Ford Vs Ferarri

 For the uninitiated, Le Mans is a pretty big deal. It makes up one of the races you have to win to earn the Triple Crown of Motorsport (Monaco Grand Prix and Indy 500 make up the other two) of which only one driver, Graham Hill, has ever won. The film is centred around the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, focusing on Ford’s on track and off-track battle with super car company Ferrari (who had previously won the past five races at Le Mans). In a bid to put a halt to the fledging sales, Ford decide to bring in Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) to help them build a car that will beat Ferrari at Le Mans and he knows just the guy who could win it for them, only problem is this guy, Ken Miles (Christian Bale), isn’t Ford material. 

If you ever go to a go-kart track, or any racing venue (in the UK at least), you will always see a sign that warns of the dangers of motorsport. Motorsport is deadly, and the 60s was a particularly deadly time for the sport and there is always this air hanging over the film that something nasty is looming. The film manages this well because it keeps it subtle enough for those who don’t know anything about motorsport and will be left shocked by the horrendous accidents and those who know of the sport’s deadliest years can sense something may happen.

This uneasy feeling stems from the intensity of the racing scenes. It’s also an etched on the face of Ken Miles’ son (especially having witnessed Ken’s own massive accident). Like the Formula 1 thriller Rush (about the James Hunt – Niki Lauda rivalry), Le Mans captures the excitement, danger, romance and the allure of racing on the very edge, potentially being one second, or one tiny error away, from death. The danger is captured in the ferocious, fiery accidents, and excitement captured in the brilliant editing and sound design that puts you right in the centre of Ken Miles’ daring drive to the finish line.

Of course, this isn’t just a racing movie. The film has appeal to fans and non-fans of the sport alike. There’s a good, poignant father-son relationship which gives the film some emotional weight. It’s far more interesting than the husband-wife relationship which feels like a rather lame attempt to not ignore women entirely. There’s also a battle between the mechanics and drivers with the executives of Ford which can be seen as a battle between art and commerce. Whilst the Ford executives are seen as the bad guys getting in the way of sporting passion and integrity, it’s strange the film attempts to sell them as an underdog when they’re one of the biggest car companies in the world.

However, this is a minor problem because you’re supporting Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles all the way, hoping they’d stick to those business minded, smug Ford executives whose ugly cars in their ugly factories are a world away from the beauty and romance of racing. They are presented somewhat as the pantomime villains, especially Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas) whose constant meddling in the racing craft of both Miles and Shelby shows Ford value branding and marketing over unaltered sporting success. 

The sometimes strained, but always respectful relationship between Shelby and Miles is perfectly captured by the effective Bale-Damon chemistry. The performances of both Damon and Bale (it’s odd seeing him with a British accent even though he is British) help keep their partnership one that’s enjoyable to watch. The performances are great, but credit has to go to James Mangold who helms the action brilliantly, making sure even non-racing fans find the racing thrilling in a film that never runs out of gas.

4/5