In the Top 10 of Netflix movies, there are always some hidden gems that nobody expects. Beyond blockbusters that have already been successful in theaters like Super Mario Bros., or original movies that have the platform’s favor like Damsel, there is always room for a high-quality film that didn’t have a big impact in theaters.
Right now, this is happening with Ford v Ferrari, also titled as Le Mans ’66. Directed by James Mangold, filmmaker behind Logan and Indiana Jones and the Fate of the Lost Dial, the film achieved a considerable box office of 225 million dollars with a budget of 97 in 2019.
However, the film did not reach as many homes as it deserved, since it is one of the best movies of that year, so its arrival on Netflix has given it a new life that undoubtedly cinephiles are taking advantage of to discover this gem. But what makes this movie special? You just have to approach it to realize.
Much more than a racing movie
Ford v Ferrari is, in short, a movie about racing cars. However, its narrative goes much further, and tells one of the most exciting moments of this sport closely linked to technological advancement in the sixties.
The film takes us back to 1959 to meet Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), who is at the top of the world after winning the most difficult race in motorsport, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But his greatest triumph is followed by a hard blow – doctors warn the fearless Texan that he has a heart condition that will prevent him from driving.
Instead of sinking, Shelby ingeniously reinvents himself as a car designer and salesman at a factory in Venice Beach with a team of engineers and mechanics including the irascible test driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale). An award-winning British race car driver, Miles is a family man and brilliant behind the wheel, but also excessively frank, arrogant, and inflexible.
When a Shelby vehicle surprises at Le Mans against the venerable Italian Enzo Ferrari, Ford Motor Company recruits the visionary to design the most advanced racing car: a machine capable of beating even Ferrari on the relentless French track. Ready to triumph even though they have all the odds against them, Shelby, Miles, and their eclectic team will challenge corporate interference, the laws of physics, and even their personal demons to develop a revolutionary vehicle capable of defeating all their competitors. But, unfortunately, their tireless effort will have its consequences.
Full of twists, moments of tension and thrilling races, the movie made it clear that James Mangold is not only a good action director, but also knows how to touch the hearts of his audience when he sets out to do so. Without a doubt, Ford v Ferrari is one of those movies that seem to come out of a blockbuster from decades ago… in the best possible way.
An extraordinary cast
The best thing about the movie is undoubtedly its leading duo. Matt Damon, the protagonist, manages to captivate the audience from the first minute. The actor combines his charisma from movies like Good Will Hunting or The Martian with the tenderness he shows in Up in the Air or The Talented Mr. Ripley. It is one of the performances of his career, although it may have gone unnoticed by the general public.
The same happens with Christian Bale. When he did Ford v Ferrari he had already been Batman and American Psycho, but he undoubtedly manages to squeeze his charisma to the maximum with a performance that is more reminiscent of the hilarious performance he had in The Big Short.
Both of them form a duo that is not easy to dismiss, and that is because they in turn portray real people in a story that they could firsthand know thanks to them. A huge interpretive exercise that adds to that of other actors in the cast like Jon Bernthal and Caitriona Balfe.
Without a doubt, Ford v Ferrari is a film worthy of both dedicating all your time to and watching on a Sunday afternoon marathon. It has all the ingredients to delight the general audience, so take advantage now that it has arrived on Netflix and give it a look as soon as possible.
