On the latest episode of Reel Shorts, a re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda is at the center of the sensational sports drama, Rush.
Audio Review
The concept of telling the story of two rivals over the course of the 1976 Formula One season is not only an excellent idea but a well-executed concept by director Ron Howard. Think Magic Johnson-Larry Bird, Prince-Michael Jackson, Bill Gates-Steve Jobs and the dynamic is an amazing group of successful people in similar fields pushing each other to heights of perfection that is interesting and fascinating.
Scripted by Peter Morgan (The Queen), he does a wonderful job of setting up the animosity between each other, while spotlighting their attributes and flaws that contribute to their amazing success on the track.
Chris Hemsworth plays Hunt, as a free-wheeling, risk-taking, go-with-the-flow man-child, who is as interested in hitting the sheets as winning races. Lauda, played by Brühl, is an introverted, irritating, social misfit who is smart and calculating and sports a super-thick skin, oblivious to how he is perceived by his peers.
With one Formula One championship under his belt, Lauda enters the ’76 campaign looking for another. Hunt, wants to win but appears far more interested in taking down the arrogant Lauda, than being a champion himself. Over the course of the season, they push each other to the depths of life and limb, literally, on the way to a memorable end of the season.
Hemsworth, outside of his Thor restrictions, shows he is quite adept at handling this role and that he deserves more work outside of the Marvel universe. But the surprise here is Brühl, who is (no pun intended) the engine to the story. His trials and tribulations as well as his unwillingness to quit under the most extreme and uncomfortable circumstances provide much of the heart of the story.
For a man who has directed such successful films in the past such as A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon, this might sound like hyperbole but Rush may be Howard’s strongest film. He does an amazing job capturing the dual aspects of both the men’s personal lives as well as beautifully photographed racing scenes. While not a perfect film, Rush is a deeply gratifying story that will leave audiences exhilarated and entertained.
Grade: B+