Le Mans 66 film review

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Star – Bale & Damon My Rating *** Genre – Action/Biopic Run Time – 152 Minutes. Certificate – PG13 Country – U.S.A OSCARS – 2 Wins & 2 nominations. Awards – 21 Wins & 75 Nominations = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = If there is a must watch old style action movie to see in the coming Euro lockdown on your smart TV it has to be Le Mann’s 66, or Ford V Ferrari in American markets. Its 2.5 hours of star packed blue - eyed alpha males and nostalgic film making, here a version of events that saw the Ford Motor Company go head-to-head with Ferrari in the 1960s to produce the fastest endurance race car, the Americans desperate to break Ferraris dominance of Le Man’s and the European sports car market, the plan being the revolutionary Ford GT40 prototype going up against the Ferrari at Le Mann’s. Although the narrative has been tweaked to create drama and conflict between the two car behemoths it’s pretty much what went on and a super glamorous boys own story. ===Cast=== • Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby • Christian Bale as Ken Miles • Jon Bernthal as Lee Iacocca, vice president of Ford • Caitriona Balfe as Mollie Miles, Miles' wife • Tracy Letts as Henry Ford II • Josh Lucas as Leo Beebe, senior executive vice president of Ford • Noah Jupe as Peter Miles, Miles's son • Remo Girone as Enzo Ferrari • Ray McKinnon as Phil Remington • JJ Feild as Roy Lunn, a Ford engineer • Jack McMullen as Charlie Agapiou • Corrado Invernizzi as Franco Gozzi • Joe Williamson as Donald N. Frey, Chief Engineer of Ford • Ian Harding as Ford Executive • Christopher Darga as John Holman ===Plot==== Its 1963…. The Ford Motor Company are thriving and Vice President Lee Iacocca (Joe Bernthal) pitches to his boss Henry Ford II to try and buy the struggling Ferrari car company as a means to boost their sports car sales around the world. Owner Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone), however, is a wily old fox and uses Ford's offer to secure a better deal with Fiat , and one that allows him to keep complete ownership of Scuderia Ferrari. Ford Junior is insulted by this low ball move and, in response, sees a furious Henry Ford Junior demand his racing division construct a car to smash Ferrari at Le Mans. Iacocca hires Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), a serious race car builder and former Le Mans winner (1959) but Shelby forced to retire due to a heart condition. He will get all the resources he needs to build that car. It’s personal. Shelby’s go to driver is Ken Miles (Christian Bale), a somewhat less serious and hot-headed British racer and part time mechanic. Kens wife (Caitriona Balfe) is not keen on the two pairing up again although his young son Pete (Noah Jupe) loves the idea and proud of his dads racing career. The GT40 prototype arrives and the testing begins as Shelby upgrades the chassis, brakes and engine. Ken is not happy and lots to do. But Ford are not happy with the rebellious Brit’s attitude and want to appoint a more glamorous driver to race in France instead. Shelby has no choice but to dump on his friend. But it does not go well in Le Man’s in the 1965 race. Will Ford Junior accept the Ferrari humiliation and walk away from racing or will he let Shelby have his car and preferred driver and have another go? ===Results=== Although a long movie at 152 minutes the time flies by and an enjoyable old style movie to relish. It’s not quite as gritty as James Garner’s Grand Prix (1966) or quite as complete as cheeky as Rush (2013) but a hell of a lot better than Stallone’s ill thought out Grand Prix film ‘Driven’, known as ‘Drivel, now. It cost a respectable $97 million to make and director James Mangold didn’t waste a dollar as it looks great on it and not too reliant on CGI for period settings and races to clutter things. Considering the two A-list stars up front you have to be pleased to make such a long action movie for less than $100 million. Matt Damon looks nothing like Carroll Shelby though and Bale hams it up big time but with the handsome square-jawed, blue- eyed cast all around them and sexy locations the film oozes 1960s classic movie feel and prestige. Tom Cruise was considered for the Ken Miles role but you would need another $20 million for that to happen. The cars are authentic on screen and the race scenes OK. There could have been a lot more story about the actual events other than a somewhat fabricated feud between Enzo and Ford but wins you back on glamour and the fact you probably don’t know the story. As I say the sound and cinematography is strong and it picked up two technical Oscars for that. This is definitely one to rent for your 40 inch TVs guys. ===RATINGS=== Imdb.com 8.1/10.0 (256,324votes) Rottentomatos.com –critic’s approval Metacritic.com – 81% critic’s approval ===Trailer===