Fox (through its (relatively) new parent company, Walt Disney Studios) has unveiled the latest trailer for a film that has some of the most electric buzz of festival season, Ford v Ferrari.
The film, based on the extraordinary true story, follows those who sought to get the all-American company, Ford, to take on the gold standard in Formula I racing, Italy’s Ferrari. Specifically, Ford wanted to have a car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France with one intention only—victory.
Matt Damon stars as American car designer Carroll Shelby, who was tapped by Ford himself to create a car that would send seismic charges through the auto racing industry and assert America’s strength in the automobile realm that had only been dominated by European manufacturers.
They can build all the fast cars they want, but Shelby keenly knew that it would take an otherworldly gifted driver to ensure that all the money they spent on the car itself was not wasted. That arrives in the form of British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale). He is volatile, but Shelby has a history with the UK racer and believes that Miles is exactly who Ford needs behind the wheel to stand a chance at knocking Ferrari off the top spot.
After playing at Telluride and TIFF, Ford v Ferrari has already been hailed as one of the best movies of 2019. Judging by the above trailer alone, this news is hardly surprising. Damon and Bale look like they have crafted two characters whose friendship is palpable and is just one of the elements of director James Mangold’s latest triumph. The helmer, who gave us Logan and Walk the Line, knows a thing or two about directing talent to Oscars. Could Bale and Damon be looking at Academy Award nominations? Could be … but at this point I would bet that the film itself is a surefire Best Picture nominee.
Ford v Ferrari also features Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts and Noah Jupe.
Look for the film to get your engine revving on November 15.