Ford v Ferrari is an expensive, finely tuned machine that races out of the starting block and kicks into high gear until the finish.
Matt Damon is in peak form and Christian Bale keeps up the pace in this fascinating tale of the 1966 Le Mans race. Trust me, the +2-hour run time flies by so fast you won't see it pass.
Yes, I could've done without the grease monkey poetry, but any film that can stoke my interest in car racing of all things has got to be well put together.
(And, as always, go in as blind as you can and see it on the biggest screen possible.)
Good performances. I really like both Damon and Bale as Shelby and Miles. The racing scenes were not as intense as I would have liked. The family scenes with Ken Miles and his wife and son were good and anytime Shelby talked to Henry Ford it was gripping. This was fairly predictable but was one of those classic underdog sort of movies.
This is one of those films that is just impossible to hate.
It’s such a well made crowdpleaser; from the acting, to the score, to the camerawork.
From the very first scene, you know you’re in the hands of a filmmaker who knows what he’s doing.
It’s long, but you don’t feel its length at all.
The predictability of the story is the only real issue.
7.5/10
Damon and Bale both give great performances. The races were shot well but other than those it felt like a generic biopic. A little long but overall a solid movie that will be enjoyed by dads watching cable.
I guess it's a good sign when a movie about a thing I thought I couldn't care less about has me on the edge of my seat for more than two hours. Also, how is it possible that Christian Bale can believably play a doofus like Ken Miles and also be a convincing Bruce Wayne? That man is simply a beast when it comes to acting. Great recommendation!
Matt Damon has to be one of the most underrated Hollywood actors of his time, yet, time and again, he gives exceptional performances, whether they be as quirky characters, the butt of a joke or a straight up dramatic role. This film is no exception. The way he and Christian Bale play off against each other is remarkable to watch. You don’t have to be a car fan to like this movie but if you can imagine yourself sitting in the seat of these exceptional machines you will ride every curve and straightway of this movie. It is fun. It is well performed. It is well written. It is great personal drama. I give this movie an 8 (great) out of 10. [True Life Drama]
Went in with high expectations and the movie still managed to surpass them. Absolutely perfect. I loved every single minute of it. Matt and Christian were amazing together. I absolutely lost it during their fight. LMAO. And I agree with everyone here, watch it on the biggest screen there is. It's an EXPERIENCE.
Boring characters, boring script, boring story, full of inaccuracies and over-the-top dramatizations. Very little that is shown on screen happened in real life.
We see way too little of Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari. Basically, they each had a scene and that's it. Leo Beebe took way too much screentime. Also, too many pointless scenes with Miles' son or with Shelby and Miles arguing bloated up the runtime of the movie.
In reality, Henry Ford II didn't need to be persuaded to enter motorsports. He always wanted to have a Ford run the Le Mans. We never see how the first car was designed and built in England. It's not even mentioned that the first three versions were based on a Lola Mk6, probably the most innovative car of its time. Only the MkIV that won the 1967 Le Mans was designed and built in America.
Caroll Shelby wasn't part of the team from the beginning, he was brought in after the disappointing debut season of 1964.
The Ferrari 330 P3 was not as competitive as the Ford GT40 MkII. By nightfall, Bandini's Ferrari was at 12th place and the GT40 MkII's held comfortably the 1-2-3-4 positions.
During the final hours of the race, Miles & Hulme's car had a 4-lap lead on their teammates McLaren & Amon, but the #1 car had to pit one more time to switch out a wrong set of brake rotors which cost them most of their lead. Now, Miles gets the team order to back off so that he can finish neck-to-neck with McLaren (the 3rd car was 12 laps behind). Miles lets McLaren catch up but decides to slow down further right before the finish line in protest, thus allowing McLaren to win by more than a car's length.
In the end, it was a battle of attrition. Only 3 of the 13 Fords finished and only the two 275 GTΒs (and none of the 330 P3s) finished from the 14 Ferraris entered, while Porsche managed to finish all four 906 cars in positions 4-5-6-7.
And something that really bugged me: Miles' brakes overheated IN THE RAIN!! Fucking ridiculous. Not only is traction on the wet limited, so Miles wouldn't be able to brake as hard because his tires would be slipping, but the rain would also have cooled the brakes and not allow them to overheat to the point of glowing red-hot. I guess the director wanted the recurring theme of failing brakes for the last accident, which is not how it happened in real life. Miles' prototype J-car had some untested aerodynamics which caused his crash at the end of the long back-straight, and the aluminum honeycomb chassis proved too weak and shattered, bursting the car into flames, killing Miles.
You'd be better off watching Steve McQueen's Le Mans from 1971.
[6.8/10] Ford v Ferrari could be about anything, and it would be pretty much the same. It’s about car racing, but it could just as easily be about hockey, or architecture, or the world’s most noteworthy spaghetti-eating contest. Its off-the-shelf themes of corporate interference in the artists’ work and transcendent beauty when those masters play the game the ways it meant to be could, and have, apply to just about any movie using the same, well-worn mold.
Which is to say that this film doesn't have many, if any, new tricks to show its audience. If you’ve seen any of the plethora of Oscar movies that occupy the same space, or even enjoyable Disney flotsam like D2: The Mighty Ducks, you already know the basic beats of this movie. It is thoroughly fine -- well made, well performed, well built -- but lacking any spark to elevate it above a dutifully-constructed bit of awards-season adequacy.
Ford v. Ferrari is not, sadly, as its title suggests, a movie where futuristic cars do battle with one another in a post-apocalyptic hellscape. It is, instead, the story of car designer Carroll Shelby, race car driver Ken Miles, and their Ford-funded quest to beat the Ferrari team at the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans race, to cement their automotive supremacy. It is, in essence, a standard-issue sports movie, about overcoming the villainous, anti-American bad guys on and off the track, and rising above the, internal opposition to the purity of your mission.
But it can boast a better cast than most other movies in the same tradition. Matt Damon plays Shelby as a southern-stewed true believer, who gets to stand his ground and tear up in the various, prestige-honking moments when it’s all-but mandated. Christian Bale plays Miles as the eccentric, stubborn, “not a people person” driver who nonetheless possesses an all but metaphysical bond with the machines he controls. And it’s populated with performers who’ve stood out on prestige T.V. (and, sure, elsewhere too) like Tracy Letts (Homeland), Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead), and Ray McKinnon (Deadwood).
Unfortunately, Ford v. Ferrari doesn't give them much to work with, or perhaps, gives them too much to work with. Nobody just talks in this movie. Every single stream of dialogue is some kind of Oscar-reel speech about the majesty of the road or what this means to each of them, or the unadulterated beauty of their art to the point of exhaustion. The sentiments expressed are pleasant, if familiar, but there’s no thought or idea that this movie can’t turn into some sort of grand speech or monologue for its characters.
The raft of capable actors in this movie keep that onslaught tolerable, but it keeps the film’s main personalities feeling more like sporadic speech-giving machines than real people. Bale’s take on Miles as the Dr. House of racecar drivers occasionally breaks through that muddle and finds the humanity in what is still a deliberately affected performance. By the same token, Tracy Letts nearly steals the show in a scene where Henry Ford’s grandson genuinely weeps at the transcendence of what his boys have created. But on the whole, you could half-pay attention to every predictable, writerly monologue and not miss much.
You would, however, miss the stellar racing scenes with that approach. Whatever Ford v. Ferrari’s other faults in a paint-by-numbers story or thudding dialogue, it sure is nice to look at it in stretches. Director James Mangold, cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, and editors Andrew Buckland, Michael McCuskerm, and Dirk Westervelt construct a host of stellar on-the-track sequences. They are the absolute highlight of this film.
Mangold and company capture the intensity, the virtuosity, and the beauty of these machines in motion. The few moments when Ford v Ferrari can really grab you take place with someone behind the wheel. The film’s visual team knows when to show these cars balletically bounding around some corner, when to cut to the faces inside of them to show focus or determination or joy, and when to hold the tension of two vehicles in dangerous proximity or even contact with one another. As a surfeit of well-crafted racing scenes stitched together by a perfunctory effort at storytelling, the film can more than succeed.
But that plot drags this one down considerably. There’s nothing wrong with the tale that Ford v. Ferrari wants to tell; its story beats are just shopworn to the point of tedium. Both Shelby and Miles have their legally-mandated “Nah, man, I’m out of the game” moments before jumping back into the thick of things. Both face the internal obstacles du jour before each proves themselves to their superiors. And there’s even a smirking, foreign bad guy driver to function as the avatar for all that’s wrong with the world.
That’s the funny thing about this movie. It roots its story in the perspective of Ford and its employees doing battle against the stuck-up Italian carmakers. But it’s easy to picture an equal and opposite film, where the devotees who care more about perfecting their cars than making money do battle against the hubris-ridden Americans who think they can buy a victory on the track and even bend the rules or outright cheat to cause trouble. As oddly apt as this movie is to draw a firm line between its heroes and its villains, it doesn't take much of a leap to imagine the roles reversed.
But the sneering dastards of Ferrari are only the external villains of the piece. The film also spends an inordinate amount of time, and arguably its overriding theme, on the trouble caused by corporate suits who don’t know cars but think they can tell artists what to do. Leo Beebe is Ford’s executive director of something or other, and plays the shallowest clueless corporate stooge this side of a music biopic. The film uses him to present the thinnest art vs. commerce notions imaginable, presenting Beebe as the latest, barely-sketched strawman antagonist, in an archetype that cuts across genres but which nobody can seem to find a new or interesting spin on.
The irony of this film is that it is nominally devoted to the merits of artistic purity. The broader arc of the film involves Ford’s transition from a company that only churns out undifferentiated cars in massive factories, to one that learns to trust its artists and achieve greatness by appreciating the individual beauty and soul of what it makes.
And yet, this movie feels like something that Ford might have produced before this grand awakening. It’s not a bad movie by any stretch. It’s a competent film that checks every necessary box for a replacement level, awards season release. But for a film so devoted to individual splendor and artistry, the movie itself feels oddly soulless. Despite its devotion to the merits of individual artistic purity, Ford v Ferrari plays like it just rolled off the assembly line.
"Christian Bale continues to prove that he is one of the best actors of this era."
This movie is fantastic. Every scene is a joy to behold as the story of the two protagonists unfolds. Try to go in as blind as possible, and save the Wiki dive until the credits are rolling. It really shines when you have zero knowledge of the real world events. Some impeccable acting from both Bale and Damon; Bale really commits to accents and just morphs into the role of Ken Miles. As someone from the Midlands in the UK, he nails the dialect, unlike other media based around here (Peaky Blinders).
Tense, infuriating, heartwarming, yet so slick and enjoyable, Ford v Ferarri is stellar, even for a non-car nut like me.
Hope this is a contender for Best Picture, it's up there with one of the best I've seen this year, if not the best. Loved it.
Carroll Shelby: "Wait for it... Wait for it... Now!!!"
The (mostly) true story of two passionate gear-heads and their tireless quest to unseat mighty Team Ferrari at the grueling 24-hour Le Mans endurance race. Armed, that is, with the financial backing (and all-too frequent corporate meddling) of Ford Motor Company. In that sense, it's a war on two fronts: they're playing catch-up against a more advanced opponent while also fending off the various obstacles and bad ideas tossed down from their own corporate brass.
Christian Bale and Matt Damon, somehow sharing the screen for the first time, provide all the personality this flick needs to maintain momentum, while the hair-raising cockpit scenes nail the hairpin turns. Bale plays the more fiery of the pair; a sparky, cocksure driver who comes out of near-retirement for this chance at immortality. Damon's man is full of piss and vinegar, too, but more amicable to the kind of machinations necessary for navigating a corporate American boardroom. From the first word, they're great together. It's not an easy relationship to define - blows are exchanged, often comically, more than once - but there's no arguing their kinship, even if both might brush it off as a mere working association. They both know the fine points of their job, and the slight quirks and deviations that make them essential to one another.
Several of the film's plot twists are telegraphed, even for those (like I) who didn't know the full story coming in, and it's guilty of occasionally dipping into the well of over-worn sports movie tropes, but otherwise it's an effective pulse-pounder.
Good movie about the desire to win Le Mans by Ford. The racing sequences are awesome and Christian Bale and Matt Damon are great together. A great biopic to watch even if you are completely clued out about car racing.
Holy shit its Jason Bourne and Batman!
The film is titled Ford v Ferrari, and that is what the movie is about, on a superficial level. Really, what this comes down to - as with any great sports drama - is our lead character, in this case, Bale as Ken Miles.
Not being a car guy, I don't care about racing, but if you make a great movie, I'm in for the ride.
Set in the 1960s, the story effortlessly weaves in and out of the life of Miles, Shelby (Matt Damon), and of course, Ford, and Ferrari. We get the perfect amount of time with both Miles, and Shelby to invest in the plot, and just enough about Ford, and Ferrari to make sense of the feud/motivation for the car/race.
If you like drama, you're going to like this. If you like when cars go fast, you'll also like this.
I'd rate the movie even higher, but the ending went on a little longer than I felt it needed to. There were two points where the movie could have ended earlier, and I think either would have played better. Just cut to an epilog.
This is a movie for everyone, as you don't have to to be a fan of motorsports to enjoy it. You will, however, never stop watching it again if you are a fan. MASTERPIECE!
I’m not a car/racing guy in the slightest, but this is a really entertaining movie. Bale and Damon are amazing (as always) and it’s just beautifully shot. The 2,5 hour runtime flies by.
One of the better movies I have watched. If anyone watches to watch it get ahold of me I will send them the file.
What a great cinematic masterpiece of special affects and filming to bring you the incredible story about how to corrupt deal that never happened for Ford to buy Ferrari fueled Ford to win 4 straight at Le Mans. The casting and plot development is spot on. The lead up and character development and introductions is phenomenal, especially the introduction of Carrol Shelby to begin the film. The filming of the racing along with the storyline makes this the car version of Top Gunn Maverick.
This movie makes me want to drive a car that goes brrr.
If it wasn't for Christian Bale being in it, this movie probably wouldn't have caught my interest. So thank you, Christian, for not letting me miss out on a great story and a great movie.
Not a racing/car fan at all, however from the opening scene I could see this film was going to have me strapped into my sofa until the finishing line. I just didn’t expect it to get so emotional by the end but it was just so good.
Ford v Ferrari (2019) 7.8/10 (Impressive)
I've been meaning to watch this film for a while now. For whatever reason, it’s taken me nearly two years to get around to it, but I'm glad I finally did. As soon as I saw that James Mangold was directing and that gorgeous opening scene, I knew this film had potential. Thankfully, I was correct in my assumptions; the film is beautifully directed, has a captivating story, and has outstanding performances from its stellar cast. The film's brilliance lies in Bale's portrayal of Ken Miles behind the wheel, as well as the chemistry he has with Damon's Shelby. It has a few flaws, the most glaring of which is a story that may be sluggish at times and is, regrettably, rather predictable. Nothing here is groundbreaking, but the story is compelling and the delivery is superb, and that is often all that's needed. In short, it's a heart-warming film that is definitely worth watching.
Downton Abbey for Top Gear fans, only more twee.
I do not care about cars or racing.
But, damn, this was a great movie with terrific performances from both Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
It's a long film - almost longer than the Le Mans race - but its worth sticking with. It lapped my expectations and then some, with some great action, an all-round great cast, and thrilling direction. A great movie.
FORD VS FERRARI (2019) REVIEW :racing_car:
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:scroll: Plot : American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car for Ford in order to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
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:man:⚖ Review : Ford vs Ferrari is period drama set in 1960s. Matt Damon as Shelby and Bale as Ken Miles share chemistry which elevates the experience of the movie. Brillant performances by the leads and a true story fined tuned to perfection (arguably). Bale as Ken Miles is absorbed in the character and delivers praiseworthy performance. Matt On the other hand has provided amazing support. The Screenplay and Direction of James Mangold has brushed excellence in this one. Emotions are realistic and genuine. All in all sports dramas are long but still non Automotive enthusiasts stick to the screens because of the amazing leads at helm.
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:thumbsup: Goods : Christian Bale as Ken Miles and Matt Damon as Shelby's Chemistry is infectious and natural . Brilliant Cinematography to reflect times of 1960 with great action sequences of races.
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:thumbsdown: Bads : Elongated Runtime gives a test of patience at times.
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:fire: Final Rating : 8/10
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:white_check_mark: Recommendation : If You Love sports drama and donot mind long runtimes. This is one is a must watch.
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- Follow Instagam for More : @RiteshReviews
I raced a Ford GT in a 1969 Roadrunner once...we pulled out of Starbucks on a clear Saturday...we burnt all the way past the Burger King, neck and neck...my 440 sounding like a beast out of hell, his motor high winding...both beating..thee..living..hell out of our rides...not for a trophy or money or even bragging rights... just for that feeling... you won't know what I mean unless you been there
I did not expect to enjoy this film as much as I did. I assumed that this would be a film where that would be some kind of competition and the good guys would come out ahead of the bad guys. I was wrong, sort of. The bad guys weren't who I expected them to be. There was a human touch to this movie that I did not expect and it was really interesting to see how it all played out. Don't get me wrong - while Matt Damon is excellent the best part of this film is Christian Bale's performance and it isn't even close.
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I haven't laughed so hard in years. Superior cast phenomenal performances by all. This is an incredible story appropriate for all ages. Couldn't wait to see and have already watched it three times. Thoroughly enjoyed
Christian Bale + Matt Damon = Epic Duo + Motorsports Film = Perfection.
This film is perfect with perfect performance. Maybe not the film of the year, but the story (and history indeed), casting, photography and performamce is perfect in every possible equation.
OMG... and The Punisher as Lee Iacocca !
Realy enjoyed the movie, Christian bale was great as always, totally recommended
Great movie. It pissed me off seven ways but still a great movie telling a great story about some historic people; and one asshole.
Great movie. This movie shows just how impactful Shelby was to the Ford Company and to the history of racing.
We've all grown up fascinated with fast cars. We couldn't help but to love the Foreign cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini. And them big boats like the Chevelle. Ford v Ferrari does an amazing job at giving us an inside look of what goes on behind the scenes of racing and race car building.
I highly recommend this movie, especially to any car nut!
The story it tells is compelling and hard to hate, but the script and editing leave a lot to be desired. The film teeters on edge of confusing a general audience from lack of context and explanation, so the story it tells gets a bit muddled. Despite the problems, the film delivers on the racing scenes, and the story even when told awkwardly is one that will always be worth telling. Matt Damon and Christian Bale do a terrific job, even if it took a while for their acting to convince me. I don't regret watching it, I would recommend it, but it could have been better.
Have no words extremelly good movie great story i felt the motivation and great directing too.Chemistry
Find the BIGGEST screen you can. It’s SUPERB!
Good direction and interpretation, you feel the thrill of the race
Can't wait for this one!
Beautiful, well-made, harrowing. My second racing movie in as many days ("The Art of Racing in the Rain") delves into Ford's attempts to compete on the international racing circuit by "buying" in and hiring only the best. Of course, in standard corporate fashion, they can't just let the people do their jobs, but must constantly "manage" and meddle to "protect their investment." The film does a great job of depicting the trials and tribulations leading up to the 1966 racing season, and Matt Damon and Christian Bale are in top form here, making a strong film out what could be, with other actors, a standard racing picture. Bale's acting is enhanced by his rail-thin physique. It's truly amazing that he lost over 70 pounds to do this picture, coming off of "Vice," where he gained considerable weight to play Dick Cheney. When asked how he lost the weight, he said he "just stopped eating." You have to admire his commitment. 8 out of 10.
“You’re gonna build a car to beat Ferrari with....a Ford”
- Ken Miles
And yet another off beat surprise from James Mangold. He has quietly put together a number of strong story driven films that are amazing. Can’t wait for the next one.
:race_car: :clock1230::checkered_flag:
its james Mangold....whats more to say?
Amazing movie that I wouldn't be surprised to see nominated for best picture.
Probably the greatest racing movie of all time. I have to start with the production quality because oh my, is it perfect. The cars, outfits, locations, racetracks, and even the tools all look perfectly spot on. The cinematography and camerawork enhance and show off the design just as much as it needs to. The acting, casting, script, and information feel accurate enough and balanced enough for drama. My palms were sweating with adrenalin from the races, I almost accelerated into a heart attack when the score drove in. The cars weren't the only things fueled up. I was, with raw emotions.
Good movie well, well acted. Would not expect anything less from this cast. I enjoyed Nike and this one was just as good.
Movie started great and just got better and better. Didn't thought that would happen.
I still would not drive a Ford, but I would watch the movie again.
Rated a Connor 10, normal 9
Very slow beginning, a bit confusing too, but in the end it started to entertain me. Too long for the content tho.
A pretty solid biopic that tells a story I didn’t know I wanted to know more about! Bale and Damon are great, and I’m sure that if I was more interested in the subject matter I would enjoy this movie even more!
Rating: 4/5 - 8.5/10 - Would Recommend
"Ford v Ferrari" is an action-packed film that showcases the intense rivalry between the iconic American automaker and the renowned Italian brand. Although the focus of the film is on the competition between the two companies, the true heart of the story lies in the power struggle between Carroll Shelby's team and the executives at Ford, particularly between Shelby (Matt Damon) and Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas). Christian Bale's portrayal of Ken Miles is particularly compelling, as he navigates the challenges of being a responsible father and husband while also risking his life on the racetrack. Miles is the driving force behind the story, making it possible.
"Ford v Ferrari" is a triumph of American ingenuity that arrived at a time when the country needed it. It's a thrilling underdog story with engaging characters. The only downside is its lengthy runtime, which could have been shortened by 30 minutes without losing its impact. The film also has a feeling of being made for awards consideration, which can make it feel a bit self-important.
Overall, "Ford v Ferrari" is a testament to what can be achieved with hard work, perseverance, and a leap of faith. It's a film worth celebrating.
"Ford v Ferrari" es una película llena de acción que muestra la intensa rivalidad entre el icónico fabricante de automóviles estadounidense y la reconocida marca italiana. Aunque el foco de la película está en la competencia entre las dos compañías, el verdadero corazón de la historia está en la lucha de poder entre el equipo de Carroll Shelby y los ejecutivos de Ford, particularmente entre Shelby (Matt Damon) y Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas). . La interpretación de Christian Bale de Ken Miles es particularmente convincente, ya que se enfrenta a los desafíos de ser un padre y esposo responsable mientras arriesga su vida en la pista de carreras. Miles es la fuerza impulsora detrás de la historia, haciéndola posible.
"Ford v Ferrari" es un triunfo del ingenio estadounidense que llegó en un momento en que el país lo necesitaba. Es una emocionante historia de perdedores con personajes atractivos. El único inconveniente es su larga duración, que podría haberse acortado en 30 minutos sin perder su impacto. La película también tiene la sensación de estar hecha para ser considerada para premios, lo que puede hacer que se sienta un poco engreída.
En general, "Ford v Ferrari" es un testimonio de lo que se puede lograr con trabajo duro, perseverancia y un acto de fe. Es una película que vale la pena celebrar.
An impressive and heartfelt study of friendship and triumph
Le Mans '66 could never be accused of breaking any new ground or trying anything especially original – it hits all the beats, it hits them well, but it never strays from the formula. Much as Michael Mann's Ali (2001) was a boxing movie on the surface only, being far more interested in politics and institutional racism, Mangold's film isn't really about motor cars – it's about friendship, male pride, personal integrity, sticking it to the Man, art v commerce, individuals v corporations; it is, in essence, a thematically broad and aesthetically anonymous pre-auteur theory audience-pleaser made with the technology and aesthetic sensibilities of modernity. And whilst the individual parts may be unsatisfactorily safe and familiar, the whole is unexpectedly accomplished and immensely enjoyable.
For my complete review, please visit: https://boxd.it/SkTUJ
Solid movie, but far from being the masterpiece that most comments suggest it is.
The racing scenes are disappointing, they sacrificed the realism for the sake of building up the tension and the drama, but achieved neither, they are quite predictable.
Other than that, the movie is extremely well made (the cars, the photography, the visual effects, the music...), the story is enjoyable and interesting, and you can't get bad acting from Matt Damon or Christian Bale... or Cait Balfe, even if she only has a few minutes of screen time.
Well that didn’t finish last, definitely a big first with a lot of fun and entertainment also warming and great performance from both leading cast, Damon & bale make a sound team. What a great story that it’s based on!
"We're lighter, we're faster, and if that don't work, we're nastier."
I loved this movie. I was already excited when Bale and Damon joined the cast but to have Mangold tell this story was a cherry on top. I am not much of a car person but this had me invested and I did not look up what happened in history so I could be surprised by the story. The sound design for the cars are great and there are definitely some intense moments.
the film was just beautiful and beautiful, especially the story too good for words, but this is simply true stories.
Amazing top.
Based on a fascinating true story, Ford v Ferrari is a compelling period drama from director James Mangold. When Enzo Ferrari insults Henry Ford II, Ford hires American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles to develop a race car to defeat Ferrari and win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Starring Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas, and Caitriona Balfe, the film has a good cast that delivers some strong performances. And the script is especially well-written, making it easy to follow the car and racing jargon. Also, the racing scenes are incredibly exciting and kinetic. Ford v Ferrari is a captivating film about determination and the strength of the human spirit.
As Charli XCX once said: "Vroom vroom. Beep beep [...]"
Thank God for Christian Bale's amazing performance, otherwise it would be nearly impossible to put up with Matt Damon for 2h30.
1.5 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
.5 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
.5 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 lasting ability to make you think
0 / 0 misc
6.5 / 10
("Go Like Hell" FanEdit viewing)
(drunk viewing)
2 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
1 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 lasting ability to make you think
0 / 0 misc
8 / 10
Loved it! Great film work and actors were spot on.
It a very nice movie, wonderfully made. Big ups to Matt Damon and Christian Bale, both acted well, and the bonding was great.
I also love the father - son relationship between Christian Bale and Noah Jupe, the little kid acted so well.
2hrs was not enough for the movie,it's great. 7.5rating for me.
good movie. Sometimes a little bit too hollywood-ish.
I was trembling after the win at Daytona. I was angry after Le Mans. I went through a lot of emotions watching this movie, and I loved it.
And then there's Christian Bale. This was a Matt Damon movie, you know, till Bale comes on-screen. He swoops in like the thief he is, and steals the screen from Damon!
If you love your car, love how this machine becomes one with you, understands even the little bits of adjustments you make, and obeys, this movie is for you. If you just let your car run free, let it be the master, you will love this movie. Hell, if you don't love cars, I dare say you will love this movie.
I enjoyed this movie. It's always interesting to see history come to life.
Good performances. I really like both Damon and Bale as Shelby and Miles. The racing scenes were not as intense as I would have liked. The family scenes with Ken Miles and his wife and son were good and anytime Shelby talked to Henry Ford it was gripping. This was fairly predictable but was one of those classic underdog sort of movies.
From the ads and previews I was just expecting this to be another typical car-nut movie that had zero interest for anyone else. I only watched it due to the nominations it had received.
My main take-away - the acting. It was brilliant from all the main actors and actresses. And a special shoutout must go to Christian Bale, who was absolutely superb. Stole the movie from the rest of them.
The story line itself was a little thin and pre-determined, it was on the table from the outset. That's the main reason this movie only scores a 6. But the writing & acting lets you keep your interest up and empathy flowing the whole way through.
This is truly a well made movie. With a title like Ford v. Ferrari, people will tend to think that this is a guy movie but this is a human story. A story about passion and drive. A story about people who are lucky enough to do what the love to the point of no return. The Le Mons, like the Tour de France and the Ididerod is not just about a crazy, dangerous sport but so much more and this movie does and excellent job portraying that. Christian Bale is phenomenal in this. Well worth seeing it.
Ken wears sunglasses MIB RayBan in 1966 ?
Big mistake...
"Nice stopwatch." "You want one, they're italian."
I am a car nut. I follow motorsports since the early 1980s up to today and I love the history of it. So this one was highly anticipated. And I was not dissapointed.
The movie is great. I'm sure they added or altered some things like they allways do but the basic story is right. This was one of the greatest moments in motorsports. The dawn of a new era. The racing footage is great and I was surprised to find out that it was all done practical because I expected a lot of it to be CG. However I don't think it depicts the excitement of racing like Le Mans or even Grand Prix did. I was much more immersed in those. Matt Damon was allright but I was awestruck by Christian Bale's performance. Bernthal seemed like an odd choice to play Iacocca because it is so far away from The Punisher, which is imprinted on my mind, but it works.
What can I say ? You like motorsports watch it. But this is also about friends & friendship. About facing impossible odds to accomplish your goals. And it tells the story not too clichéd. After all, this is how it went down. If there are clichès then they were probably born here.
Go Like Hell
The race became the subject of a 2009 book, detailing the race and the famous background rivalry between Enzo Ferrari and Henry Ford II, by A.J. Baime titled “Go Like Hell”—the words shouted by Bruce McLaren to Chris Amon as they drove to their famous victory. Chris Amon was interviewed in 2016:
"Bruce drove the first stints. I recall it was damp and we were running on intermediate Firestone tires and at 210–220 mph [355 kmh] on the Mulsanne Straight, the tires were shedding tread. I took over from Bruce and he spoke to Firestone and they generously said we could switch to the Goodyears the other GT40s were running. Bruce said to me we had to drive the doors off the thing, so we did. There was a bit of history to that. We had both driven the first two 7.0-litre cars at Le Mans the previous year: Bruce with Ken Miles and myself with Phil Hill. We were warned to be careful with the gearbox as they were new and unproven, and both cars retired with gearbox failures. As a result, when I went to Daytona for the 24 hours, paired with Bruce, I suggested to Bruce that we set a fairly conservative pace for the race, and whilst we might be running out of the top three in the early stages, we might be the only one there at the end. We finished fifth. For Le Mans, we decided to set a pace for ourselves. This strategy fell apart when our tires started losing treads early in the race and we lost considerable time. When I was called in to change tires, I think Bruce's frustration had reached boiling point, he put his head through the car door and said 'Go like hell!'." At the finish: "the idea was that the leading GT40s would cross the line together, but in practice, it wasn't possible to have a dead heat. We weren't sure who had won initially."
And a few tweaks from Hollywood writers and you have a film. For me it were those little tweaks that didn't made it better than it could have been.
Bet Corvette fans are a little pissed at the end... Oeps
Outstanding and gorgeous cinematography. The events at the end were quite anti climatic.
An enjoyable racing film, also has a great 1960's setting. Racing scenes are also well shot, makes you feel you are in car. But it's Matt Damon and Christian Bales performances that really makes the movie, having Butch and Sundance like chemistry. Josh Lucas is also good.
They should have named it Ford Racers v Ford Executives.
Expected performance in an expectedly okay biopic, nothing too surprising, but that's something we need at times. Times like these when everyone else seems to make biopic way too fancy and jumped over the moon.
Hats off. Very well done. Expected a cheesy cars movie, but turned out to be quite on the feels. Chapeau!
Really enjoyed this one with the exception of the British accents that I felt were a bit over the top and grating.
It was "NICE". That's the word I'd use, cause its a little overrated, i mean it went 129 on the ImDB Top 250 for heaven's sake, though Bale's acting as always was great and Matt Damon was also good.
Shout by SimoVIP 2BlockedParent2019-11-09T09:50:34Z
A well made film , great direction , good acting and the chemisty between christian bale and matt damon is awesome
Even if you're not a car sports fan you're gonna dig this one.
The race sequences were impressive .