Le Mans 66 (2019)
- Movies With Morty
- Nov 5, 2019
- 3 min read
Should you take this film for a test drive?
Le Mans 66 (2019) tells the true story of how Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles (Christian Bale) try to make the fastest car in the world to beat Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans race. Written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller and Directed by James Mangold, the film is a fuel-filled adventure from start to finish which will have to clinging onto your seat for dear life from the fast paced racing.
Fresh from my viewing on an advanced screening of Le Mans 66 as part of the Odeon’s Screen Unseen, I am so happy to have finally seen one of my most anticipated films of the year, seeing it early is an added bonus.
From the moment the film starts you hear the roars of Fords and Ferrari’s fill the cinema and it gave me goosebumps, it’s a sound I adore so so much. Now I’ll say this from the get go, you couldn’t ask for a bigger petrolhead like myself so I was watching it harshly and making sure all the car terminology was up to scratch. I can safely say now if you are a massive car enthusiast like myself then you won’t be disappointed with the terminology used.
After the initial roars of the cars the film for me dipped a little, I was finding it a tad slow and was slowly getting disappointed, it wasn’t until around the 1 hour mark the film found it’s feet on the petals and thrusted me 280mph made me realise this is the film I’ve been excited for. Seeing a Ford GT40 drive at dangerous speeds down a test track and seeing it compete with a Ferrari at the Le Mans 66 race, I knew the film wouldn’t let me down.
Whilst the film is based on the rivalry between Henry Ford and Enzo Ferrari and who could make the fastest car in the world, the film for me was about Carroll Shelby‘s partner in crime, Ken Miles. The film explains to use the utter pain and misery Miles is put through by Ford businessmen and how they don’t really take shining to him because he doesn’t fit the look they are going for. Miles is a man who doesn’t listen to anyone and doesn’t allow men in suits tell him the gift of race driving and mechanics and I have to say he has my upmost respect.
Christian Bale is brilliant as the British born race driver and brings him to life on the big screen with charisma and laughter about him, I was very impressed by Bale for sure. I also want to express how happy it made me to see Jon Berthnal on the big screen, seeing him come from AMC’s The Walking Dead to where he is now is heart-warming and he actually survives more than 3 minutes of screen time in this film, I know remarkable isn’t it. It was also lovely seeing local Liverpool lad Jack McMullen in this film. I remember watching him when I was growing up in a British school drama called Waterloo Road and it’s amazing seeing not just local talent from Liverpool making the big time in Hollywood but also just how far he’s come as an actor, I’m chuffed for the guy.
To Conclude......
Le Mans 66/Ford V Ferrari (2019) will certainly please the car enthusiasts amongst us but also educate those who may not be upto scratch with cars and the terminology behind them and also the story on the bitter rivalry between Henry Ford and Enzo Ferrari, but the main story is scented around and pays respects to Carrol Shelby and Ken Miles for there outstanding efforts and contribution to the waging rivalry.
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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