Re: Ford v. Ferrari reviews
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:10 pm
I regret to say I share Sabin' opinion (not to say I regret agreeing with him, but that I regret having to have the opinion). This is a far less interesting movie than I expected, based on the reviews and Mangold's previous work. It became clear early on it was going to be "cool rebels fighting the man", and some of the set-up worked (notably the meeting with Ferrari in Italy). But the bulk of the film was played at too broad a level, with all too predictable reversals and counter-reversals -- Bale won't be allowed to drive...but then he WILL be allowed to; who'd have guessed? (Apart from anybody who reads the cast list.) The worst of the film is Josh Lucas' character, who announces himself as chief villain in his introductory scene, and somehow manages to top himself in sleaziness every moment of the film, ending with a kind of silly last-second track outcome that may be actual but came off way hokey. The only real narrative surprise is that the film doesn't end with the shot of Bale/Damon walking off the track into the sunset (a shot I feel like I've seen end a hundred movies); but then, I'm not quite sure what was added by the film's last 15 minutes -- it felt like the epilogue of a different movie from the one I'd been watching.
And, as I believe Sabin said below, there isn't even anything special about the racing scenes. Maybe it's just because I'd become so bored with the story by then, but I found the endless loops around the track strictly repetitive and without visual or narrative interest. Honestly, I think you could edit in some shots from Grand Prix and it wouldn't have been that noticeable.
And, as I believe Sabin said below, there isn't even anything special about the racing scenes. Maybe it's just because I'd become so bored with the story by then, but I found the endless loops around the track strictly repetitive and without visual or narrative interest. Honestly, I think you could edit in some shots from Grand Prix and it wouldn't have been that noticeable.