If you like cars, speed, racing or the history of them as much as our Dad Contributor Ray, Ford v. Ferrari is a must watch. The film is based on the true story of two very passionate individuals Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles (Christian Bale) that come together to battle the challenges of corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own shortcoming to build a race car for the Ford Motor Company.
In 1963 the Ford Motor Company was struggling with sales. To boost their image, Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) proposed a bold marketing strategy – to win one of the most prestigious car races in the world – 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This marketing scheme made for a unique challenge; the Ferrari racing team had dominated the sport for four straight years, and Ford didn’t have a race car to beat them. Enter Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), a car engineer and designer that felt he knew what the company needed to win the coveted trophy. However, Shelby knew that no matter how good his automobile design was it would be worthless without a skilled driver that could handle the power. Enter the feisty Ken Miles (Christian Bale), whose unpredictable temperament is only matched by his expertise behind the wheel.
A mid-1960s corporate rivalry may not seem like the stuff of crowd-pleasing and family loving cinema, yet it’s portrayed with such dynamic and high-gloss surfaces, that it’s impossible not to be drawn in. The relationship between Ken Miles and his son Peter (Noah Jupe) proves to be heartwarming and familial, and pushes the pedal on the screenplay, keeping the film thrilling and surprisingly funny for the whole family.
