RUSH… 3.3***

 

 

     “Rush”, directed by the always excellent Ron Howard, is a gripping telling of the 1976 Formula 1, race driving season.   “Rush” tells a story which would be  too unbelievable in terms of human bravery and personal destiny for any fictional story. It’s actually based upon the true story of that 1976  season and the fierce competition between Hunt & Lauder  which is far more than enough to hold the unfamiliar or casual viewer's attention with a steel firm grip. You get caught up in wanting to see how these two very  different personalities handle the pressures of life both on and off the track and how rising to the top takes its toll on these two polar opposite real life gladiators of the race track.

The camera work is particularly spectacular, with some very creative angles. The brief in-helmet camera shots are inspired, giving you a glimpse of the drivers world. CGI work will be spotted by the keen eyed, but you have to consider that without it that there are certain scenes that would be just impossible to film as accurately as they were depicted here with real machinery.   

 Chris Hemsworth’s  performance as the British driver, James Hunt came as a  surprise. This is his best performance by quite some margin (best known for “Thor”), a role which he plays with a great deal of maturity and respect. He plays Hunt with just the right level of arrogance, cockiness, confidence and audacity to convince you that he was a real life 70's playboy/driver. Daniel Bruhl is superb as the Austrian driver, Nicki Lauda. It's a role that he deserves much recognition for, particularly his accent and mannerisms. Lauda was one of the first of a new generation of professional driver, forcing  the usual playboy characters out of the sport and Bruhl nails this icy determination to succeed magnificently.

With the lead actors clearly committed to giving their best performances and with a tastefully handled script, Ron Howard delivers a visually impressive account of events that may well become one of the best if not the best auto racing films ever.

 

Clark