Ford v Ferrari Review

Ford v Ferrari

Release Date: 14th November 2019 - Australia

Production Companies

20th Century Fox (presents)

Chernin Entertainment

TSG Entertainment

Turnpike Films

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: M

Runtime: 152 minutes

Budget: $97,600,000

Box Office Gross: $226,299,480 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Ex-race car driver and automotive designer Carroll Shelby takes on a heavy assignment: build a new Ford vehicle to beat Ferrari. Together with British race car driver Ken Miles at the wheel, they faced corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their demons. They were determined to compete with Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.

Cast

Matt Damon - Carroll Shelby

Christian Bale - Ken Miles

Jon Bernthal - Lee Lacocca

Caitriona Balfe - Mollie Miles

Ray McKinnon - Phil Remington

Tracy Letts - Henry Ford II

Josh Lucas - Leo Beebe

Noah Jupe - Peter Miles

Remo Girone - Enzo Ferrari

JJ Feild - Roy Lunn

Jack McMullen - Charlie Agapiou

Corrado Invernizzi - Franco Gozzi

Joe Williamson - Don Frey

Ian Harding - Ford Executive - Ian

Christopher Darga - John Holman

Shawn Law - Al 'Gus' Scussel

Darrin Prescott - Bob Bondurant

Alex Gurney - Dan Gurney

Benjamin Rigby - Bruce McLaren

Ben Collins - Denny Hulme

Francesco Bauco - Lorenzo Bandini

Guido Cocomello - Ludo Scarfiotti

Adam Mayfield - Lloyd Ruby

Sean Carrigan - Walt Hangsgen

Lachlan Buchanan - Celebrity MC -

Cloverfield
Giles Matthey - Lance Reventlow
Rudolf Martin - Dieter Voss

Evan Arnold - SCCA Official
Darin Cooper - Reporter - Sam

Elizabeth Dement - Ford Secretary #1
Wallace Langham - Dr. Granger
Jonathan LaPaglia - Pit Engineer - Eddie
Brad Beyer - Wayne (Customer)

Ottavio Taddei - Italian Photographer
Giovanni Cirfiera - Gianni Agnelli

Wyatt Nash - Cool Young Buyer

Drew Rausch - Pilot Private Plane
Ward Horton - Test Driver - Burt
Luiggi Debiasse - Ford Italian Translator -

Gary

Michael Lanahan - Brumos Executive

Tanner Foust - Ronnie Bucknum

Peter Arpesella - Ferrari Pit Chief

Andrew Burlinson - Ford Executive #2

Lou Beatty Jr. - Janitor

Clément Larue - Kid Program Seller

Oliver Bin - Drunk Man Singing

Marc Forget - Le Mans Official #1

Stephanie Fiorenza - Le Mans Official #

Joss Glennie-Smith - Mechanic Ford

Advanced Vehicles

Tim Banning - Reporter - Daytona

Arron Shiver - Charlie Brockman ABC

Paul Fox - British Commentator

Zack Zublena - French Commentator

Aylam Orian - German Commentator

Kirt Kishita - Japanese Commentator

Stefania Spampinato - Ferrari's English

Translator

Gian Franco Tordi - Agnelli Secretary

Cameron Hennings - Autograph Seeker

James Tappan - IRS Employee #1

Ryan O'Dell - IRS Employee #2

Mario Di Donato - Ferrari Lawyer

Bonnie Antonini - Ferrari Secretary

Janelle McKee - Ford Secretary #2
Grace Fae - Ford Secretary - Grace
Jan Munroe - Edwin Turley
Marisa Petroro - Mrs. Henry Ford
Leif Carlgren - Ford Exec Sean Reed

Jon Ueberroth - Production Line Foreman

Camillo Faieta - Ferrari Pit Crew #1

Steven Ziel - Ford Executive #2

Vernon Dew - Ford Executive #4

Angelo Dibello - Ferrari Pit Crew #2
Larsen Deane - Shelby Pit Crew -

Ronnie Larson
Craig Frosty Silva - Shelby Pit Crew - Frosty

Brad McCabe - Shelby Pit Crew

Brent Pontin - Chris Amon
Mark Krenik - Shelby Pit Smokey

Thomas John Rudolph - Shelby Pit Big Mug

Luka Bale - Le Mans Flower Girl

Crew

Producer/Director - James Mangold

Writers - Jez & John-Henry Butterworth
and Jason Keller
Executive Producers - Dani Bernfeld,
Michael Mann, Lucas Foster and Alex Young

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Kevin Halloran
Producers - Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping
Co-Producer/Post-Production Supervisor -
Aaron Downing

Co-Producer/First Assistant Director -

Adam Somner
Casting Director - Ronna Kress
Production Designer - François Audouy

Supervising Art Director - Maya Shimoguchi

Art Directors - Jordan Ferrier,

Robert Andrew Johnson and Gustaf Aspergen
Set Decorator - Peter Lando

Property Master - John Paul 'J.P.' Jones

Costume Designer - Daniel Orlandi

Head Makeup Artist - Jane Galli

Director of Photography - Phedon Papamichael

Director of Photography: California

Second Unit - Igor Meglic

Camera/Steadicam Operator - P. Scott Sakamoto

Second Assistant Camera - Michael Luntzel

First Assistant Director: California Second

Unit - Marvin Williams

Location Manager - Robert Foulkes

Location Manager: Georgia - Maria T. Bierniak
Second Unit Director - Darrin Prescott
Stunt Coordinator - Robert Nagle

Picture Car Coordinator - Rick Collins

Aerial Coordinator - Ryan Hosking

Pilot - Craig Hosking

Special Effects Coordinator - Mark R. Byers
Special Effects Supervisor: France Unit -

Charles-Axel Vollard
Visual Effects Supervisor - Olivier Dumont

Visual Effects Supervisor: Method Studios -

Dave Morley
Film Editors - Andrew Buckland,
Michael McCusker and Dirk Westervelt

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer -

David Giammarco

Sound Designer - Jay Wilkinson

Supervising Sound Editor - Donald Sylvester

Sound Mixer - Steven Morrow

Re-Recording/Music Mixer - Paul Massey

Foley Supervisor - Anna MacKenzie
Music - Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders

Music Supervisor/Editor - Ted Caplan

Review

I am a big Ford fan and have watched most of the races they won at Mount Panorama each year. Unfortunately, I didn't watch any other races that Ford participated in, including those in Australia (except in Bathurst) and other regions. I was unaware of the 1966 historical event the movie portrays. I also knew nothing about the Ford-Ferrari rivalry or the Ford GT, the fastest car built for this race. What intrigued me was not just Ford, but also two actors, Matt Damon and Christian Bale, who consistently deliver incredible performances.

FORD V FERRARI is a three-hour biopic that captures not only the power struggle between the two iconic car brands and the big sports event set in the sixties, but also the corporate world. The narrative is enthralling and resonates with audiences on a human level. By exploring themes such as friendship, ambition, and the pursuit of dreams, this racing film goes beyond mere excitement.

James Mangold was an interesting director for this movie and outdid himself with his craftsmanship. Damon and Bale's strong performances heightened the film's adrenaline rush. It was interesting to see these two stars portray those historical figures. Their chemistry fuelled their dynamic, evident in their interactions and the connection they shared on screen. As for the supporting cast, Tracy Letts capitalises on his role as Henry Ford II, a character who exudes an implacable demeanour and an unrelenting determination to achieve his objectives. Jon Bernthal delivers a sharp, business-savvy performance as Lee Iacocca. Josh Lucas plays Leo Beebe, a smirking, sycophantic Ford manager, who clashes with Matt Damon's Carroll Shelby and never backs down.

I was impressed by the film's thrilling racing sequences, which made me feel like I was spectating an actual race. The choreography and stunt driving are impressively executed at high speed, creating an exhilarating experience. Phedon Papamichael's stunning cinematography further enhances the racing scenes with top-notch visuals and kinetic editing. The sound design is superb, as you will discover when the engines roar at full throttle! Marco Beltrami's score provides a solid musical foundation that mirrors the film's emotional range.

One of 2019's superb films, FORD V FERRARI is perfect for motorsport fans and lovers of biopic dramas. It offers a captivating blend of action, drama, and historical insight. Nobody should miss this movie. Here's hoping it lands in the Oscar race. I'd be disappointed if the film didn't win Best Picture.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

Back to Home