LE MANS 66
***
Dir: James Mangold (12A, 152 mins)
A strong central duo and some exciting car sequences keep this biopic from staying in the pit stop, but its lengthy running time, often leaden character scenes and by-the-numbers presentation don’t allow this racing movie to truly burn rubber. Matt Damon plays Carroll Shelby, a former race car driver turned car designer hired by an atrophying Ford Motors to bring some pizzazz and publicity to their efforts to win the 24-hour race, Le Mans. He agrees only if he can have Ken Miles – an angular, tic-heavy, Brummie-accented Christian Bale – as his partner, helping him to design and ultimately drive the car they intend to make. And off they go test-driving cars while grumpy suits watch on like Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) and marketing man Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas). With such male-heavy, testosterone-fuelled subject matter, women characters are given short shrift, Catriona Balfe as Bale’s adoring wife in particular. Then again, this is film aimed squarely at petrolheads. Damon and Bale square off well against each other, bickering and bromancing, and the car race sequences are gripping, but with its bloated running time there’s maybe more to find here than a straightforward biopic. It’s well told with good performances but doesn’t quite reach the high gears of Rush.
Opens Nov 15
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