Rush

Rush depicts the rivalry between the racing legends James Hunt and Niki Lauda in the 1970s. The action-drama is directed by Ron Howard and written by Peter Morgan, their first project together since the Academy Award-nominated Frost/Nixon. Rush is fast-paced, moving and a brilliant racing film.

Chris Hemsworth stars as the English playboy James Hunt and Daniel Brühl as the methodical Austrian Niki Lauda. The pair’s rivalry on the Grand Prix racetrack reflected their contrasting personalities as they lead very different lives away from the track. Rush shows us Hunt and Lauda’s personal lives both on and off the track and how they had to push themselves to the ultimate limit, both physically and psychologically, in a job that leaves no room for error.

Formula One is naturally exciting; however a film cannot succeed on just good racing footage. This is why Rush works so well, as it has a good, and real, story wonderfully depicted by Howard. This story, in addition to the exhilarating race sequences and visual flair of Rush, makes it a film that is truly unmissable. The performances of the protagonists are also excellent, especially Hemsworth who shows off his acting capabilities in a more serious role, after making his name playing Thor.

Rush takes an uncommon subject; that of the Hunt/Lauda rivalry and the 1976 Formula One World Championship, and makes it exciting and emotionally engaging. Whether or not you know anything about Formula One, the film has something for everyone and is made accessible to all.

Olivia Lynch