THEY TOOK THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR A RIDE.
In 1963, auto designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and the British racing pro Ken Miles (Christian Bale) are hired by Ford to make them competitive in the Le Mans race. This drama, about Fordās decision to challenge Ferrari in the world of racing, follows two men who often find themselves at odds with their bosses, but also struggling with the technology at a time when the sport was quite deadly. Damon and Bale are very engaging, especially the latter (sporting a Birmingham accent) as the stubborn, hot-tempered driver; Tracy Letts is also a pleasure as ānot Henry Ford, just Henry Ford IIā. Long but worthwhile, with many dazzling moments and a stirring music score.
2019-U.S. 152 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced byĀ Peter Chernin, James Mangold, Jenno Topping. Directed byĀ James Mangold. Screenplay: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, Jason Keller. Music: Marco Beltrami, Buck Sanders. Editing: Andrew Buckland, Michael McCusker. Cast: Matt Damon (Carroll Shelby), Christian Bale (Ken Miles), Jon Bernthal (Lee Iacocca), Caitrona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas.
Trivia: Co-executive produced by Michael Mann. Alternative title: Le Mans ā66.
Oscars: Best Editing, Sound Editing. BAFTA: Best Editing.
Last word: “[Bale is] a model to me of artistic perseverance and flexibility. Heāll text you with thoughts and free associations about the character. Itās all incredible food. Heās a wonderful father, loving husband, great friend. Heās not interested in being famous. He drives a pickup truck, heās grounded in the world, he raced motorcycles but had to stop when he got hurt, when he had kids. There are so many parts of Ken in Christian, whoās a perfectionist. Heās trying to achieve something for himself. Itās magical to direct someone like that because they draw you into their own idealism. You feel that energy; it permeates the set.” (Mangold, Indiewire)