8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.9 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Josh LucasAction | 100% |
Biography | 28% |
Sport | 15% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional)
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Chris Rock got off one of the better jokes in last week’s Academy Awards telecast when in referencing Ford v Ferrari he stated, ““I gotta tell you I’ve got a Ford, I got a Ferrari. It ain’t even close. That’s like Halle Berry versus gum disease.” As undeniably hilarious as that line is, it’s probably salient to note that gum disease often ravages smiles as gorgeous as Halle Berry’s, even if Ms. Berry herself has not (yet?) succumbed to such an issue. In that regard, it probably goes without saying, at least for car and/or racing buffs, that as iconic as Ferrari’s reputation in the racing industry both was and is, Ford did in fact manage to defeat the Italian automobile giant at Le Mans — repeatedly. The rivalry between these two automotive titans had been kicking around Hollywood for years, as is discussed in the in-depth series of featurettes included as supplements on the Blu-ray disc, but in this particular case, the wait was definitely worth it, for Ford v Ferrari is one “racing film” that could very well appeal to those without one whit of interest in professional racing. The film very smartly concentrates on characters rather than the races themselves, though there are certainly enough racing sequences to satisfy any fan of films like Grand Prix and/or Le Mans (it’s notable that Le Mans might have been retitled Porsche v Ferrari , and also that this very film was rebranded as Le Mans 66 in some foreign markets).
Ford v Ferrari is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. As mentioned in our Ford v Ferrari Blu-ray review, this was captured with Alexa cameras and reportedly finished at a 2K DI (according to the IMDb), though, as I also mentioned in the review of the 1080p Blu-ray version, detail levels often struck me as being at "real" 4K levels even in that presentation, and that is certainly the case here as well. The uptick in general clarity and overall detail levels is apparent from the very first POV shot in the movie, a shot of a speeding raceway covered in mist seen from Carroll's perspective. But fine detail levels are often noticeably improved throughout this presentation, and the increased saturation of the palette with some really appealing highlights courtesy of HDR is also quite noticeable. I was actually kind of awestruck by some of the reds in the presentation, including Carroll's "private" car early in the film and, later, one of the racecars at Le Mans. There's a kind of interesting peach hue to some scenes now that wasn't quite as prevalent in the 1080p presentation, including the Ford plant sequence where Henry Ford II makes his peculiar speech to the assembled masses, and even some of the later outdoor material. One thing that really struck me as noticeably different about this presentation was the much more evident digital grain that has been added. It frankly barely rose to a level of general notice when I watched the 1080p version, but here it's unmistakable, clearly visible in many of the outdoor scenes especially, notably when bright skies are in the frame, as in the sequence that introduces Carroll and Ken "together" for the first time, or even in the charming nighttime - sunset sequence with Ken and his son. This particular aspect didn't always strike me as looking completely organic, but it also didn't rise to the level of a major distraction for me personally.
This is yet another release where I have already given top marks to the 1080p Blu-ray'a audio presentation in DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, and so can't "officially" score this as anything better, other than to say the 4K UHD's Dolby Atmos track is one of the all out most enjoyable tracks this particular audiophile has had the pleasure of listening to. Engagement of the Atmos channels is evident from the get go, with roaring, revving engines and multi- lingual voices hovering in midair, along with the already aggressive "traditional" surround placement the 7.1 core offers. This is yet another Atmos upgrade which both figuratively and literally elevates the whole listening experience; all of the fantastically well placed effects of the "regular" surround track remain intact here, but there's a new vertical dimensionality that is really appealing and often just kind of giddy feeling. Dialogue, effects and score are all rendered flawlessly on this hugely enjoyable track.
The 4K UHD disc does not sport any supplements, and so the score above reflects that lack. For information on the supplements included on the 1080p Blu-ray that's also in this package, please see our Ford v Ferrari Blu-ray review.
I admit I'm something of a vintage car nut, so the chance to see a bunch of mid-sixties (and earlier) cars, both race and everyday family variety, was really fun as I watched Ford v Ferrari, but it's commendably the human story here rather than any technology that really elevates this film and gives it such power (horse or otherwise). Smart, instantly accessible, characterizations provide nice emotional anchors from the get go, and the two focal characters are unforgettable. Some of the subplots and supporting characters are frankly a bit cliché ridden, but Ford v Ferrari is so consistently engaging it hardly matters. Technical merits are first rate, with a clear and convincing upgrade to audio and some appealing upticks in detail and palette highlights in the video department, albeit with what was to my eyes a much more noticeable layer of digital grain. Highly recommended.
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