8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
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: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (224 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
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 on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. The closing credits offer a helpful "captured by Alexa" logo and the IMDb lists this as having been finished at a 2K DI, but I have to say detail levels frequently struck me as at least close to a 4K DI look at times. Fine detail is really exceptional throughout the presentation, offering great, virtually palpable, looks at elements like the kind of tufts of twine or string they tie onto a car fairly early in the story to see how air updrafts are preventing higher speeds. Other admittedly mundane things like the texture on some of the period outfits are also typically excellent. The palette is very nicely suffused and natural looking (aside from some nighttime photography, there's very little that looks artificially graded or lit). There are a couple of very brief slightly noisy looking moments during some of the interior car scenes during races, but this is another stunner of a Blu- ray disc from the typically reliable folks at Fox.
Ford v Ferrari features an incredibly bombastic and immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. Surround activity is notable from virtually the get go, as the roar of revving engines spills through and around the soundstage before the film even really begins. The racing sequences of course provide the "showiest" sequences for sound design, but there are some really evocative moments in "quieter" scenes, as in the subtle ambient environmental sounds in a touching scene between Ken and Peter on an isolated racetrack at night. There are at least a couple of pretty spectacular crashes offered in the story which also provide some great effects work. Dialogue, effects and score are all rendered cleanly and clearly, with excellent fidelity and very wide dynamic range.
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, and the making of featurette included is very well done. Highly recommended.
2023
2018
Shout Select
2013
Theatrical & Director's Cut | Limited Edition
2006
2022
30th Anniversary Edition
1990
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1987
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Remastered
1986
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