Ford v Ferrari

Carroll Shelby is a former racer turned designer who teams up with outspoken British driver Ken Miles to build a race car fast enough to take on Enzo Ferrari at Le Mans. They push engineering limits and test human endurance, while dealing with Ford executives who want a marketing win more than a racing car. The film follows their work in workshops, on test tracks, and in tense boardrooms, showing how personal ambition, technical stubbornness, and real-world danger collide as they prepare for the grueling 24-hour race in 1966.

Directed by James Mangold and released in 2019, the screenplay was written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and Jason Keller. The movie stars Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as Ken Miles, with strong support from Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, and Josh Lucas.

Critics responded well to the film, highlighting the chemistry between Damon and Bale and the visceral quality of the racing scenes. Reviews praised the film's balance of character work and technical detail, noting themes of friendship, stubbornness, the costs of ambition, and the clash between creative skill and corporate priorities.

The movie's on-track sequences and attention to mechanical realism reignited interest in 1960s motorsport among general audiences and car fans alike. Scenes from the film have been shared widely online, and its depiction of teamwork and mechanical ingenuity has made Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby more visible to people who weren't familiar with their real-life stories.

At awards season the film earned several Academy Award nominations, including a Best Picture nomination, and it won two Oscars. It also received multiple other nominations from film groups and critics circles, reflecting the industry's recognition of its technical craft and performances.