Ford v Ferrari

You can read our full thoughts on James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari in our review of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray HERE.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment brings Ford v Ferrari to Blu-ray with a Digital Copy code. The Region Free, BD50 disc sits comfortably inside a blue, eco-vortex case with a glossy slipcover. After skipping a few trailers at startup, viewers are taken to a menu screen with full-motion clips and music playing in the background.

The sports drama races to Blu-ray with a stunning, reference-quality 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode. Directly off the digital assembly line, the freshly-minted transfer boasts razor-sharp definition in every scene. Even during the many action-packed racing sequences, the tiniest blemish in the interior and exterior of every vehicle is easy to make out. The stitching and threading in the clothing, furniture and surrounding foliage are distinct and detailed from a distance, and facial complexions are highly revealing with lifelike textures, exposing every pore, blemish, wrinkle and greasy smudge. 

Continuing the championship run, Phedon Papamichael's cinematography showcases a sumptuously bold array of colors from start to finish, especially the reds and blues of Shelby's GT40 racecar while Ferrari's vehicle is a garishly flamboyant candy rose. Meanwhile, the secondary hues are full-bodied and vibrant with the softer browns and various tans standing out while yellows and oranges have a warm, vibrant glow. 

Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the video runs laps in vividly intense contrast, showing crisp, radiant whites, from the paint job of the many racecars and various logos to the flags, clothing and in the numerous lights. Black levels are inky rich and luxurious with the most dramatic areas in the clothes, like Shelby's hat, and various aspects of the cars. At the same time, the image is bathed in ebony dark shadows that penetrate deep into the screen while maintaining excellent visibility in the murkiest corners and providing the action with an appreciable three-dimensional quality. (Video Rating: 98/100)

James Mangold's emotionally-driven sports drama races to home theaters with a magnificent, reference-quality DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, making every action setpiece superbly thrilling. Immediately, the room comes alive with the rumbling, thundering roars of high-performance engines as they loudly screech all around the listening area. Meanwhile, a powerfully potent and robust low-end resonates with a hard, grumbling growl, providing each vehicle and racing sequence with a commanding presence that digs as low as 15Hz on several occasions (bass chart).

At the same time, the surrounds are terrifically effective with cars zooming past the listener and smoothly panning in every direction, generating an awesomely immersive soundfield. Other atmospherics, like the chirping of bugs and the fluttering of the flags, are subtly employed while the commotion of the cheering crowds and the rattling inside each car echo all around. Amid all the chaos and mayhem, dialogue remains distinct and well-prioritized with crystal-clear clarity, and Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders' score exhibit rich detailing and warmth in the instrumentation. Imaging continuously feels broad thanks to background activity fluidly moving into the off-screen space while displaying superb definition in the mid-range, creating a captivatingly winning and highly-engaging soundstage. (Audio Rating: 98/100)

• Bringing the Rivalry to Life (HD, 60 min): Eight-part EPK-like doc exploring various aspects of the production with cast & crew interviews, BTS footage and info on the real-life events.
• Trailers (HD)

Based on the real-life rivalry at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race, James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari is a sensationally stirring sports drama that accelerates from 0-60mph in the opening moments and maintains top speed until crossing the finish line. Starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, Mangold's biopic of the two visionary engineers responsible for defeating Ferrari thrills with the same kinetic energy as the championship racing sequences. The film races through the Blu-ray speedways powered by a remarkable, reference-quality audio and video presentation. Although featuring a rather disappointing selection of bonuses, the overall package nonetheless makes a must-own addition to the collection.