Ferrari Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Ferrari Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 20, 2024

Director Michael Mann hasn’t made a film since 2015’s “Blackhat,” a misguided and unexciting feature that represented a late career pull towards mediocrity for the helmer, who also suffered through some creative constipation in 2009’s “Public Enemies.” Going smaller and simpler, Mann returns with “Ferrari,” which isn’t a bio-pic of automobile titan Enzo Ferrari, but a moment in time with the man as he struggles with business and family, finding his renown focus starting to fail him as he begins to feel the weight of the world. There’s plenty of racing in the picture, but Mann and screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin (who passed away in 2009) hope to find a human experience as Enzo’s mistakes and gambles collide over the course of one important year. “Ferrari” isn’t Mann in epic mode, but he captures excitement on the track and pain in the heart.

In 1957, ten years after founding his automobile business, Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) is in a difficult position with his company and his family. Struggling to win races and bring the Ferrari brand name to the world stage, Enzo recognizes that all is not well with his organization, requiring a win at the upcoming Mille Miglia race to help maintain control of his company as financial woes force him to consider business partners for the first time. Enzo is married to Laura (Penelope Cruz), and the loss of their only son, Dino, has destroyed their union, but the reality of the Ferrari company keeps them together, with Laura a tough person capable of handling her husband’s professional needs. Enzo has a lover in Lina (Shailene Woodley), and a son in Piero, looking to keep this second family out of view, but pressures mount on the man to acknowledge the reality of his parental responsibilities. As domestic issues increase, so do racing needs, with Enzo and his Ferrari Team gearing up for the Mille Miglia, knowing it could possibly be his last stand as an individual.

Enzo isn’t a man who readily shows emotion. He’s an aging figure of industry authority who’s not comfortable with the press, often hiding behind sunglasses as he deals with outsiders. “Ferrari” takes place in 1957, with Enzo struggling to keep Ferrari afloat, unable, and unwilling, to meet consumer demands for “customer cars,” more invested in the needs of speed, continuing his youthful obsession with the world of racing, which is now populated with competitors. The writing (which adapts a 1991 book by Brock Yates) establishes financial woes for Enzo, who’s attempting to play publicity games while preparing for Mille Miglia, and it also explores his family life, with the icy man laboring to keep Laura stabilized and Lina happy, juggling the needs of these people, while little Piero provides a distinct complication.

Mann balances both sides of Enzo with care, giving “Ferrari” two distinct subplots to follow without disrupting the tone of the endeavor. It’s an impressive juggling act, following Enzo as he looks to build an unbeatable team, settling on hotshot driver Alfonso (Gabriel Leone), who comes with unique baggage, dating Linda (Sarah Gadon), a screen star capable of erasing Ferrari’s position in the press. Enzo’s broke, needing a win in the race to maintain control over his product, facing a future of unwelcome partnerships with Ford or Fiat if he fails. It’s the stuff of underdog cinema, but “Ferrari” also details questionable decisions in life and love, as Enzo struggles with the unimaginable loss of his first-born son with Laura, never successfully dealing with his wife or the tragedy. Enzo also carries a secret responsibility in Lina, who’s financially supported, but demands a decision pertaining to his plan of parenthood for Piero.

Ferrari Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Ferrari" captures the moodiness of the cinematography, which plays with light and darkness at times. Delineation is satisfactory, preserving frame information. Detail is strong, examining facial surfaces and period costuming. The world of racing is also textured with displays of cars and equipment. Exteriors retain the wide open spaces of rural Italy. Interiors retain clarity, exploring decorative additions. Color is direct, with bright primaries, including crisp reds on Ferrari racing cars. Living spaces retain cooler, moodier hues, along with the golden glow of sunlight. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Some banding is detected.

Ferrari Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DolbyTrueHD 7.1 mix primarily deals with the dramatic ways of "Ferrari," with most of the picture devoted to conversations and arguments between characters. Performances are crisp, with a sharp sense of accents and intimacy, preserving emotionality. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation and dramatic emphasis. Racing scenes obviously increase intensity, opening up the track with roaring engines and panning effects, also delivering a low-end rumble. Surrounds use such movement well, following speeding cars and spectator reactions, exploring sound effects. Atmospherics are also active with elements of nature and crowd bustle.

Ferrari Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Building the World" (4:42, HD) features interviews with director Michael Mann, cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, and actors Adam Driver, Shailene Woodley, Patrick Dempsey, and Penelope Cruz. The featurette examines the "deep dive" production effort in "Ferrari," with Mann's attention to detail and lighting (taking inspiration from Italian painter Caravaggio) celebrated by the interviewees. Some BTS footage is also included.

• "Building Perfection" (3:09, HD) features interviews with director Michael Mann, car bodies manufacturer Rita Campana, stunt coordinator Robert Nagle, and actor Patrick Dempsey. The featurette takes a look at the manufacturing of the stunt cars used in "Ferrari," created to replicate original designs and take a beating during race sequences.

• "The Mille Miglia" (3:23, HD) features interviews with director Michael Mann, and actors Patrick Dempsey and Adam Driver. The interviewees discuss the central race in "Ferrari," getting philosophical and very serious about the contest and its real-world dangers.

• "Adam Driver on Enzo Ferrari" (4:49, HD) features interviews with director Michael Mann and actor Adam Driver, who discuss the history of Enzo Ferrari and the thespian approach to the character. The relationship between Driver and Mann is also examined.

• "Penelope Cruz on Laura Ferrari" (3:49, HD) features interviews with director Michael Mann, and actors Penelope Cruz and Adam Driver. The trio detail performance choices and acting demands, with something as seemingly trivial as wallpaper helping to inform Cruz's performance.

• And a Teaser Trailer (1:31, HD) and a Theatrical Trailer (2:28, HD) are included.

Ferrari Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Ferrari" examines Laura's position of power over Enzo, learning more about the man as she gets closer to his relationship with Lina, recognizing some authority in the situation as her heart breaks. There are potent emotional exchanges, and focus on Piero's position as a proper heir to the Ferrari kingdom. There are also furious racing sequences in the feature, with Mann staying close to revving engines and sharp turns as cars are unleashed, adding some cinematic thunder to the effort, which also includes moments of astonishing catastrophe as accidents occur. "Ferrari" creates a smooth ride of personalities and churning feelings, boosted by fine performances from the ensemble, who don't slip into "House of Gucci"-style extremes to portray fraying patience and betrayals. Mann keeps the cast powerful and expressive, while Enzo remains a complicated person, with his concentration on the perfection of cars overshadowing the failures of his intimate relationships. It's merely a sample of the man's experience, but the picture captures the stress of living and the hard swallow of mistakes.