"Ford v Ferrari" can be literally translated as "Ford vs. Ferrari." Although the name is simple, rude and effective, it is about to continue the popularity of the classic racing movie "Rush" many years ago. This movie is still He was called "The King of Speed Cars."
Judging from the discussion on the Internet and the box office after the domestic release, "The Speed Car King" is not very popular, even if there are two familiar faces starring Matt Damon and Christian Bell, it has not been able to attract more attention. Many audiences... I was relieved after thinking about it carefully: the domestic lack of car culture that lasted for several eras, and the film has a very pure "American taste" , it will be somewhat unacceptable.
In recent years, American movies often tell more "universal" new ideas. On the contrary, traditional and simple values like "The Speed Car King" are rare. I would like to call it a simple "American spirit". Innocent, passionate, and irresistible, and the film's final examination and reflection on this spirit has brought the film to a higher level. It is retro but not stereotyped, reminiscent but not obsessed with it.
[Friendly reminder: There will be spoilers below. 】
"Speed King" is adapted from a true story. Designer Carol Shelby led driver Ken Miles and a team of American engineers to build a new car for Ford and defeated it at the 1966 Le Mans World Championship. Victorious general Ferrari.
Just by looking at the story background and behavior motivation, we can smell a strong "successful learning" (shuangwen) smell-let alone the two protagonists, let's talk about why Henry Ford II should participate in the competition, for promotion Car sales need golden ideas. In order to promote the brand's intention to acquire Ferrari to participate in the World Racing Championships, after the acquisition failed and was humiliated, he became angry and decided to beat Ferrari on the field regardless of cost... What an inspirational model .
Yes, Americans of that era were the most qualified and confident to issue such a proud declaration: seizing the opportunity of the two world wars, from a solid businessmen to a hegemony of the earth, huge and strong industrial productivity helped them master it. With more than half of the world's right to speak, "We are the smasher of the old order, and the old nobles and pride will inevitably be crushed by us."
Today's "Rust Belt" was continuously producing sought-after industrial products at the time, and business giants naturally became conquerors who made meritorious deeds and cracked the ground... Therefore, in the initial context of "Speed Car King", please Zo Ferrari is a pedantic and deadly remnant of the old era, while Henry Ford II is a challenger who forge ahead and write a new chapter.
Let's talk about the two protagonists in the film. Their character sets are more representative of the broad and grassroots "American Dream" image than Ford .
Although Ken Miles is a British racing engineer and driver, the film deliberately downplays his origins, making him look more like a seemingly ordinary American blue-collar with special skills.
Ken's nickname is "Bulldog". He has a stinky and hard temper. He doesn't fear power and doesn't flatter the powerful . He speaks with facts and skills. He puts on a posture of "life and death are indifferent, just do it if you don't accept it". , The key to doing things to relieve one's anger is really possessing the skill of slaying the dragon. Such a brave, fearless, fighting man is the epitome of the image of a traditional American hero.
Carol Shelby symbolizes another kind of American hero: a veteran who has experienced the prosperity of the world, lived a vulgar life but shed blood, and still shed blood and tears for dreams and perseverance.
Compared with the pure and unsullied Ken, Shelby is more "secular". He understands professional knowledge and racing spirit, as well as market rules and industry rules. He is a matchmaking middleman and lubricant, or a unscrupulous racer. And dream catcher.
Audiences will find that in addition to changing cars and racing cars, more achievements of the team are attributable to Shelby's unremitting efforts: even coaxing to get autonomy from Ford, disregarding the "plan/order" to allow willingness to take the car Increase it to 7000 rpm, find loopholes within the rules, and replace the brake parts. There are even small actions such as walking along the Ferrari chronograph and throwing a nut to mess up...
If Ken represents the simple, dedicated, aggressive, and stubborn side, then Shelby represents the reality, cunning, tough, and sleek side of the "American spirit" , and is not as "rigid" as the former, and the latter knows better. Perform extreme pressure and give it a go at the right time.
Although there is a big gap in how they behave in the world, Ken and Shelby are connected by nature. The film does not specifically describe why the two became friends, only through their daily communication (especially a fight). The passage of venting, and the conversation on the eve of Le Mans), we can understand that they belong to the same category.
Ken and Shelby are indispensable golden partners. They are also a perfect combination of two completely different "American spirit" temperaments. Such a trump card combination is bound to win.
However, the dual protagonist mode of "Speed Car King" still pushes Ken to the forefront position emotionally, after all, his image is relatively purer and more idealistic.
For example, Ken has a considerate and kind-hearted wife .
In fact, Molly Miles’s image is more ideal than her husband. She also loves cars and likes to smell the oil on Ken’s body. She supports her husband unconditionally almost all the time, and only complains when the family is about to break. , I am vigorous and vigorous when questioning, meticulous in understanding, getting a wife is like this, what a husband can do-in Hollywood, where true and false "feminism" are becoming more popular, traditional female roles like Molly are really rare.
For another example, Ken also has a clever son who still admires his own .
Unlike most film and television works today, there is no conflict or estrangement between Peter Miles and his father. On the contrary, he sticks to his father whenever he has the opportunity, and accompanies his father to watch, repair, and practice the car. , Racing car, in his eyes, his father is a rare strong man in the world, a hero who is rare to be rivaled. Apart from admiration, the eyes of the father and son looking towards the future are all ordinary... Such a warm and harmonious family relationship is not only typical , Is also an ideal.
It can be said that "The King of Speed Cars" is full of remembrances of the thriving "American Past" . The only person in the film who can be called the villain is Leo, the vice president of Ford, who represents the corrupt system and dark human nature. ... And Ken and Shelby's resistance to Leo also represents the "American Hero"'s counterattack against the "black-bellied elite & sinister villain".
Until the overall picture of the Le Mans World Championships is set, the film is trying to restore and explain the above-mentioned positive "American spirit", but in the next short period of time, "Speed King" has jumped several levels.
With Shelby's help and his own efforts, Ken has defeated the Ferrari team and all other opponents. He even defeated himself by breaking a lap record... What should I do next? Ken finally chose to return to the world, slow down and help Ford win the top three in a dramatic way, but he himself lost the championship.
According to the normal rhythm, Ken and Shelby should be unwilling and angry when they meet at the end, but unexpectedly they no longer have much emotional ups and downs-the ambitious Henry Ford II is a car seller after all. The nouveau riche, the sour and bitter Enzo Ferrari is a noble gentleman who really loves racing.
Before the ending, "Speed King" rethinks the heroism and American spirit that have been advertised and praised all the time. Even with many details before, it also changes in retrospect: dignity may be arrogance, ambition may be greed, and aggressiveness. It may be arbitrarily taking advantage of it, simply being used, dreams will also be polluted by utilitarianism.
According to this kind of thinking, it is not difficult to understand that Ken's death will be photographed later. If according to the general inspirational story, Ken and Shelby should stand on their own to defeat Ford in the coming year, but Ken died unexpectedly. Let them completely lose the chance of a comeback- "Speed Car King" wants to implement this "uncomfortable" thinking to the end: what have we had? What did we get wrong? What else can we do?
The film has been processed on part of the historical facts to make the theme expression more full. It allows me to see a good story with both "retro appearance" and "modern spirit", not to mention that there is still a lot of time. Praised and wonderful racing scene .
This is a good show, definitely worth your attention and fare.
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