Ferrari Movie Review

Ferrari (2023) Movie Review

One of Hollywood’s most versatile filmmakers working today, is without a doubt Michael Mann. His impressive filmography expands over 4 decades, with gritty crime drama being his bread and butter. Ever since his feature debut ‘Thief’ in 1981, Mann has tackled some of the best films of the past 35 years, working with top tier talent. Over the course of his career, you can really see the evolution of his craft, with films such as:

·       ‘The Keep’ (1984) with Scott Glenn and Ian McKellen

·       ‘Manhunter’ (1986) with William Peterson, Joan Allen and Brian Cox.

·       ‘The Last of the Mohicans’ (1992) with Daniel Day Lewis.

·       ‘Heat’ (1995) with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, and many, many more.

·       ‘The Insider’ (1999) with Al Pacino, Russell Crowe and Christopher Plummer.

·       ‘Ali’ (2001) with Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jeffrey Wright and Jon Voight.

·       ‘Collateral’ (2004) with Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx and Mark Ruffalo.

·       ‘Miami Vice’ (2006) with Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell.

·       ‘Public Enemies’ (2009) with Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard.

·       ‘Blackhat’ (2015) with Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis.

After an 8-year hiatus from feature films, Michael Mann returned to the big screen again, turning away from film noir and crime drama, to tackle the true story of Enzo Ferrari and the rise of one of, if not the, most iconic car brands of all time. Adam Driver stars as Enzo Ferrari, set in the summer of 1957, with Enzo Ferrari’s auto empire in crisis, the ex-racer turned entrepreneur, pushes himself and his drivers to the edge as they launch into the Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy. The film also enlists the talents of Penelope Cruz as Laura Ferrari and Shailene Woodley as Linda Lardi. This star-studded affair was a welcome return to form director Michael Mann, as he shows us once again, he is one of the heavy hitters still directing!

Ferrari really shines in its character drama. We have three of the most talented and versatile performers working today. Adam Driver is electric as Enzo, showing us his range as a dramatic performer once again. It's very easy for an actor to hide behind impressive make-up and rely on this to carry their performance, but here, Driver shows us that he is much more than a by-stander, truly capturing Enzo in essence, and selling one of history’s most impressive businessman drives and desire to once again be number one. Driver was incredibly unlucky not to receive more awards attention for his work here, in any other year he would have been honoured with an Oscar nomination, however, given how competitive the award circuit was this year, it's understandable that he wasn’t shortlisted. But still, there is no denying Driver’s ability here. The support work from Shailene Woodley and Penelope Cruz is also worth noting. Both deliver great performances, flexing their acting muscles against a truly committed Driver. They go toe toe-to-toe with Driver, sharing some great dramatic sequences. The cast is truly great, and not one I ever thought I would see share the screen together, which I think makes this film all the more memorable.

Michael Mann’s work behind the camera is another strong aspect of ‘Ferrari’ as well. His use of digital camerawork helped revolutionise the film industry for the better. Not many directors out there are able to capture action set-pieces quite like Mann. His work with the car and racing sequences is mesmerising, as you are left gripping your seat, in some of the best shot car racing sequences ever put to film. And when you consider the company that the statement keeps, Cannonball, The French Connection, Bullit, Ford V Ferrari and Gran Turismo, that is an impressive feat, even for the master filmmaker. It’s the tonal blend of drama and racing action that works for me. Sure, some have criticised its melodramatic tone, but for me, this is the film's strength. By blending these two elements together with poise and precision, Mann in turn makes you care more for the outcome of these sequences, as we realise it is truly life or death. Mann once again pushes the boundaries here of what’s possible behind the camera. There are some inspired decisions here from Mann and his ability to utilise sound, by draining dialogue and providing the real sounds of the car at work, is what makes the sequences so memorable.

‘Ferrari’ is a great racing, action film. The mixture of drama and breathtaking, pulsating action sequences really does make you feel like you’re in the driver seat. If you’re a racing fan and unfamiliar with this point in Enzo Ferrari’s illustrious career, then this is one for you. It's wonderful and so great to see Michael Mann directing again, I just hope we don’t have to wait too long between drinks again for him to direct another film. Ferrari is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray now, make sure you don’t miss out and pick-up your copy from Sanity today. Shop below. And for everything else, make sure Sanity is your one stop shop for entertainment!

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Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here