Ferrari, it’s a tough middle man. We have to pay tribute to the spectacle.
James Mangold’s film in the spirit of biographical drama tells how two world-famous automotive concerns fought on the race track of the oldest endurance competitions – the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
For Henry Ford II to produce a car capable of battling with a Ferrari was not just a fix idea, but an incentive to make a car you could be proud of. Yes, Ford produced a lot of quality cars, but he needed one that would wipe the nose of the Italians. And for those, by the way, every car - like a work of art - was assembled by hand, not on the assembly line.
In order for American machine builders to finally manage to surprise and outperform competitors, Ford hires Carolla Shelby (Matt Damon) - the one who is known for creating special versions of the Ford Mustang - GT350 and GT500. These models came out later, it's just a fact - it's Carroll Shelby. The experienced driver, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the time, sets a condition - he will design and test a new Ford car with his driver - Ken Miles (Christian Bale), known for his hot temper. Together they will have to face not only technical difficulties in creating a new car, but also with the human factor, because in Miles the concern does not see a person who can be trusted to pilot a sports car on the track in Europe.
Fascinating and rich on a variety of events, from funny to tragic picture, in the best traditions of sports film genre, allowing the viewer to enjoy all the drama of the world of big sports and feel the intensity of competitive passion, see the burning eyes of athletes and admire their endurance and desire to be the best. “Ford vs. Ferrari” in high quality presents the viewer with an exciting sports action without crazy and transcending the edge of reality techniques, due to which during the viewing you can feel the atmosphere of not only racing, but also feel the smell of oil and gasoline in the hangar, where Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles together with their team collected the same model of Ford.
New (at that time) achievements of technology in the film go hand in hand with the most banal simple solutions and on the example of the heroes of the film once again you can make sure: to achieve the desired result, you can use all available means, including a sledgehammer.
“Ford v Ferrari” fully reflects the passion of people who are passionate about one thing. In the case of Bale’s hero, this passion has a pronounced character, because he is a man fervently and inevitably loving his work. Damon’s character is more restrained in his fanatical impulses – he is not only a pilot, but also a manager who needs to make informed and thoughtful decisions. But when they're together, it's a time bomb. The explosive nature of one (Bale) and the desire to prove his rightness of the second (Damon), turns this duo into a rattling mixture and you never know when it will burn. They can fight right before the race or on the lawn of the house, but still they will remain friends.
Ford vs Ferrari is a beautiful and elegant (just like the curves of a sports car) movie. When viewing the mere thought that the real prototypes of the heroes – racers are running at a speed of 360 km / h, leads to a state of shock. When you see it happening, it’s exciting and doesn’t let go. Their adrenaline starts flowing into your bloodstream, their obsession with speed becomes your obsession (this is by no means a call to run around like a burnt-out!!!).
James Mangold, being a diverse director, created a truly chic film about passion.
But look at you. I do not impose my opinion on anyone.
“Ford vs. Ferrari”, in my opinion, became an underrated tape already at the box office. Personally, I had no idea that this movie should be seen. There is a race, the fastest Indian. And the themes of racing seem "not forgotten enough" for the new film. After watching the film, I also realize that the trailer, title and marketing campaign of the film did not reflect the strength of the film. "Ford v Ferrari" - what is it? Another success story?
I was very happy to get my first impression wrong. But all in order.
Of course, sooner or later, I would come to this movie with Christian Bale, who I love very much. Matt Damon is also a very charismatic actor. Is that their best role? I wouldn’t say that, but the actors fit perfectly into the story and, again, attracted a very large crowd of viewers to this film.
The real meaning of the name “Ford v Ferrari” is that there is a place for Ford and Ferrari. And the main characters of this story are gifted, but simple people. In fact, the film tells the eternal story of the poor and the rich, about corporations and ordinary hard workers, but it only happens on the race track.
This film is also an excellent inoculation against prejudice against Americans. One of the important aspects of the film is the view of corporate America.
The most ingenious scene (yes, I won’t be afraid of the word) is, of course, the act of Ken Miles and its consequences. This very clearly conveys the differences between the hero Christian Bale and Ford.
In my humble opinion, the film would have achieved a much greater effect if initially the main focus was not on the story of the dream, but on the essence of the script, on the conflict between top managers and riders.
As a result, the viewer realizes that there is no conflict between Ford and Ferrari. It's the same (like Ferrari selling the company, like Ford). But the characters of the film are different from each other.
I highly recommend this film. It is best not to read the summary and not watch the trailer. This is a very spectacular film, there is an extraordinary script, good actors, chic sound and music, and cars.
I was sure I would love this movie as much as the 2013 movie Race. But no, there's something to catch on to.
Plus:
They're cars. For all fans of motorsport and good cars, real cars – here is just heaven. The love with which these cars are shown, the roar of engines that is better than any soundtrack. The racing dynamics are amazing. Actors really look like their actual prototypes. The picture itself is very beautiful and the atmosphere is perfectly conveyed.
Minuses:
Plot. It seemed to me that I was the only one who noticed the following, for some reason others did not talk about it. These are constant emotional traps for the viewer. I mean, the scripted technique of "creating shaky hope and then destroying everything" is too often used here. Hero was approved in the race, so it will finally work out? - No, he's off the race. Did the car finally work?? - No, it's broken. Is the driver winning the race?? - No, he lost. Oh, is it supposed to end well?? - No, hold the bummer.
I understand that you can only use it once in a movie. At the end of the action, when the hero runs to defuse the bomb in the last seconds, and the viewer thinks tensely “will he succeed or not?” But when this technique is used once every ten minutes... It seems that the writers themselves did not believe in their plot so much that they decided “And let’s use such scarecrows all the time to at least somehow captivate the viewer!”
I gave a pretty high rating for this review - 8/10. I'm a big fan of motorsport, and the way it's all tasted makes me feel that way. But because of the plot problem I described, I do not want to watch this film.
What about the other cars?
- Back off. Punctures, breakdowns, enthusiasm of the population. All this delays...
- Are you at Studebaker?
- You may think of it as Studebaker, but until now it was called Laurent-Dietrich.
- But there are no Laurent Dietrichs in the run! I read in the newspaper, there are Packards, Fiats and Studebaker.
- Go to hell with your Studebaker! Who's Studebaker? Is that your relative Studebaker? Your dad Studebaker? Why are you sticking to a man? In Russian, he is told that Studebaker is replaced at the last minute by Laurent-Dietrich, and he is fooling his head! "Studebaker!" Gentlemen! You have to kill such experts! "Studebaker" give it to him!
The Golden Calf, 1968, by M. I. Schweitzer
Sixties of the last century. Henry Ford is concerned about his future. The car needs a major upgrade to enter tomorrow’s success. Technical, aesthetic. And Lee Iacocca, a manager from God (by the way, more than 30 years gave the company, and in 1970, took the post of President of Ford), offers the owner an unusual solution. "Patron" wrinkles, "Patron" flickers. But does money have to make money? And big money is huge! So you have to take risks. It became necessary to get out of your own cozy shell. At least occasionally. Turn your head around. What's going on out there? What's going on? How are the competitors feeling? What do they breathe? Not extinct yet? You mean definitively? Well...
And the world is not worth it. And Europe, after the Great Patriotic War of 1939-1945, has long recovered. There it is. And the "autoprom" is gaining momentum. Ferrari is getting attention. “The lot is cast,” as Julius Caesar said.
The director competently places accents building a pyramid with timekeeping in two and a half hours. From the office trenches of bosses, the viewer is transported to the oil workshops of garage boxes. "White collar" give way to the palm of primacy callosum hands of mechanics, drivers, pilots. The bewitched eyes of a teenage boy glide behind the lessons-instructions of a loving father. The wife with a sinking heart follows the success of her husband on the race track. Big and small family weekdays and holidays in us all. With "drive" and repair, with stretching and emotional passions. How else is life at stake? And only moving forward fills with meaning. The heart shrinks and the blood pulsates.
The main cast duo Matt Damon - Christian Bale, good. Damn good. No one pulls the blanket over themselves. Here, one complements the other. The speed at which the engine operates is too high. They're just beyond. The brakes will fail and, kayuk. Almost, kayuk. You don't fit in the corner and you don't pick up the bones. The door will jam and you can burn alive in a can. And if so, what else can there be claims, picking on each other. I am to you, you are to me. We're a team. And there is no room for squabbles... Let's go!
And "Zaporozhets" what? ask the curious. Interesting? So here it is. When the iconic Ford Mustang car was created in the early 60s in the United States, the USSR began to flow ZAZ-965 (produced from 1960 to 1969). People called him "Brokeback", and also said that it is "Jewish armored car".
They have Mustang, we have Humpback. Is that a joke?
A little later, the ZAZ-966, ZAZ-968 and ZAZ-968A came to replace them – “eared” or simply “cheburashki”. Mirrors were a popular joke. “Soap”, teased the steering chariot.
Comfort in these cars, there was a lot of... Potatoes to carry in the cabin can be seen planned designers, not people. Surely the words of the same Ostap Bender were the motto of the Soviet production:
A car, comrades, is not a luxury, but a means of transportation.
Yeah. While there different Fords and others scratching their heads how to please the buyer, how to improve comfort, speed, design, in the Soviet Union thought in other categories. The trophy technique of war is not eternal, and what exactly should serve as a substitute for the horse cart? "Zaporozhets" perfectly matched this. Where do you think we are and where they are? In technical progress, as if at different poles.
Oh, why was there no "humpback" at the races of the 60s? If I hadn't wiped the asam's nose, I'd have fun. And our fathers, like Henry Ford II, may also be embittered, have put their hands and their heads on domestic industry. Look, today we would be talking with breath about the film - Ford vs Ferrari and Zaporozhets. Well, no. Impoverishes this omission of history. Dinner. And the voice of discontent in me cries out.
Race, race, race against time ...
Speed, speed, speed, speed is faster.
Stop running, stop running!
What else? The film bears absolutely no imprint of Lee Iacocca’s best-selling Career Manager in an engaging, accessible manner. This is different. It's about others. Not about me, my love. Not about me, genius.
By the way. Lee Iacocca died on July 2, 2019. Not long ago! The legend of the American automotive industry of the 80s lived 94 years.
8 out of 10
At one time, starting to watch ' Race', I heard about Formula 1, Schumacher, and that’s it. The film was a kind of push into this world, which I still follow not without great interest. When I started watching this movie, I ended up with Ford and Ferrari. Paradoxically, after watching, I was left with the same baggage, adding to it directly the story filmed in this film. I won’t remember the driver’s name after a month. It’s not a bad memory at all.
A little about movies based on real events (and biographical too) in my understanding. For me, there are 2 main tasks of this genre of films: not to twist the history of the superfluous & #39; cut-off' and the second, but not in importance, to interest the viewer of the unknowing - a character, a story, an event. The indicator of the quality of such a picture is when you sit after watching a couple of hours, learning all the smallest details of what you just looked at.
Unfortunately, this film did not make.
The whole story runs from beginning to end under the brand name ' Well, you know'. I feel like I have to study the events before the film starts, study the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans a little bit more, and then completely absorb it. Ken Miles is just a hard worker in the garage, but the next shot is he is widely known in racing. Shelby's a legendary racer, but boom, and he sells cars. How did those transitions go? And that's the tip of the iceberg. Because of this, the film is not perceived properly and most of it passes you by.
But why such an assessment? Everything else in the film is amazing.
Praise Bale for acting has become a mouveton, but I will do it again. He's inimitable. And in general, no one from the caste caught the eye (also a few words about Damon, who is in the film on the same level as Bale), all in their places. Visual and sound did what they should have done and even jumped higher. I can only imagine what it was like to watch and listen to these races in the cinema. Yes, and what sin to hide, despite the ragtiness of the plot, a peculiar integrity is surprisingly preserved, keeping in suspense, at the right moments throwing firewood into a seemingly fading fire.
It was a pleasant moment to pay such attention to the design of the sports car and its improvement, especially this focus was on Ken Miles and his manic desire for perfection.
If it were a work of fiction about two enthusiasts who challenged a huge corporation for fame and success, paying a little more attention to the story of the two main characters, I would not find words to describe the excitement.
However, the element of based on real events led to the fact that I a priori have to know about whom and what I am going to see the film, so:
8 out of 10
As one of the pioneers of the automotive industry, the American company Ford reasonably considered itself in fact the main value of this industry, sweeping away competitors in its path and trying not to miss the opportunity to penetrate completely new markets in order to spread its cars around the world. Henry Ford’s designs were renowned for their reliability and stamina, bought by both ordinary families and people eager to show their status, but by the middle of the last century, when competition in the automotive industry reached its peak, Ford executives faced significant challenges. Other, no less ambitious corporations began to literally step on the heels of Ford, successfully repeating the achievements of the company, and sometimes even surpassing them. More respectable cars appeared on sale, which easily displaced the most pompous models from Ford from the pedestal, and the range of cars available to every layman expanded to the extent that ordinary buyers began to increasingly look at competing offers and choose what will not weigh the pocket and at the same time ensure reliable driving and safety. Naturally, such a course of things could not satisfy the head of the company, Henry Ford II, who did not give up his intentions to return to the top again. And in order to realize everything planned, in the bowels of the company it was decided to hold a large-scale advertising campaign, the result of which was to be the participation of the Ford car in prestigious races. Nothing but the victory in the competition, Henry Ford II was not satisfied, and therefore it was necessary to enlist the support of real professionals in their field, able to achieve the necessary results in the shortest possible time. So this is what it cost and what results led, just tells the biographical sports tape “Ford vs. Ferrari”.
The plot of the film takes us to those days when Ford was experiencing its not the best times, despite the fact that it still had a high status, and the management of the company were managers who knew exactly what they were doing. However, in the existing realities, when competition became truly fierce and unpredictable, it was necessary to think outside the box and thereby attract the attention of the public, able to pay their interest with purchases, and therefore money. Looking for opportunities to save Ford from impending collapse, one of the company’s leading managers, Lee Iacocca (John Bernthal), convinces Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) to take the example of Ferrari and try his luck in Le Mans racing, which is a reference for all motorists. A decent performance at the competition guarantees the participant increased activity in the media, and this in turn guarantees a high income. Going to a meeting with Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone), Iacocca tried to talk about the merger of the two companies, but received a tough rebuff and realized that Ford would not be able to rely on the technical support of Ferrari, and therefore it is necessary to focus only on their own forces, who are far from being in the best condition. Only the two people on whom the bet was made can change the course of events. We are talking about the former winner of Le Mans, Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), as well as the racer-mechanic Ken Miles (Christian Bale). The two of them went through a lot of trials together, they argued more than once, but they always knew what to do in order to win. But they have never dealt with people who run such a large company as Ford, which means that for any freedom and ideas will need to literally fight, because everyone who occupies high offices, recklessly considers himself a genius in every sense and does not tolerate excessive independence under his wing.
The example of Shelby and Miles’ collaboration with Ford, which is partly a rivalry of ideals and thoughts, perfectly shows us how short-sighted people can be when exposed to power and refuse to notice the elementary things. Ford executives are well aware that their companies need a qualitative transformation to stay afloat, but at the same time they are afraid of taking risks and somehow believe that they are much better versed in the technological aspects of the automotive industry than gas mechanics and professional racers. Having taken over such extraordinary personalities as Shelby and Miles, the guys at Ford try to adjust them to their inner ideals, not really realizing that they are only making themselves worse. But at the same time, our dream duo is not going to silently tolerate what is happening around him and quite loudly shows their will, which subsequently leads to quarrels and disputes that almost destroyed all the initiatives associated with Le Mans. Of course, many of the moments presented in this film have been deliberately refined and do not have direct links with what happened in reality. However, with all the artistic speculation, the general concept of the narrative remains close to the real story, and this makes it doubly interesting to watch what will eventually happen at the fateful races, who will win them and what will happen. And it is worth noting that not all episodes of the film look like a fairy tale or a fantastic coincidence. Life itself dictated the course of the story, and in reality a variety of things happen, and they can seriously surprise both in a positive and not the most rosy way. But this makes it much more interesting to watch this film, around which such vivid emotions boil.
Definitely winning here is the acting duo of Matt Damon and Christian Bale, who played a literally explosive couple, capable of daring deeds and loud proceedings. With the former formally acting as the head of their team, it is impossible to say exactly who is in charge. Each character is interesting and important in its own way, their characters sparkle from emotions and internal ambitions, in connection with which they complement each other well and give the picture a special emotional charge. Watching the actions of Miles and Shelby, we go through all the experiences that they themselves, argue with high corporate officials, again quarrel with each other, but at the same time realize the wildest dreams and believe that everything that happens will not be meaningless. It is also necessary to recognize that no less important asset of the film than Damon and Bale, is the production of a racing process that makes the heart beat in a frantic rhythm. The director knows a lot about the tension, when the next race begins, the level of testosterone rises to sky-high limits, everything else around ceases to matter and only what happens on the track is important. And since there will be a lot of races here, you will definitely not get bored while watching. And the most interesting thing is that the level of plausibility in such scenes is not in doubt in principle. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for a sharp and dynamic spectacle that shows us heroes who adjust an intractable system to themselves and know the value of their talent, which is truly multifaceted.
9 out of 10
