Rush

I've been following F1 since the 1960's so I was well aware of the rivalry between Lauda and Hunt, but it was difficult for a fan back then to know the details and back story. This film fills in those missing pieces in a very, um, I was going to say enjoyable way, but at times the film is difficult to watch because it is kind of graphic, appropriate to the subject. I suspect that the movie is pretty accurate, you usually have no way of knowing how much is dramatic license by the filmmakers. The fact that Niki Lauda (who is portrayed in a somewhat less than flattering light in the movie) has fully endorsed the movie, even to the extent of appearing in some of the final minutes, gives the film great credibility.At the time of the events portrayed in the film all the racing world was in awe of Lauda for his dramatic comeback from horrible injuries, but even for one who followed it so closely I was unaware of just how heroic his efforts to return were. He was my hero then and has remained so to this day.I guess this should be a movie review, not just a synopsis of the events of the time, so I'll get to it.It's a Ron Howard movie. He knows how to make a film. Wonderful casting (down to the point that when they show clips of the real Hunt and Lauda they are almost indistinguishable from the actors). The pace and excitement level are terrific, the drama is such that I felt fully gripped by the film every moment. And make no mistake, some people may think the subject matter of racing is somehow a frivolous endeavor, I assure you at the highest levels it is dramatic even without the triumph of human courage exhibited by Lauda.The movie is shot in a different way than most movies today. The colors and focus are somewhat subdued, the general lighting on the dark side. I think this was a really smart choice by Howard so he could include period footage of the races seamlessly into the production. This surely doesn't have the look of Avatar! Nor should it.The only criticism I can offer of the film really doesn't matter overall. The new footage of the actual race cars on track was shot using the people who own those cars now as the drivers. I doubt most people would notice, but I used to race and I can tell. They are driving about 70% and the "incidents" that are new footage are obviously staged. Nice usage of actual footage from the period makes it a moot point.I've recommended this film to many non race car fan friends and they all reported that they loved it.In the end, this is an intensely dramatic film that deserved better box office in the US.It's not Apollo 13 but it comes pretty close. Ron Howard at his best, again.

I don't particularly gravitate towards sports movies, primarily because I'm just not into sports but also because a lot of them are cliche-ridden underdog stories that have been done to death. Not so with RUSH. In what is the best film that Ron Howard has done in years, Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl give excellent performances as James Hunt and Niki Lauda: Formula One drivers whose rivalry gave each other purpose and motivation to succeed. As personalities, they couldn't have been more different. James Hunt was brash, more of a ladies' man and reveled in the fame that being a race car driver afforded. Niki Lauda was more cold, calculating and concerned with the technical aspects of racing, and he could also be quite blunt. What I liked about this movie, aside from the racing aspect, was the examination of these two polar opposite personalities and the way in which they pushed each other forward. There is plenty of screen time allotted to establishing their characters, and once they meet, sparks fly. I thought both Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl did an excellent job in portraying these two men, and made it seem very believable. Of course, this is a racing movie, so the other question would be how that aspect stacks up. No lie, this movie had some of the best, and most thrilling racing sequences I've seen. Ever. Apparently, they had actual drivers (and the actors) drive Formula One cars at high speeds and attached cameras to the outside to capture the feel of what it would be like to be in one of those cars. It was really exhilarating stuff, and it's a pity that I wasn't able to catch this in theaters when it first came out. I also should mention the incredible score by Hans Zimmer, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite film composers. He created an epic feel, not unlike what he did with Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. Still, it was distinct from that iconic score and added a lot to the overall feel of the film. There was also a good selection of 1970's classic rock. Overall, there's not a thing I can think of that's even a little wrong with this film. Every aspect of it perfectly displays the skills of the talent involved, and the central story elevates it above your typical sports drama. Even if sports movies aren't your thing, you'd be remiss for not giving this one a try.