For the better part of 20 years, director Michael Mann (Collateral, Thief) has wanted to tell the Enzo Ferrari story. He was even briefly attached to direct the 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari that was eventually helmed by James Mangold (although Mann still retained an Executive Producer credit). Now, he’s finally getting to tell his Ferrari story with the simply titled Ferrari.
Ferrari stars Adam Driver (The Last Duel, Annette) as ex-racecar driver and automobile industry mogul Enzo Ferrari. Enzo’s company is on the verge of collapse, so he decides the best way to save it is to win the ill-fated 1957 Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1000-mile race across the roads of Italy.
Along with attempting to salvage his crumbling empire, Enzo also has to balance a wife who is grieving from the loss of their son (Penélope Cruz from Parallel Mothers) and a mistress with whom he has had another son (Divergent’s Shailene Woodley). Enzo’s life gets more complicated when all these facets converge on him.
It’s easy to see why Michael Mann wanted to make this movie. It’s got just the right combination of dramatic intrigue and adrenaline-fueled action to seem like an ideal passion project for the filmmaker. Mann really is the perfect director for the high-octane story.
Adam Driver is the anchor of the movie. Enzo is a ruthless businessman but is also very passionate about what he does. At one point, when speaking of his chief rival in the Italian auto industry, he says “Maserati races to sell cars, I sell cars to race.” Driver plays Enzo with the emotional disconnect that comes with being a commercial tyrant. Even when confronted with death and destruction, he remains stoic and puts up a strong front, only breaking down privately.
Enzo is a scoundrel, but a sympathetic one. He outwardly will do anything to keep his company afloat, but inwardly, he mourns his dead son while caring for his live one. Driver walks this line well and gives the type of performance where he seems to become Enzo. There is no Kylo Ren here. The only weak spot is his distracting Italian accent, but that could be said for most of the cast.
While Adam Driver owns the first two acts, Mann takes the wheel (get it?) for the third. This is where the grueling race happens, and Ferrari becomes a real Michael Mann movie. Those familiar with the outcome of the 1957 Mille Miglia will be impressed with how historically accurate the film gets. Those unfamiliar…well, let’s just say, it’s a shocking ride.
Michael Mann chose the right project, as Ferrari is an upgrade from Ford v Ferrari. There’s still a rumored Untitled Formula One Racing Movie coming from another filmmaker who was slated to direct Ford v Ferrari at one point, Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. Details are sketchy about that, but the chances are it won’t be as good as Ferrari. Michael Mann has set the bar.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content, language, graphic images, and some violent content
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Release Date: December 25, 2023
Studio: NEON
