Yesterday I saw Ford vs Ferrari

Here’s my review, with hopefully no spoilers

Photo by Jannis Lucas on Unsplash

Sleek beautiful automobiles. What’s not to love about that? As someone who loves cars and loves speed, I was already sold when I saw the previews for Ford vs. Ferrari. Add in the spice of company politics, where the swarmy corporation is pitted against individuals who have integrity and panache, plus a little bit of romance, a few poignant family moments and some gritty humor and you have a winner, at least for those of us who love action dramas.

First of all, the story is compelling. Not just that pedestrian Ford takes on race car legend Ferrari. But layered on top of that is the concept of small timers Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles taking on the corporate players at the Ford Motor Company during its Motown peak.

How much of this is based on true events and how much is dramatized? I’m not sure. I know that the bare facts as presented actually happened. At the very end of the movie we get a glimpse of an old photograph of the real Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby. After seeing it, I’m even more grateful that Christian Bale and Matt Damon starred in this movie, instead of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. With cheekbones so sharp they could almost cut you, Bale looks more like the real Ken Miles. Aside from the purely physical perspective, though, Bale seems to seamlessly wear…