Movie Review: Ford v Ferrari

2019 awards season has just received a heavy dose of good ol' fashioned rousing American cinema. Ford v Ferrari is the ultimate underdog story that brings all of the cheers, smiles and warmth that the best films in the genre tend to deliver. Is the adversity-filled, establishment-challenging journey that rebellious "outsiders" Caroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles (Christian Bale) embark on as they try to bring glory to the long-suffering racing division of the Ford Motor Company that's gotten embarrassed by Ferrari year after year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Grand Prix radically different from the countless other sports biopics out there? Not particularly, but the sheer intensity of the racing sequences, sturdiness of James Mangold's direction and commanding power of its central performances allow it to be a very compelling everyman epic where the eventual triumph of the protagonists feels well-earned. Especially during a portion of the calendar where over-the-top artistic theatrics often take center stage, the simple, effective showmanship of Ford v Ferrari is more than worthy of admiration.         

Grade: B+