Ford v Ferrari (2019)

The critic praises the film's high-velocity bromance powered by zesty acting and Mangold’s meticulous direction, while highlighting the gripping racing sequences in the final act and the contrasting central performances of Bale and Damon.

The critic praises the film's playful energy, Bale stealing the show as the eccentric driver, and the exhilarating racing climax that makes it a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.

The critic calls it James Mangold’s strongest film yet, a character study strapped into an action flick that explores pride and rivalry between the leads and their corporate bosses.

The critic calls the film a frequently silly but richly entertaining and hoot-worthy romp with a gleefully larger-than-life performance from Christian Bale as Ken Miles. The cockpit scenes, Bale's comic timing and the climactic race sequences are singled out for praise despite tonal oddities.

The critic highlights the full-throttle racing sequences and charismatic performances as strengths, noting that they fuel an otherwise standard sports movie, with the film delivering most effectively in its physical, on-track elements.

The critic calls it solidly entertaining Friday-night pulp with strong performances, especially Bale's, but notes it is risk-averse and does not push boundaries.

The critic views the film as an old-fashioned, luxuriantly mounted Hollywood drama about men, cars and masculinity that will appeal to petrolheads, with strong character work from the leads. The visual style and central performances are highlighted positively amid a mixed overall verdict.

The review notes the story of competitive friendship between the leads but criticizes the lack of focus on Ferrari and corporate meddling as the main conflict, while praising the racing sequences.

The critic describes it as a dynamic, precision-engineered crowd-pleaser with visceral racing sequences and appealing performances from Bale and Damon that ground the story in personalities and process.

The critic finds the drama formulaic and sentimental but notes that testosterone-fuelled racing scenes and the lead performances salvage it from its duller moments.

The critic finds the film a lethargic epic that plays to nostalgic reveries of the auto industry's golden age but praises its added cynicism about corporate interference undermining individual achievement. It notes strong moments balancing racing drama with behind-the-scenes conflict in the final act.

The critic finds the film a slick, thrilling and well-paced sports biopic that effectively frames the Ford-Ferrari rivalry as a clash between mavericks and corporate suits. The race sequences and the sparky central friendship between the leads are singled out for praise.

The critic calls it a full-bodied and exciting true-life story in which the men behind the wheels are just as dynamic as the machines they drive. Fine lead performances by Christian Bale and Matt Damon anchor a well-built vehicle with strong dramatic and historical underpinnings and a sure directorial hand.

The critic finds the film a pleasant surprise and solid, satisfying real cinema, praising the lead performances by Christian Bale and Matt Damon along with the boardroom and racing drama interplay.

The critic hails the film as an old-fashioned rouser with new-fashioned virtuosity, praising Mangold's hyperkinetic yet honorable style that puts viewers inside the cars. It highlights the heroes' physics-savvy expertise and the cannily underdog American premise against corporate interference.

The critic calls the film a rousing and compelling racing drama that rises above its formulaic structure through Mangold’s sharp execution, masterful craft, and expert performances. Damon and Bale’s chemistry and the outstanding racing sequences are singled out for particular praise.

The critic praises the thrilling racing sequences and the chemistry between Bale and Damon as a likeable double-act in this underdog sports tale, while noting it follows familiar genre beats and could be tighter.

Mangold delivers a smashing, crowd-pleasing entertainment that excels as both a racing drama and a character study of two mavericks battling corporate suits. The film is praised for its top-notch cast, especially Damon and Bale, along with expert direction, script, and crafts that make it big-screen moviemaking at its finest.

The critic finds the film thrilling and exciting whenever it is on the track but dull and clichéd off it, with a paint-by-numbers script. They single out the cast performances, especially Bale’s energetic turn as Miles, for praise amid the mixed verdict.

The critic calls it 2019’s most purely exhilarating night out at the cinema, an old-fashioned rip-roaring studio movie elevated by Mangold’s direction. They single out the superb racing scenes and the winning double-act of Damon and Bale for particular praise.

Mangold’s film is a joyful celebration of the kind of big-studio, character-driven movie with spectacular racing sequences that Hollywood too rarely makes anymore. It singles out Bale’s transformative performance as the volatile driver Ken Miles and the chemistry between the leads for making the story sing.