It's 1957. Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) finds himself at a crossroads. His famed car company may be "the pride of Italian industry" and the sports automobile of choice for kings and the wealthy, but his insanely high standards (and spending) have put the corporation on the brink of insolvency. His wife, Laura (Penelope Cruz), co-owns the firm. Complicating matters is Ferrari's womanizing which doesn't exactly help negotiating with his proud wife. Further, Enzo has a longtime mistress named Lina (Shailene Woodley) and an illegitimate son, Piero (Giuseppe Festinese).
Troy Martin Smith's screenplay tries to balance the personal with the public life of Enzo. The main event for Team Ferrari that year is the legendary cross-country Mille Miglia race where they will square off against their national rivals, Team Maseratti. The winner will not only have bragging rights - but, economic leverage. The personal story becomes a grand soap opera with egos a plenty - although none bigger than Enzo's. Tossed into the mix is a new hotshot driver, Alfonso De Portago (Gabriel Leone) and his 'Hollywood' girlfriend Linda Christian (Sarah Gadon).
Director Michael Mann is more confident on the track than off. The racing scenes have an energetic zest that makes up for some of the personal drama's weaknesses. Having the international cast of Americans, Spaniards and other Europeans (including actual Italians) all try to speak accented English becomes a circus of cadences which only adds to the stilted ambiance.
Fortunately, there is enough emphasis on the racing to keep things moving with strong cinematography by Erik Messerschmidt and terrific stunt driving including a harrowing and graphic accident sequence. Driver, as in GUCCI, does a serviceable job of playing an Italian industrialist. Cruz (who has played Italians speaking the language before and was terrific in that year's superior L'IMMENSITA) is fine in a fairly thankless role. Woodley isn't exactly convincing, but it's not a bad performance. The bulk of the cast is good in support.
Mann's FERRARI is serviceable, but doesn't elevate because of the rather bland and predictable behind the scenes melodrama, but it does roar on the track.
Troy Martin Smith's screenplay tries to balance the personal with the public life of Enzo. The main event for Team Ferrari that year is the legendary cross-country Mille Miglia race where they will square off against their national rivals, Team Maseratti. The winner will not only have bragging rights - but, economic leverage. The personal story becomes a grand soap opera with egos a plenty - although none bigger than Enzo's. Tossed into the mix is a new hotshot driver, Alfonso De Portago (Gabriel Leone) and his 'Hollywood' girlfriend Linda Christian (Sarah Gadon).
Director Michael Mann is more confident on the track than off. The racing scenes have an energetic zest that makes up for some of the personal drama's weaknesses. Having the international cast of Americans, Spaniards and other Europeans (including actual Italians) all try to speak accented English becomes a circus of cadences which only adds to the stilted ambiance.
Fortunately, there is enough emphasis on the racing to keep things moving with strong cinematography by Erik Messerschmidt and terrific stunt driving including a harrowing and graphic accident sequence. Driver, as in GUCCI, does a serviceable job of playing an Italian industrialist. Cruz (who has played Italians speaking the language before and was terrific in that year's superior L'IMMENSITA) is fine in a fairly thankless role. Woodley isn't exactly convincing, but it's not a bad performance. The bulk of the cast is good in support.
Mann's FERRARI is serviceable, but doesn't elevate because of the rather bland and predictable behind the scenes melodrama, but it does roar on the track.
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