New on DVD: Drama the driving force in ‘Ford v Ferrari’

An American car company goes into high gear in new DVD releases for Feb. 11.

• “Ford v Ferrari”: It’s 1963, and a livid Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts, in an absolutely dominating performance) demands new ideas from his employees, as the car manufacturer isn’t what it used to be in stature. Ford Vice President Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) pitches an idea to fuel the company into the racing world to increase sales, with a subsequent attempt to acquire the sleek and glamourous but broke Ferrari, the longtime winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. A furious Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone) backs out of the deal after Iacocca says his team would not be allowed to participate in the race and instead sells to Fiat, further angering Ford. The CEO declares they’ll a build a car that will beat Ferrari once and for all.

Enter American ex-racer and former Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British mechanic Ken Miles (Christian Bale), an odd couple up to the task. And it’s a big one, spanning several years of prototypes and close calls. But although the film’s title frames one rivalry, Ford’s internal company drama is its driving force (sorry).

It’s stylish filmmaking from director James Mangold and cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, and the script by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller provides a very human story amid all the metal.

Also new on DVD

• “After She Wakes”: A grieving mother and daughter develop disturbing sleep issues after a tragic death.

• “Greener Grass”: Two soccer moms (Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe) grapple with their relationships as they watch their sons play in this campy comedy.

• “Hell on the Border”: Ex-slave Bass Reeves (David Gyasi) becomes the first black deputy U.S. marshal in Arkansas.

• “In Fabric”: A newly single woman (Sidse Babett Knudsen) finds a show-stopping red dress that carries a nefarious curse in this horror comedy.

• “Preacher – The Final Season”: The apocalypse looms in the fourth season of the AMC series based on the DC Comics title with the same name. Cast includes Dominic Cooper, Joseph Gilgun and Ruth Negga.

• “Roma”: In 1970s Mexico City, a domestic worker (Yalitza Aparicio) takes a trip with one of her bosses (Marina de Tavira) and her kids. In Spanish, Mixtec and other languages with English subtitles.

• “Swamp Thing: The Complete Series”: Dr. Abby Arcane must save the town of Marais after a deadly threat emerges from the swamp in this DC Universe series starring Crystal Reed.

• “The Great War”: A group of U.S. soldiers fighting in World War I must save a platoon after crossing enemy lines.

• “Shutter Island”: The 2010 Martin Scorsese film follows a U.S. marshal and his partner (Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) who head to a remote asylum from where a murderer is said to have escaped. Being released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for its 10th anniversary.