I finally saw this, indeed a few years after it came out.

I have always been a Shelby fan, and a GT40 nut. This film takes place, for me, during the best times for both racing and production cars. It's an enjoyable film, with a lot of inaccuracies and events completely manufactured for entertainment sake. So, in other words, a Hollywood film.

What bothers me most is the casting of Matt Damon as Shelby. Shelby was a tough, leathery, crinkly, crusty guy that didn't mind getting greasy and dirty to get the job done. He was a man's man. When we see Damon with his clean, smooth face and actor looks, put on a cowboy hat and strut on out, it is laughable. He didn't even try. It's Damon with a put on accent, and for me, is quite a distraction.

Bale actually tries to look the part, captures facial expressions, and tries to create a character and melt into his part. For me it works, although I doubt the real Miles was as much of a hot head.

Some of the historical liberties are taken a bit too far. I doubt Shelby ever got into a fist fight with the guy he is hanging everything on to be his star driver...taking a risk of him breaking a hand, back, or other injury. I could go on.

The scenes with Miles' wife are about 3 too many, and the part of her in the car speeding to scare Miles into being honest with her is preposterous. It always bothers me when there is lazy writing involved having characters get into an argument without reason and overdoing it.

That said, there is some great racing footage and the action keeps the movie going. However, there is just something about the film that is odd. It just feels, just empty. We never feel like we are in a real place with real racing--there is little atmosphere at the racing locations--and so much just doesn't seem real.

These considerations left me a bit cold, and keep this from being a memorably movie.