Ford v Ferrari

Set in the mid-1960s, Ford v Ferrari is a biographical sports drama film that chronicles the real-life story of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles as they push the boundaries of automotive innovation to defeat the esteemed racing machine of the Italian icon, Enzo Ferrari, in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Directed by James Mangold, the film boasts an all-star cast, including Matt Damon as Shelby and Christian Bale as Miles. The story commences with the revelation of the limited success of American cars in international racing events, while the Italian racing machines of Ferrari have grown significantly in reputation and prestige. Ford's top executives, led by Lee Iacocca, a seasoned and ambitious manager played by Jon Bernthal, realize that to gain the upper hand, they require a more powerful engine for their upcoming Mustang model car. Iacocca becomes particularly interested in Carroll Shelby, a somewhat eccentric but gifted racing car designer and driver from Texas, when he witnesses Shelby's exceptional driving skills in a 1961 Ferrari 250 GTB driven by British driver, Sir Stirling Moss ,and quickly invites him to discuss an impending venture involving the development of a high-performance car based on the Ford-made chassis. Following a few initial conversations with the Ford executives, Shelby partners with Ken Miles, an experienced driver from Great Britain with a fiery yet soft-spoken demeanor. Shelby is confident that their combined talents will be instrumental in propelling his new car to the forefront. Ford is so eager for results that they invest millions in developing a top-of-the-line sports car that would enable the company to finally eclipse Ferrari at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. Under intense pressure from the company and as public attention rises, Miles struggles with personal issues, exacerbated by Shelby's less-than-responsible management approach. Despite frequent clashes with the tough-as-nails driving ace, Shelby unwaveringly stays committed to their ambitious goals. Miles sees an opportunity in driving for Ford as means of validating himself on the world stage and also making up for time passed in the racing world. Challenges quickly become apparent as Shelby, with racing dynamo Miles working with him, fights against time to meet the tight deadline of the Le Mans competition, in June 1966. He has only one more performance-producing drivetrain potential available from Ford, and he should build the real-world prototype which he creates in nine weeks so no time for errors or room for improvements. The clock is ticking away under increasing stress at their work-place, though he also learns that even some the top driver's techniques seem against the principles of physics, sometimes creating self damage before even finding a racing solution, proving yet another obstacle in constructing a breakthrough car. This racing reality weighs heavily on Miles, particularly in light of his relationship with Shelby. Though seemingly insensitive or tactless to Miles, Shelby's undivided dedication to the pursuit of victory transcends reason, eventually placing an overwhelming expectation on Miles who comes from conservative, risk-aversive upbringing. Additionally, Phil Remington, a steady Ford engineer who gets entangled in Shelby's personal nightmares of Ferrari while supporting Team Shelby in racing concepts development, always secretly betrays his two protégés causing immense heartbreak on their triumphant route to the esteemed Le Mans 24 hour title. Miles, eventually manages to reconcile his personal and professional issues as the 24 Hours of Le Mans draws near. On race-day, Shelby releases a pre-arranged fake finish-line with Miles at the wheel of the winning car to get his name plastered on history record, there remains some doubt surrounding the legitimacy and validity of this result in racing terms. Ford V Ferrari expertly lays out the incredible narrative of how genuine ingenuity will, sometimes ahead of the established conventional and uncontrolled opposition over an exacting context, always lead triumphantly toward the most high acclaimed human quest globally and in motorsport history known as Le Mans.