How refreshing is it to have a new movie about cars and it's not called Fast & Furious? Dominic Toretto and his 'family' have always had a monopoly when it came to cars on the big screen. It's nice to see something different that's also based on real-life events. Ford v Ferrari stars Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby, a gifted automotive engineer, and Christian Bale as Ken Miles, a circuit-racing maestro. The two are pons in the battle for supremacy between American tycoon Henry Ford II and Italian sports car maker Enzo Ferrari.
It's a masterpiece but so was 2013's Rush. In the latter, Chris Hemsworth put down Thor's hammer to play James Hunt, a British playboy, and dexterous Formula One driver. Hunt had a great rivalry with Austrian driver Niki Lauda who is portrayed by Daniel Brühl (best known for his role as Fredrick Zoller in Inglorious Basterds). Which is the better film?
Updated by Colin McCormick on January 22, 2020: Ford V Ferrari is among the lucky nine films to have scored nominations for Best Picture at this year's Oscars. While it has some stiff competition, the movie still has plenty of fans cheering for it to take home the gold. With the ceremony right around the corner, we added a few more observations about what sets the James Mangold-directed movie apart from as well as why it might not be the best racing movie around.
Ford V Ferrari: The Underdog Story
The underdog story has long been a tradition of sports dramas and it seems to work even more effectively for racing stories. Both movies infuse their stories with some of these elements, even if they have to stretch the truth of history to do so, but Ford v Ferrari pulls it off more effectively.
Rush finds two racers at the top of their game competing. While they certainly face hardships in crossing the finish line in the final race, they don't exactly feel like the underdogs. Ford v Ferrari wisely avoids trying to make the Ford Motor Company seem like the underdogs by focusing on Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby attempting to achieve greatness while under the boot of corporate greed.
Rush: Niki Lauda
Both movies are filled with real-life and famous people and both films do a wonderful job bringing them to life on the big screen. The two films also feature eccentric and confident racers as central characters. Ford v Ferrari has Ken Miles while Rush has Niki Lauda.
As fascinating as Ken Miles is as a character and as wonderful as Christian Bale is in the role, Niki Lauda makes for the more interesting protagonist. His approach to racing is fascinating and his ego is massive but matter of fact as if he has no say of the fact that he's the best. It makes for a thrilling character to watch.
Ford V Ferrari: The Humor
Both movies do deal with the dangerous consequences of racing and the story does go to some very dark places in both instances. But the filmmakers seem to understand that this kind of story should have a lighter approach as well and they are injected with a good deal of humor.
However, Ford v Ferrari does pull off its humor better than Rush. Its comedy makes for some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments with Bale and Damon hitting that tone perfectly. Their fight on the front lawn alone is one of the funniest scenes of the year.
Ford V Ferrari: The Villains
Rush is a story of two men pitted against each other in competition, but they still are seen to have great respect for each other. It makes the characters likable but does rob the story of some tension. While smaller side characters serve as minor antagonists, no real villain stands out in the story.
Ford v Ferrari shows how effective it is to have someone to cheer against and in this case, it is the Ford Motor Company. The movie takes an interesting approach in making the racers the true heroes while the people they work for are dishonest, unqualified and easy to hate.
Rush: The Racing World
While they share a lot of similarities, both of these films take a look at very different aspects of the racing world. For Rush, we are inside the world of Formula 1 racing while Ford v Ferrari explores the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In the end, Rush is the film that gives us a far better sense of the sport. Ford v Ferrari focuses on the relationship between Shelby and Miles and their struggles with realizing their vision. We don't really get a good sense of the endurance race or what goes into that for the drivers. Rush is an interesting behind the scenes look at the sport and what these drivers face when they hit the road.
Ford v Ferrari: The Rivalry
Great rivalries aren't born from something as petty as "I don't like the way you look at me." A good rivalry is one where pride, honor or money is at stake. Lauda v Hunt happens because they are the two best Formula One drivers of the 1970s. Not bad.
In Ford v Ferrari, it gets more interesting. Henry Ford II adores racing but his company doesn't manufacture racing cars. He thus makes an offer to buy the cash strapped Ferrari company. The offer is rudely declined. Enzo Ferrari even suggests that Ford isn't as good as his legendary grandfather. “You’re not Henry Ford. You’re Henry Ford II.” Pissed off, Ford decides to build a race car to compete against Ferarri at the popular Le Mans competition. He hires Shelby (Damon) to make the car and Miles (Bale) to drive it. Now, that's a rivalry with a solid foundation.
Rush: Historical Accuracy
The real-life Niki Lauda itted that Rush is very accurate. In a 2013 interview with Carjam TV, he said: "When I saw it the first time, I was impressed. There were no Hollywood changes or things changed a little bit Hollywood-like. It is very accurate. And this really surprised me very positively."
In Ford v Ferrari, some details aren't entirely factual. For example, Miles’s death occurs from a fatal car crash while he is testing the J-type. It disappears around a sharp corner and crashes. In reality, the J-type rolled several times, throwing Miles out of the vehicle.
Ford v Ferrari: The Cars
Ford v Ferrari's toys are extremely gorgeous. At some point, you almost feel like James May is going to pop up and explain their features. Rush is limited in this area because it only showcases Formula One cars. The fact that Formula One cars didn't look so good decades ago doesn't help. But even outside the race track, Rush has a chance to showcase alternative personal cars but it still goes with cheap models.
In Ford v Ferrari, Shelby develops one of the most visually stunning American cars ever seen - the GT40. Despite having an angel of a car at his disposal, Miles still stares lustfully at a Ferrari before a race and says, “If this were a beauty pageant, we just lost." This statement puts a stamp on the high aesthetic standards of the movie.
Rush: Story Development
Rush did a way better job at showing the lives of its main characters off the track. The movie cared about family and social lives, providing non-racing fans with a reason to be emotionally invested. Hunt was a wild soul who drunk heavily, did drugs and slept with nurses, air hostesses and literally anyone he met. Lauda was an introvert. When he met his future wife Marlene, she even doubted that he was a formula one driver because he didn't have the stereotypical macho look.
Ford v Ferrari didn't bother itself much with developing off-track storylines. Besides arguing with her husband, Miles’s wife, Mollie (Caitriona Balfe) wasn't given much to do. In Rush, both Hunt and Lauda's wives are given plenty of screentime. Hunt's wife fights with him constantly and eventually divorces him. Marlene is the ive wife who sticks by Lauda even when his face is deformed.
Ford v Ferrari: Star Power
Everyone loves a movie with a couple of stars in it. Chris Hemsworth is hard not to recognize but the same can't be said about Brühl, despite the fact that he has been nominated for 45 awards throughout his career. On the contrary, Christian Bale and Matt Damon are just as popular as the Ford and Ferrari brands.
Despite getting rave reviews, plenty of people still aren't aware that Rush exists. A beautiful piece of art is of no great use if it isn't seen by a lot of people. The main cast of Ford v Ferrari piques anyone's interest. Oh! That's Christian Bale and Matt Damon? I loved The Bourne Identity. Let me go see what they are up to.
