If any member of Michael Mann’s Ferrari racing team is unable to cross the finish line, the team members leave letters to their loved ones before the thrilling 1957 Mille Miglia race. These same drivers are told earlier in the movie by Adam Driver’s Enzo Ferrari that they must be prepared to die to win for the Ferrari brand. The owner of the firm, who was once a racer, refers to racing as a “terrible joy.”
Ferrari, Mann, and the late Troy Kennedy Martin’s screenplay for The Italian Job (1969) all regularly compare racing to war, which makes sense given that Italy and its people are still suffering from the effects of World War II. The Ferrari family is still in mourning for the people they lost in the past, the decisions they made, and the realization that they will never be the same. Making Ferrari less of a sports movie and more of an introspective portrait of the man who created the vehicle, Mann has created one of his best war movies since Collateral (2004).
What Is ‘Ferrari’ About?
Shailene Woodley‘s role, the title character of Ferrari, wakes up from her bed to see Lina Lardi, a woman he met during the war and has a child with. To avoid waking them awake, Ferrari rolls his car out of the driveway. He then speeds back to his wife Laura Ferrari(Penélope Cruz), who is enraged and quickly starts shooting her husband with a rifle.
Following this, Enzo began visiting his son Dino, who had passed away the previous year, at the mausoleum every day. He acknowledges that he always sees and hears the ghosts of his father, friends, and relatives. “I go to deal with today,” Enzo says after that.
This essentially entails attempting to keep Ferrari solvent. He needs outside funding because the company isn’t producing enough cars and will otherwise go out of business. Ferrari claims that his competitors, especially Maserati, simply want to compete to sell cars, but as a former racer, he claims that selling cars is his true passion.
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Ferrari’s Crucial Era with Alfonso de Portago, Peter Collins, and Piero Taruffi
With Alfonso de Portago (Gabriel Leone), Peter Collins (Jack O’Connell), and Piero Taruffi (Patrick Dempsey) on his racing team, Enzo hopes to win the Mille Miglia. Ferrari portrays a time in Enzo’s life that is crucial to the racing industry and automobiles in general, as well as to his personal life, with his business failing, his racing chances uncertain, and him divided between Lina and Laura.
Ferrari stays off the racetrack most of the time thanks to Mann, but when he does drive, the results are amazing. The craziness and surprises that demonstrate the true danger of the Mille Miglia are caught. The entire country of Italy appears to come to a standstill for this enormous competition. Racers collide, then jump into other people’s cars, leaving their debris behind.
Mann’s Cinematic Mastery in Capturing Ferrari’s Racing Odyssey
Thousands of onlookers congregate and wait around blind corners, hoping to catch a glimpse of the race. This race demonstrates the frightening risk that these racers take every time they get in their vehicles and also has one of the most terrifying and shocking scenes in Mann’s filmography. Here, Mann shines in conveying to us the thrill and addictive nature of racing before revealing exactly how awful it can get.
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Ferrari Review: Michael Mann Puts You in The Driver’s Seat
Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” is a riveting exploration of the flawed personality of Enzo Ferrari, expertly portrayed by Adam Driver. Mann’s adept direction and Troy Kennedy Martin‘s nuanced script create a narrative that delves into the relentless pursuit of perfection, both on the racetrack and in life.
The film captures Ferrari’s complex character, revealing a man who is never satisfied, always on the edge of disaster. Mann skillfully weaves the psychological race within Ferrari himself, portraying him as a genius on the brink of tragedy. Adam Driver’s performance is icy and fantastic, overcoming potential criticisms of his Italian accent to deliver a subtle and humanizing portrayal of a man teetering on the edge.
The pressure of perfection in Ferrari’s world leads to emotional distance, with almost everyone seen as disposable. Driver captures Ferrari’s struggle to maintain affection for the two women in his life, played brilliantly by Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley. Cruz, especially, delivers a stunning performance, injecting fire into the film’s engine and portraying a woman fed up with her husband’s icy detachment.
Set in 1957 as Ferrari approaches 60, the film unfolds against the backdrop of the racing industry he revolutionized. It explores legacy, loss, and the expectations of being a modern-day hero. The craftsmanship in “Ferrari” is impeccable, with cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt’s subtle tension, masterful editing by Pietro Scalia, and a compelling score by Daniel Pemberton.
While some may find a few scenes of financial concern excessive, it’s a minor quibble in a drama that deserves more attention in the crowded end-of-year season. Mann’s film stands out as one of the most well-made of the year, with top-tier talent elevating every aspect of its production. In a race of forgettable year-end releases, “Ferrari” emerges as a true contender, separating itself as a film that deserves to cross the finish line and be remembered.
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Summary
Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” explores the life of Enzo Ferrari, brilliantly portrayed by Adam Driver, focusing on the 1957 Mille Miglia race and the personal struggles of the racing legend. Mann skillfully navigates the psychological race within Ferrari, delivering a riveting and nuanced film with impeccable craftsmanship, standout performances, and a compelling narrative.