Ford v Ferrari

Now THAT is how you make a movie. This, quite simply, is just really well made. The directing is solid (especially the racing sequences), the editing is top notch, the leads are irresistible, and the pacing is so good that it only feels like a two-hour movie. For me, this is the perfect blend of drama and (racing) action. There's enough racing for racecar enthusiasts and enough drama for film enthusiasts. Bale and Damon are phenomenal together. One of my favorites from 2019. Go see it!

On surface level a wellplayed but thoroughly by-the-numbers biopic, that tweaks most story beat into almost comically dramatic conflicts. Below the surface though, it's a horribly bleak exposé of the corroding influence of money and corporate interest within a given craft, and the subsequent downfall of true mavericks submissive to this unholy patronage, and I would probably rate it higher if I was convinced that this was completely intentional...

Wish they went full ‘Rendezvous' by stripping the movie of its excess fat and focus solely on the racing, which was definitely exciting to watch. Phedon Papamichael shot this movie like a boss.

I am a firm believer that you don't have to break the mold or rewrite history in order to make a good movie. There is virtue in convention done well. That's what this movie is: conventional storytelling done very well. Bale in particular is dynamite, and it was at least a little refreshing to see Jon Bernthal NOT play an asshole (although he's a little underutilized for his talents). I was upset with perceived bad writing as the ending unfolded, before remembering this was a true story. Whoops!

The driving scenes towards the end are great, but there are also a few moments of comedy and emotion that are done extremely well. It's done so well that I never really noticed the long runtime.