Review: Ferrari

Image courtesy of Neon.

The inevitable crash occurs late in "Ferrari," Michael Mann's latest opus about a complicated man, and we've long been expecting it. In this case, it's a literal crash, a horror show in which one of Ferrari's race drivers loses control of his vehicle and plows into a crowd of spectators during a race in which Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) had hoped to revitalize his flagging company.

But a crash of some sort was expected. Ferrari, whom we learn was a race car driver himself early in his career before founding his exotic car company shortly after World War II in Italy, is teetering on the edge throughout the course of the picture, which takes place in the late 1950s.

Enzo's relationship with his wife, Laura (an excellent Penelope Cruz), is rocky to say the least. An early scene in the film finds Enzo sneaking home after a night with his mistress, Lina (Shailene Woodley), with whom he has a son about whom his wife has no idea, and Laura confronts him with a gun, shooting a hole in the wall near his head. He has broken their arrangement: While out galavanting with his lovers, he must arrive home in the morning before the maid.

Ferrari's company is also on shaky ground. His accountant tells him that he is burning through more money than he is making to pursue his passion project - winning races with drivers behind the wheel of his Ferraris. There are rumors that other car companies - Ford and Fiat, for example - are considering stepping in, thereby likely relinquishing the power that Enzo and Laura have over their own company.

And, of course, there's his aforementioned relationship with Lina and the young boy - Piero - who is their child. Enzo is clearly torn between his relationship with Laura, whom he loves but also thinks more of as a business partner, and this younger woman. So, when the crash finally comes, it's been long expected.

The film's focal point is Enzo's plan to win the 1957 Mille Miglia, an auto race totaling more than 900,000 miles set along public roads throughout Italy. Ferrari's main competitor in this race is Maserati. Enzo hopes that if his cars win the race this will spark new interest in Ferrari and, therefore, he'll sell more cars and save his company. He enlists a number of drivers - including an older driver (Patrick Dempsey) and a young hot shot (Gabriel Leone) with an actress girlfriend (Sarah Gadon).

Similar to other Mann films, "Ferrari" is an exploration of what makes a complicated and flawed man tick. The director, who found fame in the 1980s due to his creation of "Miami Vice," has long been one of Hollywood's best creators of stylish dramas and action films - most notably, "The Insider," "Thief," and "Heat." 

"Ferrari" might not rank among Mann's best, but it's an engrossing and, as always, visually impressive picture, from the early backroom scenes that have a "Godfather" vibe to the intense racing scenes. It takes a measured approach in its first half but switches gears during its final third with the Mille Miglia. Cruz is terrific as the no-shit-taking Laura, while Driver gives an solid, icy performance as the iconic carmaker. It feels as if "Ferrari" has gotten a little lost in the shuffle of end-of-the-year films, but it's one that's well worth seeing.