SummaryIn the summer of 1957, ex-race car driver, Enzo Ferrari, is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing 10 years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for one son and the acknowledgment of another. He decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race – 1,000 mi...
SummaryIn the summer of 1957, ex-race car driver, Enzo Ferrari, is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing 10 years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for one son and the acknowledgment of another. He decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race – 1,000 mi...
The race itself is another of the movie’s astonishing set pieces; Mann and cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt give it a fresh sense of vroom, even if you think you’ve seen all the movie car races you’ll ever need.
"Ferrari" is very well made and brilliantly engaging film that overcomes its under driven narrative to deliver a very complex biopic. It's a phenomenal return to form for Michael Mann telling the story of Enzo Ferrari during only a brief period in his life over the course a few days in May of 1957 during the 24th Mille Miglia auto race. Throughout "Ferrari," Mann and the script by the late Troy Kennedy Martin (1969’s The Italian Job), frequently equate racing to war which makes sense considering Italy and its people are still reckoning with the pains of World War II. The Ferrari family is still grieving the losses of their past, the choices that were made, and the understanding that they’ll never be the same again. By making Ferrari less of a sports film and more of an introspective look at the car creator, Mann has ended up making a very intricate racing film, his best work since 2004's "Collateral." At first it feels like the story moves a little slow but once you get into it and see the events that transpire it all starts to come into place. Adam Driver gives a convincing performance as Enzo and Penélope Cruz gives a magnetic performance as his Laura who knows how to put him place. The film really comes together in the last act which culminates with tragic accident of 1957 Mille Miglia that shows how dangerous the undertaking of racing is. From the gorgeous cinematography by Erik Messerschmidt, the mesmerizing Daniel Pemberton score, a towering performance by Cruz, and Martin’s screenplay that reflects as much on Enzo’s personal battles as well as his public ones "Ferrari" isn’t just an impactful look at grief, it’s also constantly shows us the highs and lows of every day, and how we must take the good with the bad, and Mann does that by making this film both heartbreaking and effective. It's really worth a second viewing.
Although there's sometimes a disconnect between parts of the story that deal with Enzo's personal life and the frenetic racing scenes, they somehow work together in tandem, combining to create one of Michael Mann's most emotionally satisfying films in years.
The racing sequences have enough energy and jeopardy to raise the pulse rate, but the rest of Ferrari... well, surely a film about high-speed cars shouldn't pootle along as slowly as this one does.
Among the undercooked female parts, Cruz converts a nothing wife role into fabulous distress. Even she can’t save Ferrari. Who knew a film about fast cars could be such a slog?
I enjoyed this movie so much, every Michael Mann movie is so special. There are millions of dollars worth of vintage cars. I could find no anachronisms because they were so careful with details. This movie literally had me at the edge of my seat at times. Very good acting all around and a fascinating story!
Ferrari had all the ingredients to stand out as one of the best films of the last awards ceremony and one of the most impactful of the year. With a pair of renowned protagonists, such as Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz, and the direction of Michael Mann, responsible for portraying the story of a prominent figure in the automotive world, expectations were high. However, what is planned on paper doesn't always materialize effectively in **** of the main criticisms leveled at the film was the attempt to simulate an Italian accent in a production with a strong North American bias. Although this was initially disconcerting, it wasn't the determining factor in the negative reception; other elements played a more significant role.Speaking of impact, this is one area where 'Ferrari' left something to be desired. Considering Enzo's relevance in the automotive universe, it was natural to expect more racing scenes and a deeper approach to the relationship between Enzo and his cars, as well as the family legacy he carries. However, these aspects are treated superficially in 'Ferrari'. The racing scenes fail to convey the emotion and adrenaline expected, concentrating more on Enzo's interpersonal conflicts, turning the movie into one big "Casos de Família".Despite the efforts of Adam Driver on stage, who delivers a reasonable performance, the highlight falls on Penélope Cruz, unfairly excluded from the Oscar nominations for her performance, losing her place to Annette Bening in 'NYAD'. Although she has less screen time, Cruz shines in each of her appearances, demonstrating talent and dexterity in her acting.Another highlight of 'Ferrari' is its exceptional sound mixing, a surprising aspect that inexplicably didn't receive its due recognition in last year's Oscar nominations. Michael Mann's ability to capture the sound of the track scenes is remarkable, as this element becomes more than a mere complement, it is essential for the viewer's immersion. The absence of this rich sound would completely compromise the emotional impact of the **** short, 'Ferrari' is a movie that could have reached higher heights. Despite the outstanding elements, the stellar cast and the competent direction, the production fails to achieve the expected impact and brilliance. Despite some positive points, the film can't escape the superficiality and lack of impact that characterize it.
In between unnecessary sex scenes, terrible visual effects, irregular pacing, questionable casting decisions, and the always unbearable feeling of seeing characters from other countries speak English with an accent, there is a good movie about Enzo Ferrari. Adam Driver does not disappoint as the iconic businessman and racing enthusiast, but he needs to move away from Italian roles ASAP. Penélope Cruz, on the other hand, understood the task very well, and her character's frustration gives life to a story that doesn't know if it wants to focus on racing or the tragedy of a family on the verge of psychological and economic collapse. Sports fans may feel a little cheated because it's not until the third act that they'll get their reward, but boy is it worth it with the way Michael Mann captured the speed and tension. On the other hand, those looking for good cinema will probably not come away convinced with a movie that feels close to what Ridley Scott did in 'House of Gucci.' A better editing would have helped a lot.
Comme d’habitude, il faut prendre des pincettes, historiquement parlant, car après tout, il s’agit d’une biographie très romancée à un instant ‘t’, à un moment clé de la vie de l’homme de la marque légendaire ! et pour incarner le salopard, l’enfoirnaze de ‘Commendatore’, c’est Adam Driver qui s’y colle ! t’as compris la blague ? Adam Driver !
Ce n’est pas un mauvais acteur en soi, je dirais, mais il n’est pas forcément très bon, d’autant qu’il a une tronche de cheval… une tronche de cheval cabré ! et de cheval-vapeur. Et il mange des lasagnes. Et il conduit une 403, putain ! ça m’a tué presque tout le film, ça. Une putain de 403, t’es sérieux, là ? c’est un film sur Columbo en fait, on s’est trompé !
Sinon bah, c’est un film qui déboulonne le mythe si je puis dire, un film à charge peut-être mais tout de même… sa pauvre femme était bonne poire, elle aurait dû coulé la boîte et lui dire ‘vafanculo’… surtout que c’était elle, la ‘cornuta’ ! certes, on savait la réputation impitoyable du gars mais là, franchement, c’est dur. C’est peut-être à cause de Pénélope Cruz qui incarne à merveille, cette femme brisée, flouée et trompée… mais ça tue l’ambiance, c’est clair. Et la légende.
Peut-être aussi à cause d’Adam Driver qui ne peut éviter la sortie de route, qui sait ? difficile d’éprouver de l’empathie pour lui, contrairement par exemple au Napoléon de Ridley **** tout cas, le film s’appesantit beaucoup trop sur le psychodrame familial et ne démarre la course qu’après une heure vingt ! Et là heureusement, c’est un festival de mécaniques enragées, une extase devant les courbes des Ferrari et Maserati et nos oreilles sont en pâmoison devant le chant des moteurs (un pur enchantement !!).
La réalisation est de bon aloi malgré hélas lors de la course proprement dite, une propension à bouger et faire trembler la caméra dans tous les sens, ce n’est pas très sérieux. Quelques moments émouvants lors des accidents (en dehors de Pénélope qui ne verra jamais Ulysse) ou juste après… la course était impitoyable et il était judicieux et nécessaire de le montrer… mais pas avec des images de synthèse qui font pitié !
Finalement, ce film reste étonnamment décevant. On reste sur sa faim, la légende est souillée et ce qui fait et a fait Ferrari, l’essence même de Ferrari (bientôt des merdes 100 % électriques bien sûr) est escamoté. Heureusement que les vraies bagnoles, ces furies du temps jadis sont encore là, elles parlent mieux que n’importe quel scénario ou film !
After sufficient time passes and it becomes ok to be sincere, people will go back to this movie and realise how poorly made it was, how uneven editing resulted in a bad product with incohesive narratives and an overall forgettable experience. This is a bad movie, that is not worth your precious viewing time. There are other choices in automotive cinema that are much better filmed and are worth your time. Pick them instead. They tried to make this one work, with a weird focus in an even weirded time for Enzo, only to create a mediocre film.
Production Company
Forward Pass,
Storyteller Productions,
Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment,
Esme Grace Media/COIL,
Ketchup Entertainment,
Red Sea Film Fund,
STX Entertainment