#lemans66

Its the #AcademyAwards this weekend And here are my annual series of #alternativeposters for the #bestpicture #oscar nominees.

Who is picking up the oscar?

Available for #freelance #design & illustration projects www.mattneedle.co.uk

Small amount of Prints available via shop

Yesterday I went with hubby to watch "Cait's movie" . Even though I haven't seen so much promo on tv about, I knew I could expect a "full house" because germans are crazy about cars and Le Mans is just here in the neighbor country , that's meaning they grow up hearing about this race.

I confess that the one thing who motivated me to see the movie was to know that Caitriona was in it. As a fan I think it's very important to support her and Sam's works inside or outside Outlander.

I was expecting a movie about racing, but # LeMans66 is more than that.

The race is there in the background, but the film is about people's stories, not just in the context of the race, but how their decisions impact their lives and the life of others.

Caitriona plays Mollie, wife of the lead pilot - the legend Ken Milles - at a time when many women were just "someone's wife or someone's mother." But the side of Mollie showed by Cait is far from a shadow of the husband, she is essentially partner.

If you had or have a "stay at home mom" surely you will remember her, especially if you are someone like me who always hated when someone said "but your mom doesn't work". because I knew without my mother my dad and our house would fall apart. My parents had this kind of partnership (and I think they still have this in heaven)

Caitriona portrays the active, loving, demanding woman who understands cars more than expected.

Her acting is perfect, as always, and the proof that I wasn't being "blind just because I'm a super fan" is my husband (who also watches Outlander) he said he didn't recognize her.

She really had a background studying this character, the accent, mannerisms, facial expressions, all very different from how we're used to seeing in Outlander.

Of course she does not appear in every scene of the film, but where she is, she steals the scene, because Mollie brings humor, humanity and reality amidst a story full of ambition, dreams and tension.

I heard a lot of whispers "who is this actress?" Sign. I think only my husband and me were Outlander people there.

I'm also sure that I was the only there without a driver's license, unaware of car brands and that was never overly excited when the husband arrives with Formula 1 tickets.

It's fair to say I watched Formula 1 just for two reasons : Senna and Alonso.

But after yesterday I saw a side of racing that piqued my interest, the historical side, a time when a driver's skill was a keystone, when it took more hands than technology to put a good car on the track.

After the movie I turned my husband on Wikipedia and found out what everyone obvious already know about (but understand, I am / was completely unaware of the topic):

-The Le Mans race still exists, lasts 24 hours with driver changes.

-The cars are very different from formula 1.

-The winning car, driven by Ken was a Ford GT 40.

Watching a movie next to people who like speed was like seeing children in front of the slot car toy: they didn't even blink! So the fact that Cait aroused their curiosity "simply" because of her acting counts a lot.

A few weeks ago, a "fan" on twitter classified Cait's movie as a "men's" movie (and interestingly received support from one of the brazilian Cait's fanpage). It is necessary to break this taboo that women cannot be interested in this theme. I know many women that, in addition to interest in the subject, drive with passion, participate in championships and are excellent "day by day" drivers. The fact that I knew nothing about the subject is not because I am a woman, but because of a lack of interest, I am not interested in various things that society classifies as "feminine themes" as well. We must break this idea - if not because of us- at least because of the girls and boys who have the right to grow up without just having to like the "traditionally determined things" one.

So...I just want to say: watch FordvsFerrari, even if you're someone like me, who is slow to find the family car in the parking lot of the Mail.

And if you're like my daughter and my husband who "feels the cars," then be prepared because you will not take your eyes off the screen.

And yes, I stayed for the movie credits just to take a picture of her name. 💙

Not interested in racing? It doesn’t matter. At its core, Ford v Ferrari is not really about the driving, turns, or speed. It’s about the fire of competition. More than that, it’s about trying to do your thing within a prison-like corporate environment. The pulse-pounding driving scenes are merely a bonus after you become invested in the human story.

In 1963, Ford Motor Company Vice President Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) is horrified when his attempt to buy Ferrari instead lands it in the hands of Fiat. Humiliated, Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) is determined to beat Ferrari at their own game by defeating them in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) is hired to create a race-winning car and he selects hot-tempered British racer Ken Miles (Christian Bale) as the man behind the wheel.

The movie clocks in at 152 minutes but you’ll never feel it. The time spent with Ken Miles, his wife, Mollie (Caitriona Balfe), and their son (Noah Jupe) bonding over racing or worrying about the dangers of the track make you understand how important it is for him to win. You get to know the man inside the machine. Outside of their home, we see Shelby and Miles pouring blood, sweat, and tears over the vehicle destined to make history but then, here comes The Man. You’d think the villain would be Ferrari. Actually, it’s Ford. Too often, a suit comes around, dispensing around orders like they know what they’re doing. Can’t they see this car is a piece of art, that they’re going to ruin it with their focus groups and attempts to use this situation as a way to advance their own positions?!

You like Shelby because he knows his stuff and isn’t afraid to stand up for himself. You like Miles for his big mouth and attitude behind the wheel. Whenever he’s driving, he’s always throwing these smarmy remarks at his opponents. You’re laughing out loud, cheering him on and applauding the Ford team for their ingenuity as they defy all odds.

Ultimately, it all leads to that big race. This isn't a bunch of endless left turns, it’s 24 hours on a course that goes in all sorts of directions: weaving between other cars, pushing the limits of speed, and narrowly missing the wrecks of the opponents who failed. Where the story ends is one of those turns that could only happen in real life; no screenwriter would have the audacity to pull that kind of move. It's shocking. I loved it.

The race is gripping and superbly shot. Even better, the movie takes the time to show you the ins and outs of the sport so you understand what's at stake and then goes one step further by giving you real human drama to ensure you’re fully invested. A lot of great actors are given meaty roles and deliver their all. Ford v Ferrari is a crowd-pleaser. (Theatrical version on the big screen, November 19, 2109)