Thrilling and Satisfying

Rating: 9/10 (3 March 2020)

A popular film among audiences and winner of 2 Academy Awards, Ford v Ferrari appears to be a sleeper hit of 2019. It tells the true story of Caroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles (Christian Bale) as they work to get the Ford Motor Company a seemingly impossible victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. The performances from Damon and Bale are very good, giving us two easily likeable characters. It has these two determined men as they face opposition not only from the demand of making the fastest car in the world, but also from executives from the Ford Motor Company. Despite what the title may think, Ford is made out as a villain of sorts, even more than Ferrari. This isn't as much the story of Ford's upset of Ferrari as much as it is Shelby and Miles' upset of Ferrari.
What's best about this film is that it isn't as much a Rocky-esque underdog story as it is a story of passion. Ken Miles was satisfied with the outcome of Le Mans, even though he got cheated out of his rightful place at #1. He got his chance, he knew in his heart that he won, and that's what matters to him. Not only that, but there's the passion of Shelby to make the car to win the race while the corporate people at Ford just want the glory associated with winning. It's as much "Shelby and Miles v Ford" as it is "Ford v Ferrari."
The racing sequences are practically perfect, even from the perspective of someone who doesn't watch car racing. They're intense, fun to watch, and show excellent camera work. Most importantly, they capture the thrill of the race, aided through the movie's editing, which is as fast paced as the cars themselves. The film's editing is perfect. It didn't get the Oscar for nothing. Speaking of Oscars, it also won one for Sound Editing, which was also well deserved. The sounds of the race do their part to add to the thrill, a perfect combination of flawless editing.
Ford v Ferrari is an excellent film that serves as one of the most satisfying films of recent years. It's a perfect blend of story, character, and fantastic racing sequences. This is a must watch for car buffs, but also a definite recommend for anyone.