When all is said and done, RUSH will stand among Ron Howard’s most acclaimed films, and that is, of course, saying quite a bit.
Built with his trademark eye and passion for historical detail and his talent for visual storytelling, and fueled by breakthrough dramatic performances by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, the film never fails to captivate as it relates the story of two men who brought out the best and worst in each other as they battled to dominate their sport in the early 1970s.
What’s it about?
In 1976, charismatic British Formula 1 racing phenom James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth, Thor, Marvel’s The Avengers) and his nemesis on the track, the brilliant and disciplined Austrian driver Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl, Inglorious Basterds, The Bourne Ultimatum) were the giants who consistently led the field as they competed all over the world in Grand Prix races for the Formula 1 World Championship.
But their rivalry was sparked as much by their contrasting personalities and appearances as it was by their respective talents behind the wheel and their quest for victories on the track.
Hunt, the handsome, glamorous, well-loved playboy rock star, and Lauda, the aloof, abrasive, and truculent figure with savant-like knowledge of car design, clashed in every way possible, going all the way to their first battles racing Formula 3 cars in 1970, each vying to draw the attention of sponsors who could help propel them to the next level of competition.
Each man uses his unique gifts to make his way to that top echelon of competition. Each man has his life and his fortunes impacted by the love of a woman, Hunt by his tumultuous marriage to supermodel Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde), Lauda by his awkward courtship and eventual union with Marlene Knaus (Alexandra Maria Lara).
And each man steps up his game just a little bit more when the other wins a race, leading all the way up to that fateful 1976 World Championship season.
That year both men, racing in Formula 1 cars built by the most prestigious car manufacturers in the world at that time, won just about every race of the season between them and were each in position to win the championship trophy at the Japanese Grand Prix on October 24th, 1976, a race that would eventually help to cement their legends in the racing world.
Howard at his best
As a film director, Ron Howard is one of those especially talented individuals who can effectively balance historical accuracy with compelling storytelling when he chooses to undertake making movies based on true events.
Like Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon, this is another story plucked from the 1970’s, an era that seems to bring Howard back again and again; yet each time he presents it on-screen it looks different. Everything about RUSH, from the meticulously-recreated cars and international racetracks to the thrilling depictions of the races themselves, exudes authenticity, and thus fits with what we’ve seen Howard do so well so many times before.
But the grainy patina through which the entire film is presented, the European feel of the story with its character-driven focus, and the subject matter itself sets the film apart from anything we’ve seen from Howard’s Imagine Entertainment.
Terrific chemistry between stars
In the midst of all that elaborate production and design, Howard sets his principals in motion and lets them tear into their roles and the challenge of making the Hunt-Lauda rivalry compelling to audiences who most likely will come into this film knowing little about them or their dramatic lives and careers.
For their parts, Hemsworth and Brühl each have their own individual challenges to overcome in order to make it all work. For Hemsworth, it’s to escape the shadow of his phenomenally-successful superhero movie work, to not be Thor Odinson, Marvel’s hammer-wielding, lightning-slinging Norse God of Thunder, when portraying a flamboyant playboy auto racer.
For Brühl, it’s to match Hemsworth’s physicality and charisma while also bringing to life the real Niki Lauda, who is still alive, active in the racing world, and who consulted on the production of RUSH, on screen as much as possible and making him a sympathetic, relateable character.
Each man successfully overcomes his challenge, and the results are as much a part of why RUSH is a pleasure to watch as anything else.
There’s already some Oscar buzz out there for Hemsworth in particular in terms of performances in the film, but Brühl deserves just as much, if not more credit, for his is the harder role to portray convincingly. No doubt this film will get lots of love when awards season ramps up later this year and in early 2014, particularly from the foreign press at the Golden Globes. Watch for praise of Romanian-born actress Alexandra Maria Lara and Olivia Wilde in their supporting turns, as well.
Worth seeing?
Whatever awards Howard, Hemsworth, Brühl, and co. take home, they will be all well-deserved. RUSH is a thrilling, mesmerizing triumph that will leave a lasting impression regardless of how much or how little you care for cars, auto racing, or sports history.
It’s a great dramatic story brought to life by talented actors and a filmmaker at the top of his game. Race to see this one this weekend. You will not be disappointed.
Score: 5 out of 5
RUSH
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Pierfrancesco Favino. Directed by Ron Howard.
Running Time: 123 minutes
Rated R for sexual content, nudity, language, some disturbing images and brief drug use.