Rent Ferrari (2023)

Ferrari (aka Enzo Ferrari) review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

The life of Enzo Ferrari was not exactly one that would make for the most heartfelt inspirational racing biopics akin to Ford v Ferrari or Gran Turismo. It’s a story of affairs, business, egotism, and a brutal car crash. However, it does make for an entertaining drama where you’re not watching with anticipation for Ferrari’s car to win the race but to see how many more cars will fly off the track. NASCAR rules, I suppose.

Michael Mann is the right type of director for this kind of project. He directs Adam Driver to play Ferrari as a man who knows enough of cars, is driven to succeed in business on his own, and struggles to keep his sexual affair behind a closed door. With his sharp look, he favors what will be best for his legacy rather than those around him, be they family or country. It’s why he seeks an affair with the younger Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley), who can provide a son for him, who he keeps at a distance but still loves. Compare that to the crumbling marriage he has with the bitter Laura (Penélope Cruz), having grown cold since the death of their child. Considering how casually Laura fires guns towards Enzo in their home, things are not looking good at home.

The business side isn’t fairing too well for Enzo, either. He struggles to get his auto business off the ground, trying to find the right merger for his company and the right driver to represent his brand. But that drive ultimately undoes the ambitious racer Alfonso de Portago (Gabriel Leone). Trying to find the best way to stay ahead like Enzo, Alfonso saves time by not changing his tires. This ends up in a significant accident that kills several people, including Alfonso. The eventual continuance of Ferrari as a business is a bitter one.

Mann’s direction leans toward what becomes most appealing in this story. Cruz’s performance is vital as she’s the most critical of Enzo on a business, personal, and sexual level, where she eats up the screen anytime she is present. The car crash doesn’t hold back on the violence, showcasing the bloody, gory, and sickening carnage that unfolds when cars are not adequately maintained. There are stakes here that don’t come off like melodrama.

The part of the film that doesn’t work as well is when the film favors Italian accents in English for the characters. Cruz does a good job, and Driver’s accent is okay here and there. Shailene Woodley, however, sticks out like a sore thumb for her lack of accent, which hinders her performance. Considering how crucial her character becomes to Enzo’s legacy, there are a lot of off moments any time she occupies the screen. Compare her with Cruz's powerhouse performance, which is like night and day and becomes more distracting than the decently shot racing footage.

Ferrari has some kinks in its engine, but it mostly succeeds at portraying the hideous nature of the man behind the most famous cars. The story is kept personal and emotional rather than getting lost in the intricacies of business or the thrill of racing. There should be some warning here for those hoping this is on the same level as Dadcore as Ford v Ferrari. It’s not a love letter of that sort, and it’s sure to leave even more disgust for the company’s legacy than that aforementioned film. It’s a mixed bag of performances that becomes mildly intoxicating for a story worth telling, warts and all.