DETROIT (WWJ) - A movie that Detroiters will definitely be able to relate to is new in theaters this weekend. It's Ford v Ferrari, starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale.
Whether you're a racing enthusiast or not, you've undoubtedly heard of legendary race car driver and sports car builder Carroll Shelby. After all, he's the force behind the Shelby Cobra and Shelby Daytona, as well as the modified editions of Ford’s series of Shelby Mustangs.
In 1959, when Shelby was told by doctors that he could never race again, he was devastated. He had just won the most difficult of all races: the 24 Hours of Le Mans and he certainly wasn't looking forward to calling it a career. So, since he couldn't race any longer, he started designing and selling cars out of a warehouse in Venice Beach, California. One of the mechanics on his team was the very difficult-to-get-along-with test driver Ken Miles.
When Ford Motor Company tries to buy Italian car company Ferrari and the deal falls through, Ford strikes up a partnership with Shelby to design a race car that can beat Ferrari at Le Mans. Ferrari has dominated the race and Ford wants to make a statement.
But, Ford v Ferrari is more than a movie about a battle between two car companies. It's also about determination and a test of wills. Ford's first attempt at winning the race ends in bitter disappointment. Mainly because even though Shelby wanted Miles to run the race, Ford execs vetoed that and put someone in the driver's seat who they felt was a better fit with the image they wanted to portray. It was all corporate politics.
But corporate politics or not, Shelby knew what it took to win Le Mans and little did anyone know at the time that the future of racing was hanging in the balance. This movie gets a definite "must see" from me. I thought it was absolutely fantastic and I'm sure you will, too.
Ford v Ferrari stars Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby, Christian Bale as Ken Miles, Caitriona Balfe as Miles' wife Mollie, Jon Bernthal portrays Lee Iacocca, Josh Lucas is Leo Beebe, and Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning writer and actor Tracy Letts portrays Henry Ford II.
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Member:Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA)African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)SAG-AFTRA