Ferrari, the latest fact-based film to hit the big screen, is a high-performing vehicle that still manages to drag a bit, despite the fact that it’s fueled by director Michael Mann’s clear passion for the material (his interest reportedly goes back to his film school days), and excellent performances by Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari and in particular, Penélope Cruz as his wife, Laura Ferrari.
The drama is set in 1957 and centers around the racing legend and his complicated personal life. While publicly he lives with Laura, his legal wife and the mother of a son, Dino, who has died, as well as his mother, Adalgisa (the excellent Daniela Piperno), he also lives in another part of town with his longtime live-in lover, Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley, playing a character who is much younger than the aged-up, white-haired Driver), with whom he has fathered another son, Piero (Giuseppe Festinese), that Laura doesn’t know about.
The angry, complicated relationship between the Ferraris kicks into high gear when an already heartbroken Laura finds out about the son. The passionate chemistry between Driver and Cruz makes their scenes crackle with life; unfortunately, the other part of the story — about Ferrari’s business woes coming to a head at about the same time in his life — could use a bit more fuel.
As bankruptcy stalks the company, Ferrari decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race, investing in five different drivers and cars to do a thousand-mile race across Italy for the iconic Mille Miglia. This sounds like it should be much more exciting than it actually is onscreen. While the scenery is indeed beautiful, and some of the drivers’ plots are affecting — in particular the star-crossed lovers Linda Christian and Alfonso de Portago (played by Sarah Gadon and Gabriel Leone) and aging race car driver Piero Taruffi (played by Dr. McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey, a real-life race car driver) — the personal and the business stories don’t mesh very seamlessly.
Plus, I found the personal stories moved more quickly and were much more compelling, which is less than ideal, especially when the setting is the world of race cars. All in all, I found the film worth seeing, but disappointingly not a must view, despite the great cast.
Ferrari is currently in theaters and streaming on Max. View the trailer here.
Premier Events
Fri, May 10
6:00 PM
Goleta
Beau James Wilding Band at M Special Goleta
Sat, May 11
1:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Camps, Classes, and Cones! Summer Program Fair
Sun, May 12
3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Visionaries Then & Now Concert
Thu, May 09
11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Friendship Center’s Mother’s Day Celebration
Thu, May 09
5:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Waldorf School Fundraising Presents: Live Music
Thu, May 09
7:00 PM
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School Presents: “Anything Goes”
Thu, May 09
7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10
10:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Covenant Living at the Samarkand Spring Art Show
Fri, May 10
12:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Mother’s Day Weekend at Art & Soul
Fri, May 10
6:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Crepe Paper Flowers Workshop
Fri, May 10
7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10
7:30 PM
Santa Barbara
Nic & Joe Play Roy
Sat, May 11
11:00 AM
Solvang
Moms 4 Mutts! Humane Society Fundraiser
Fri, May 10 6:00 PM
Goleta
Beau James Wilding Band at M Special Goleta
Sat, May 11 1:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Camps, Classes, and Cones! Summer Program Fair
Sun, May 12 3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Visionaries Then & Now Concert
Thu, May 09 11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Friendship Center’s Mother’s Day Celebration
Thu, May 09 5:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Waldorf School Fundraising Presents: Live Music
Thu, May 09 7:00 PM
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School Presents: “Anything Goes”
Thu, May 09 7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10 10:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Covenant Living at the Samarkand Spring Art Show
Fri, May 10 12:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Mother’s Day Weekend at Art & Soul
Fri, May 10 6:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Crepe Paper Flowers Workshop
Fri, May 10 7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10 7:30 PM
Santa Barbara
Nic & Joe Play Roy
Sat, May 11 11:00 AM
Solvang
You must be logged in to post a comment.