It’s been a rich year for biopics and a rich year for racing films. Those two things fuse together on Christmas Day as Michael Mann’s latest, Ferrari, opens wide for audiences. The film focuses on Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), who created the brand, following a key slice of his life.

The film is set in 1957. It’s a difficult period for Ferrari, who has worked to build his company into a solid and successful brand in the wake of World War II. While they’ve had some success, they need more financing to secure the future. But there are also looming questions about the future.

Ferrari is still grieving the death of his son and sole heir. It’s taken a toll on him emotionally, and on his relationship to his wife and business partner, Laura (Penelope Cruz). While they are both invested in the business, some of the passion between them has waned. It’s not helped that Ferrari is drawn elsewhere.

He’s years into an affair with Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley). Their child together could be his new heir—if only he can claim him publicly. With all this swirling in his personal life, Ferrari is also encountering his biggest professional challenge as his cars compete and need a great showing in the Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile road race.

Mann has been working for decades, producing a variety of compelling films on different subjects in different worlds. I’ve long appreciated the way he tells stories. Some of his films are among my favorite, which made me excited to see his take on this world.

This new film doesn’t disappoint. There is a lot that draws you into the story and the world. I appreciated the craft in building the period and setting, as well as building the characters and this love triangle at the center. It allows for the actors—particularly Driver and Cruz—to shine at times. It’s also the kind of slow burn drama that fans of Mann have come to appreciate.

What works best here, though, is the way he pours into the road sequences. The race scenes and really any time spent in the cars is thrilling. There is a key sequence, in particular, that is both captivating and haunting. It provides a great deal of the emotional weight and thrust in the later part of the film as well.

I enjoyed Ferrari. The performances and the craft are solid. It’s an engaging film that pulls you in and holds your attention throughout its run time. It’s not the best of the year, but it’s certainly a film worth checking out this holiday season.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.