Ferrari - 2023 Review: A Gritty, Handsome, Racing Masterclass

Ferrari

"Lead or Follow."

Rating: ★★★½

U.S. Release Date

December 25, 2023

Rotten Tomatoes

🍅 72% (Fresh)

Where to Watch

Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon

Official Synopsis

Behind the spectacle of Formula 1, ex-racer Enzo Ferrari is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their volatile marriage is battered by the loss of their son, Dino. Ferrari decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race—1,000 miles across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia.

🏁 Production Fun Facts

• Authentic Roar: Much like Miami Vice, the engine sounds were recorded from actual vintage Ferraris to ensure a visceral acoustic experience.
• No Driving for Adam: Due to insurance height restrictions, Adam Driver was not allowed to drive any of the period-accurate Ferraris during filming.
• Modena Roots: Michael Mann insisted on filming in Modena, Italy, utilizing real historical locations for total authenticity.
• Casting History: Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman were both attached to play Enzo at various points over the 30-year development of the film.

Production Information

• Director: Michael Mann
• Screenplay: Troy Kennedy Martin
• Cast: Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Patrick Dempsey
• Cinematography: Erik Messerschmidt
• Music: Daniel Pemberton

🎙️ The Director's Commentary (My Review)

Rating: ★★★½

Michael Mann’s passion project, thirty years in the making, offers an unsympathetic and unsentimental look at its title character. Enzo Ferrari fights to keep his company, his personal relationships, and his celebrity status alive during a turbulent and crucial period in his life.

While Adam Driver cuts a magnetic figure, successfully fighting to keep his Italian accent from falling into stereotypical territory, the film truly breathes through Penélope Cruz. Her standout performance as Laura Ferrari is the emotional engine of the story. This is an engrossing character study of a competitve artist who demands and strives for excellence. Even at the risk of his own character, family and being. Mann's steady, skillful hand guides this brisk, handsome, and entertaining tale, punctuated by breathtaking, riveting, and often terrifying racing scenes that power the action. It is a cold, calculated piece of filmmaking that serves as a worthy addition to the legendary Michael Mann's impressive filmography.

Pros

• Penélope Cruz delivers a standout, Oscar-worthy performance.
• Riveting and terrifying racing scenes powered by visceral sound design.
• A handsome, expertly crafted production from a master of the craft.

Cons

• The Italian accents can be occasionally distracting.
• An unsympathetic protagonist may alienate some viewers.
• The family drama pacing can feel heavy at times.

Final Verdict

A Gritty, Handsome Masterclass

Ferrari is Michael Mann at his most disciplined. It trades sentiment for grit, delivering a haunting look at legacy and loss. A worthy addition to one of the most impressive filmographies in modern cinema.

Read the review on Letterboxd

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