Rush Review

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."