Ford v Ferrari (2019)
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A determined team of engineers and a daring driver must overcome corporate hurdles to build a race car capable of defeating the dominant Scuderia Ferrari.
The story
In 1963, Lee Iacocca proposes to Henry Ford II that the Ford Motor Company purchase Ferrari to boost sales. After a deal with Fiat allows Enzo Ferrari to keep his racing team, Ford orders his racing division to build a car to compete against Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. They hire Carroll Shelby, a retired driver, and his friend Ken Miles, a talented but hot-tempered racing driver and engineer. The duo must navigate the complexities of Ford's corporate culture while developing the Ford GT40 to challenge the dominance of the Italian racing team.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the failed purchase of Ferrari, Ford hires Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles to develop the Ford GT40. While testing the prototype, Miles identifies critical flaws that the company initially ignores. After a series of setbacks and internal conflicts with Ford's management, Shelby and Miles reach a deal: if Miles wins at Daytona, he will be allowed to race at Le Mans. Miles wins at Daytona, and the team moves to the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. During the race, the GT40 faces mechanical issues, but Miles manages to keep pace with the Ferraris. Despite internal pressure from Ford's executives to slow down for a staged photo finish, Miles continues to push the car. He ultimately finishes second, while the winner is determined by distance. Following a tragic accident during testing, Miles is killed, and the film concludes with a tribute to his legacy in motorsports.
- Original title
- Le Mans '66
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 152
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- James Mangold
- Writers
- Jez Butterworth · writer; John-Henry Butterworth · writer; Jason Keller · writer
- Cast and characters
- Matt Damon · not specified; Christian Bale · not specified; Jon Bernthal · not specified; Caitríona Balfe · not specified; Tracy Letts · Henry Ford II; Josh Lucas · not specified
- Genres
- biographical; sports; drama
- Themes
- determination; corporate vs. individual passion
- Tone and mood
- tense; dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; sports; automotive
- Source material / true-story basis
- Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans by A. J. Baime
- Content notes
- racing
- Reception
- The film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its performances, direction, and racing sequences.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 7.80 · scale: 10; Metacritic · score: 81 · scale: 100 · review count: 47; PostTrak · score: 87%
- Awards and nominations
- Best Film Editing · Academy Awards · 92nd · win; Best Sound Editing · Academy Awards · 92nd · win; Best Actor – Drama · Golden Globe Award · nomination; Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role · Screen Actors Guild Award · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to star Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.; The film was originally scheduled to be released on June 28.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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