A Hiccup on the Track: Mann’s FERRARI
With a lack of coherent storytelling, Michael Mann’s recent biography on the troubled founder Enzo Ferrari steps below expectations. The film attempts to juggle two parts of his life and tries to play them off one another until one or both fall due to his actions. While this is an interesting surface-level plot, the direction leaves the audience only with information that stays at the surface.
Separating these elements without a clear cause and effect contributes to a sense of disjointedness in the narrative. The racing sequences are hardly cinematic with the amount of camera shake used during the big race. It feels lazy sometimes, but bright spots appear in earlier scenes of the practice raceway, where tension is built through eye movement and Enzo Ferrari's professional demeanor. Its eventual climax prevents the film from keeping dull, offering a respite for an otherwise emotionless exploration of a deceptive man reluctant to share his challenging life with others. It comes at a late point in the film, though, so after it is over, the movie's tone shifts even further downward, while the emotional impact never hits home with the lack of character development. The emphasis on Enzo's battle between his different lives, including relationships with his two lovers and his obsession with racing, is chaotic and presents nothing meaningful. There is one specific scene where Enzo and his wife begin to argue, but it is short-lived and comes and goes without any focus on the words said. Adam Driver does surprisingly well in his role, but it is nothing unusual since the character is poorly written. His emotionless persona is neither exciting nor sympathetic. On the other hand, Penélope Cruz’s character carries a heavy burden in his personal life sequences and elevates every scene she appears in. Her portrayal feels authentic and lived in; it is easy to fall into her grasp, barring the emotional damage she endures while dealing with Enzo’s ferocious and unshackled masculinity. However, with no real depth to the other sides of the story, we, as the audience, are thrown into these problems and only get to see a part of the ensuing outcome.