Rated
R (Sexual Content, Nudity, Language, Some Disturbing Images and Brief Drug Use)
Running
Time: 2 Hours & 3 Minutes
Cast-
Chris
Hemsworth-James Hunt
Daniel
Brühl-Niki Lauda
Olivia
Wilde-Suzy Miller
Alexandra
Maria Lara-Marlene Knaus
Pierfrancesco
Favino-Clay Regazzoni
Christian
McKay-Alexander Hesketh
Natalie
Dormer-Gemma
Patrick
Baladi-John Hogan
Colin
Stinton-Teddy Mayer
Alessandro
De Marco-Daniele Audetto
Ilario
Calvo-Luca Cordero di Montezemolo
Tom
Wlaschiha-Harald Ertl
Kristofer
Dayne-Mario Andretti
Alistair
Petrie-Stirling Moss
Cristian
Solimeno-Arturo Merzario
James
Norton-Guy Edwards
Akira
Koieyama-Noritake Takahara
Robert
Christopher Austin-Brett Lunger
Robert
Finlay-Gunnar Nilsson
Zack
Eisaku Niizato-Masahiro Hasemi
Butchy
Davy-John Watson
Cris
Penfold-Jochen Mas
Roddy
Button-Michael Parkinson
Directed
by Ron Howard
 |
| James Hunt and Niki Lauda's rivalry in Formula One racing captured the imagination of the entire world. |
Note: Screened on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at AMC Loews 34th Street 14.
Just
one wrong move. In the dangerous world of Formula One racing, that's all it takes
to lose your life. 'Twenty-five people start Formula One, and each year, two die.
What kind of person does a job like this?' Yes, what kind of person would
willingly strap themselves into a fiberglass coffin surrounded by high-octane fuel
and drive around a winding racetrack at unimaginable speeds where the slightest
mistake can permanently end your life? 'Rebels, lunatics and dreamers…the kind
of people who want to make their mark on the world and are prepared to die making
that mark,' that's who. During the 1976 Formula One season, the intense rivalry
between British playboy James Hunt and staid Austrian Niki Lauda captured the
imagination of racing fans around the world, and now it's the subject of Ron
Howard's latest film, "Rush." It's no secret that Howard's recent output
has been underwhelming to say the least. For every masterpiece like 2008's
"Frost/Nixon," there are one or two duds like 2009's bloated "Angels
& Demons" and 2011's puzzling romantic comedy "The Dilemma."
Making matters worse is the genre that the director has chosen to work with. Sports
films based on true stories can be notoriously tricky to pull off since a person
can simply look up the outcome with ease nowadays. Howard, however, has
cleverly managed to get around this issue by emphasizing the people who defined
the sport rather than on the competition itself. An enthralling drama backed up
by exhilarating, heart-pounding race sequences and a pair of excellent performances—especially
Daniel Brühl—"Rush" easily roars through the finish line to take its place
among the very best films of 2013.
In
1970, British playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and by-the-book Austrian Niki
Lauda (Daniel Brühl) are rising stars on the Formula Three circuit but the two become
instant rivals during a race in London's Crystal Palace where Hunt manages to take
the top prize. A frustrated Lauda decides to subvert the usual means of ascent by
essentially buying his way into the big leagues. Despite his chilly, brusque attitude
toward his peers, the Austrian proves to be an invaluable asset thanks to his skill
in designing race cars that are both lighter and faster. He eventually lands a deal
with Ferrari in 1974. Meanwhile, Hunt's professional fortunes are in decline as
the reckless driver finds himself without a sponsor for the upcoming 1976 season.
His marriage to supermodel Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde) is also falling apart due
to his infidelity and frequent mood swings stemming from heavy drinking. A stroke
of luck leads to the Brit being signed on as a last-minute replacement with McLaren.
As the new Formula One racing season kicks off in São Paulo with the Brazilian
Grand Prix, Hunt and Lauda bitterly compete for the World Championship while pushing
themselves (and their teams) to the limit.
Compared
to NASCAR, Formula One racing remains more of a fringe sport in the United States
but it's a totally different story for the rest the world as F1 competes in
over nineteen countries, spread across four continents and numerous cities like
Monaco and Abu Dhabi. Fortunately, you don't have to be well-versed in the motorsport
to enjoy Ron Howard's "Rush." While the thunderous race sequences
will literally leave you on the edge of your seat with sweaty palms, it's the
riveting drama that elevates Howard's picture to one of this year's very best.
The film opens to a rainy day on August 1, 1976 in Nürburgring, West Germany,
mere minutes before the race is set to start. As rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda
rev their engines and prepare to take off, the scene cuts to six years earlier
with the roguish Hunt stumbling into a hospital after being thrashed about by a
jealous husband. Peter Morgan's script immediately establishes Hunt as a person
who loves to live 'in-the-moment.' This is someone who treats life as one big party
and of course, slept with every woman that laid eyes on him. On the opposite end
of the spectrum was Lauda, who lacked Hunt's good looks due to his buck teeth.
Morgan takes a few liberties and puts their first meeting at London's Crystal Palace,
where the two were still up-and-comers in the Formula Three circuit. To say that
they got off on the wrong foot would be a massive understatement as during the
race, both of them spin out of the track but Hunt recovers first and wins. The
Brit then brags to Lauda to remember his name and that it 'rhymes with c*nt,' sparking
a rivalry that would soon capture the imagination of F1 racing fans around the
world.
The
first half-hour of the film is somewhat awkwardly structured as it chronicles
the rise of both men in the racing circuit. Cutting off from his wealthy family
of businessmen, Lauda forces his way to the big leagues by taking out huge bank
loans but his risk pays off when he signs on with Ferrari after proving his
worth with his design of a lighter, faster race car. The story doesn't sugarcoat
the fact that Lauda was, by every definition of the word, a complete a**hole but
behind the wheel, his only equal was Hunt. Unlike his Austrian rival, Hunt and
his team eschewed the use of sponsors yet he was forced to practically beg McLaren
to take him on when funds dried up. Once the 1976 Formula One season kicks off,
"Rush" snaps into focus and becomes a tale of how two rivals came to define
the other. While Hunt is the more likable one due to his out-going personality,
it's really Lauda who emerges as the true hero of the film. His determination
to win at all costs leaves him horribly disfigured after a near-fatal crash at Nürburgring
and the painful recovery he goes through, which include vacuuming his lungs, is
heart-breaking to watch. What differentiates "Rush" from similar sports
biopics is in the way it treats its two lead characters. Howard and Morgan smartly
avoid making one a hero over the other and while Hunt and Lauda's personalities
couldn't be farther apart, each thrive on the other's competition as it pushes
them to do better. For this film, it's not about one racer triumphing over the
other; it's about what motivates men to risk life and limb for a sport as insane
as Formula One racing.
Most
of the races are shown as a montage but the ones depicted in detail, such as
the finale set in the shadow of Japan's Mount Fuji, is nothing short of breathtaking.
Howard's skill behind the camera is unparalleled here, as if he's operating on pure
instinct. Combined with Anthony Dod Mantle's gorgeous cinematography, the race
scenes will definitely get your heart pumping thanks to the brilliant editing
from Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill. Hans Zimmer's dynamic score complements
the film perfectly with its propulsive and nail-biting tunes. However, the most
memorable aspect of "Rush" is the performances. In a word, they are
excellent. Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl don't just imitate James Hunt and Niki
Lauda; they become them. Hemsworth supplies
Hunt with just the right amount of swagger and bravado, and avoids turning his
character into walking cartoon while Brühl's introspective and sympathetic turn
as Lauda gives the film its heart and soul. There's no denying that these are awards-worthy
performances but if I had to choose the better one, it would be Brühl. Despite
sporting a pitch-perfect British accent, Olivia Wilde is somewhat wasted as Hunt's
wife Suzy Miller. Her inclusion ultimately has little bearing on the overall
story. In contrast, Alexandra Maria Lara's Marlene Knaus feels more integral to
the film as her presence has a huge impact on Lauda's development.
To
be released on September 20, 2013, "Rush" has received largely positive
reviews so far with 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it as a 'sleek, slick,
well-oiled machine…a finely crafted sports drama with exhilarating race sequences
and strong performances from Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.' Unfortunately,
this film will really need strong word-of-mouth to succeed at the box office as
Americans have no idea who James Hunt and Niki Lauda is due to Formula One's lack
of popularity here. Putting Hemsworth's face front-and-center on the posters
helps somewhat but I fear it'll fade away quickly since we all know that the masses
aren't going to watch something they know nothing about. I sincerely hope I'm
wrong though. Powered by two outstanding performances, "Rush" is
without a doubt one of 2013's best films. Hell, it makes "Fast & Furious"
look Slow & Incontinent!
Final
Rating: 5 out of 5
"There's
a lie that all drivers tell themselves. Death is something that happens to
other people, and that's how you find the courage to get in the car in the
first place. The closer you are to death the more alive you feel. But more
powerful than fear itself, is the will to win."
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