Film Review: Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Anyone who preaches Greta Thunberg's gospel and takes it at all seriously would have to agree with the idea that all vehicles using fossil fuels must be destroyed, or at least their production halted and their use restricted through strict ownership bans. And while the counterarguments that would deem such bans impractical in the context of modern life and preserving some basic mechanisms of modern civilisation can still somehow be understood, followers of the Swedish activist icon would far more convincingly attack the use of private cars for sport, i.e., car races that serve no other purpose than the arrogance and selfish pleasure of the drivers, or the perverse passions of spectators. Because of all this, all supporters of Greta Thunberg who consider themselves sincere ought to greet the content of the film Ford v Ferrari with utter disgust.
The plot of the film, based on true events from more than half a century ago, is set in a world substantially different from today's. Two decades after the end of the Second World War, economic growth continues along with technological progress never before or since recorded and a spectacular leap in living standards. This phenomenon could be observed almost everywhere in the world, but nowhere as obviously as in America, where the car – once a luxury for the elite – became available to every "Joe". Ford, the Detroit company that in the previous half-century laid the foundations for a new automotive paradigm, however, is finding it somewhat harder to adapt to the market in the new circumstances, and its director Henry Ford II (Tracey Letts), grandson and namesake of its legendary founder, is aware of this. Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal), one of his subordinates, sees the solution in the company orienting itself towards "Boomers", the generation born after the war which can hardly wait to come of age and start spending their parents' prosperity on "furious" and "sexy" cars. And the best advertisement for the new, "hip" and "cool" Ford could be provided by spectacular car races in which Ford models would compete. The Detroit company, however, has no experience in producing such vehicles and initially turns for help to the legendary Enzo Ferrari, offering to take over his company. When Ferrari refuses, Ford takes it personally and decides to challenge the Italian on his own turf. The task is taken on by Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), a racing car designer who chooses Ken Miles (Christian Bale) as his assistant, chief mechanic and driver, whose talent goes hand in hand with a fiery temperament that sometimes brings him victories on the track, but also problems with authority. Together they create and test the Ford GT 40, a car with which in June 1966 they will face Ferrari's models and drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the technically, physically and psychologically most demanding of all car races.
Ford v Ferrari had unexpectedly good success at the box office after its premiere, which is often attributed to the trailer that suggested a spectacular adrenaline-fuelled action fest. What viewers will see instead, however, is far closer to drama, albeit quite successfully wrapped in the cellophane of an old school Hollywood historical epic. Director Mangold, who throughout his oeuvre has shown a distinct preference for serious, often not exactly the cheeriest, drama, even when it comes to superhero films, seems a solid choice. Although the film lasts two and a half hours and although the script too often veers into cliché, sometimes at the expense of historical grounding, it is saved by an exceptionally well-disposed cast. Here, above all, the character actors must be highlighted, including Tracy Letts in the role of an industrial patriarch who deep down hides a lack of self-confidence, as well as the ubiquitous Bernthal who delivers yet another impressive performance as Lee Iacocca. A very good job was also done by Matt Damon, who played the role of a talented but not at all conceited designer without any overacting. This, however, could not be said for his colleague Bale, who plays the Miles character as if he wants to win an "Oscar" at any cost, and also the character of Leo Beebe, one of Ford's directors who is sceptical of the project, is turned into a villain in too artificial a manner, so that even a far more cheerful actor than Josh Lucas would have turned him into a caricature. Even sadder is the case with Caitriona Balfe, star of Outlander, who got the thankless role of Miles's wife, i.e., a character inserted only because it was necessary to fulfil the minimum quota of characters who are not cisheterosexual white men. Despite that, as well as occasional lapses into sentimental "slush", Ford v Ferrari nevertheless serves its purpose and will in the end entertain viewers. At least those who aren't worried that driving to the cinema will pollute this planet.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
(Note: The text in the original Croatian version is available here.)
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