Ford v Ferrari (2019)
- Before Matt Damon was cast, several major A-list stars turned down the lead role because they felt the script was too risky.
- The original script for Ford v Ferrari was written over a decade before production finally began in 2019.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing James Mangold's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
Ford v Ferrari is a 2019 American sports drama directed by James Mangold, based on the true story of Ford Motor Company's mission to build a race car capable of defeating Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. Matt Damon stars as Carroll Shelby, the legendary automotive designer recruited by Henry Ford II to lead the program, and Christian Bale as Ken Miles, a brilliant but temperamental British racing driver whose uncompromising perfectionism makes him both the team's greatest asset and biggest political liability. Christian Bale's portrayal of Ken Miles was a masterclass in physical and emotional precision β he captured the driver's intensity behind the wheel, his working-class pride, and his devoted family life with equal conviction, and his subtle expressions during the film's devastating final sequence communicated volumes without dialogue.
The racing sequences, filmed with IMAX cameras mounted inside and around real cars traveling at genuine racing speeds, were among the most thrilling and viscerally authentic motorsport scenes ever filmed. Ford v Ferrari earned $225 million worldwide on a $97 million budget and won two Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing, with four total nominations including Best Picture.
