Now, before you non-F1 fans dismiss Ron Howard’s latest movie, hold on just one second. I like you, have very little time for Formula One, and motorsports in general. But I have absolutely heaps and heaps of time for a movie about a famous Formula One rivalry, and so should you.
Following the story of James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl), Rush centers itself on the 1976 F1 World Championship season and its ensuing rivalry between our two characters. Hunt, the stereotypical British bad boy / playboy and Lauda the stereotypical Austrian, full of precision and enough anal retention to well….you get the drift. Culminating in the last race of the season where either Lauda (after an amazing comeback following a horrific crash) or Hunt can take home the championship. Regardless whether or not you know the story (I didn’t), Rush makes for a tense and gripping, let alone exhilarating trip to the cinema.
Besides the incredible likeness of Hemsworth and Brühl to their real life counterparts, the casting of these two is spot on. Hemsworth knocks the whole playboy thing out of the park while still bringing a great deal of humanity and sincerity to the role. He walks a fine line between arrogant ash-hole (as Lauda would say) and Mr. Nice guy, and pulls it off incredibly well. But it’s Daniel Brühl; who, besides sporting a phenomenal likeness to Lauda, will blow you away time and time again. The pretentious tone he has, the eyes and the commitment to his sport that is portrayed on screen is simply brilliant, in particular the post accident scenes, while tough to view, are mesmirising.
While it would be quite easy for a movie like this, to feature nothing but race after race, Rush delivers far more than that. The majority of the season’s races are handled in a montage sequence, with some key races been played out in exhilarating and exciting set pieces, which will have you clinging onto the edge of your seat. Its what goes on in between is what will have you glued to the screen. The pacing, the dialogue and especially the characters are instantly likeable and will have audiences hanging onto their every word. The way Ron Howard and his crew have portrayed the two characters and their, at times, playful interactions is a superb spectacle to watch. Instantly engaging and completely engrossing.
Visually, Rush delivers yet again. Using camera lenses from the 70’s it looks completely authentic all the time. Some smart phone users may well be reminded of an Instagram filter at times, but the look alone is perfectly convincing. The attention to detail on the cars, the crews, the costumes and everything else is spot on. At times, it’s really like looking into a window to the past, and in places, theres little snippets of what I believe to be the original footage from some of those races, which ramp things up even more.
The sound mix is also something that will knock you on your ass. Within seconds, it very easy to hear that alot of love, care and attention has gone into this movie, and the sound mix is no exception. As cars rip around tracks, in fantastic sequences, you’ll almost feel the wind in your hair. At times, it may well remind Home Theater fans of the awesome demo disc, Super Speedway.
Overall, this is Ron Howards greatest film to date, in every sense. It’s a more mature movie, visually, tonally than anything he has done in the past. Rush is simply breath taking, with a fantastic story combined with sheer exhilaration. Rush takes the chequered flag. A must watch, especially in a decent cinema with a top notch projection and sound system! Go see it!!!!
