Fierce competitors who respect each other and bring out the best in each other are the driving force behind Rush, the new film from director Ron Howard. Set in the 1970s and based on true events, Rush centers around two Formula One race car drivers, James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl), who have totally opposite ways of approaching their sport. Hunt is a ladies man who loves to party, appears to have great confidence and is a natural behind the wheel. Lauda, on the other hand, is disciplined, focused and takes no unnecessary risks. However, both men are equally talented and become friendly rivals over time.
Lauda's no-nonsense demeanor does not win him many friends, but he uses his intelligence, consummate skills and confidence to become the world champion. However, Hunt is equally as good, but does not have the same focus as Lauda, who he chides for being too serious. Even though Lauda is not necessarily likable, his brutal honesty and determination will likely win over many viewers who will also come to empathize with him after he suffers serious burns from a racing accident. However, even that will not stop Lauda from competing, especially since Hunt receives the lions share of attention while he is incapacitated.
Part of Hunt's story is told via his many relationships. The ladies love his charming demeanor, but when times get tough, Hunt drinks to excess and is particularly nasty to his wife, Suzy (Olivia Wilde), who eventually takes comfort in the arms of another man. Lauda does not seem all that interested in a relationship, but when he meets Marlene Knaus (Alexandra Maria Lara), he finds a soul mate in the sense that she will stick by him and support him, no matter what happens, but they do not appear to share any great love or passion. Their relationship serves Lauda well, especially when he needs support during his recovery from serious burns.
I expected Rush to center around James Hunt throughout, but Niki Lauda receives an equal amount of attention and deservedly so. They are different in many ways, including looks. Hunt is obviously better looking and physically gifted. Lauda understands that he cannot measure up and even states that he knows that he looks like a rat. Daniel Brühl is a good looking actor, but make-up is used to transform him into Lauda, which adds another degree of realism to the film. In addition, the way Rush is filmed has a grainy look and feel to it, which perfectly captures the time period.
Rush takes place during the years 1970-1976 and showcases how Lauda and Hunt moved their way up from Formula Three to Formula One racers and also examines how Lauda essentially bought his way into the sport, which is fascinating. I was not familiar with their story, which made the various racing scenes all that more exciting. There is an aura of danger during each race, so I never knew what to expect or even if Hunt or Lauda would survive. Ron Howard is able to slowly build suspense throughout the racing scenes that will literally leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The brisk pace of the film is appropriate considering the subject matter and the two hour run time goes by quickly. Howard also elicits strong performances from Chis Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde and Daniel Brühl, who is fantastic as Lauda. Rush is an action packed thrill ride that features outstanding character development and one of the most fascinating rivalries in the history of the sports world. It also happens to be one of the best films of the year.
Screenplay: Peter Morgan
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