‘Ferrari’
Manager: Michael Mann
Artists: Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley
Year: 2023
Premiere: 9/2/24
★★★
The film directed by Michael Mann presents a nuanced portrait of Enzo Ferrari that defies a traditional biographical outline. Rather than tracing every milestone across Ferrari’s life, it narrows its focus to a pivotal year, 1957, and invites viewers to observe the man behind the legend from a vantage point that emphasizes texture over triumph. In this portrayal, Ferrari is not merely a celebrated founder of an iconic racing dynasty; he is a complex, restless figure navigating ambition, risk, and the pressures of a demanding industry. The narrative highlights how a single year can reveal as much about character as a lifetime of public achievement, especially when the environment is as unforgiving as high-stakes motorsport. The performance delivered by Adam Driver renders the core traits of Ferrari with a mix of audacity, stubbornness, and strategic calculation. The actor captures the essence of a man who couples relentless drive with moments of vulnerability, a combination that invites the audience to question the cost of perfection in both business and personal life. Throughout the year, the story underscores the tension between the outward glamour of racing and the harsh realities that pressure the team, the sponsor relationships, and the founder’s own integrity. The result is a portrait that leans into the rough edges of entrepreneurship, showing how bravado can coexist with doubt, and how leadership often requires balancing daring moves with careful, sometimes risky, calculations in a world where fortunes swing on the outcome of a single race.
The film does not aim to be a conventional resume of Ferrari’s ascent. It deliberately eschews an exhaustive ledger of triumphs in favor of moments that reveal the human costs behind the success story. In these scenes, the viewer is drawn into the intimate spaces where decisions are made, from workshops and offices to the tense atmosphere of racing pits. The focus on 1957 emphasizes a year marked by pressure from rival manufacturers and the looming threat of financial strain, all balanced against the relentless demand for performance on the track. This approach shifts the tone away from a straightforward celebration of advance, instead presenting a measured, almost intimate examination of the pressures that accompany leadership under public scrutiny. The film’s framing often concentrates on dialogue and proximity—close-ups in garages, the hum of engines, the sharp edges of dealing with sponsors and competitors—creating a sense of immediacy that mirrors the pace of a racing season. In this way, the audience experiences a sense of urgency that matches the stakes involved, as every choice Ferrari makes seems connected to the fate of the team, his legacy, and the future of the brand.
While some viewers might compare this work to other intense, mid-century portraits of power, it distinguishes itself through its restrained visual language. The director favors intimate, contained spaces over sweeping, cinematic splendor. This choice amplifies the feeling that the most consequential moments happen off the grand stage, in the quiet calculations of the boardroom and the repetitive cadence of a day spent managing risk. The film does not boast a showy, blockbuster texture; instead, it relies on precision in performance, atmosphere, and the careful curation of scenes that build a mosaic of a man who is both a brilliant innovator and a man who must live with the consequences of his decisions. The narrative pace mirrors the cadence of a racing season—intense, occasionally breathless, yet capable of pausing for a single, sharp moment that reveals a shift in understanding about what is required to sustain momentum in a highly demanding field.
In terms of craft, the film’s strengths lie in the disciplined execution of its performances and the deliberate, almost surgical, precision with which key sequences are staged. The ensemble cast, led by Driver, is supported by Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley in roles that flesh out the broader ecosystem around Ferrari’s life. The interplay among these characters adds layers to the central figure, showing how relationships—professional partnerships and personal loyalties alike—bear on decisions that shape a company’s direction. The cinematic framework respects the complexity of its subject while avoiding sensationalism, encouraging viewers to assess what leadership truly demands when success is inseparable from risk. Overall, the movie offers a thoughtful, measured look at a year in the life of a man who defined an era in automotive racing, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with enthusiasts and historians alike.