Rousing drama succeeds on and off track
“Rush” is a sports drama, set in the 1970s, about the contentious relationship between Formula One racers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth, “Thor”) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl, “Inglourious Basterds”). Hunt lives his life to the fullest by partying and bedding as many women as possible. He becomes a racer because he believes that one should enjoy life and take risks. Otherwise, what is the point? Lauda is an anti-social perfectionist whose only goal is to win. He meticulously tinkers with his car in order to obtain the greatest speed and performance from it. Hunt only shows up and drives fast. Early in the film, Hunt marries Suzy (Olivia Wilde, “TRON: Legacy”) on a whim, and Lauda somehow manages to seduce a woman named Marlene (Alexandra Maria Lara, “Downfall”) whom he meets at a party, and they end up getting married.
The main focus of the film is the 1976 races. Racing conditions back then were ludicrously dangerous. At a race in Germany, the track is wet from rain and the risk factor is greatly increased.
Lauda insists that the race be canceled, but Hunt, trying to obtain as many points as possible, says this is merely a tactic for Lauda to have a greater chance of winning the championship. He votes to keep the race on, and a majority side with him, so the race must go on. Lauda has a horrible crash that severely burns his face and body. Hunt, who was far behind Lauda in points, is able to raise his score while Lauda is absent from the races. Lauda watches the races that he should be winning on television in the hospital while he is going through painful medical procedures. His drive (no pun intended) is so strong that he puts on his helmet over his scarred head and competes in the final race, a race which either Hunt or Lauda could win.
Oscar-winning director Ron Howard (“Apollo 13,” “A Beautiful Mind”) and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan (“The Queen,” “The Last King of Scotland”) reunite after the fantastic “Frost/ Nixon” and, with this film, take a subject that many people care nothing about, Formula One Racing, and make a gripping, visually vibrant film with an intelligent script and great performances. Hemsworth gives an incredibly charismatic lead performance that not only fully captures his smoldering, long-haired hunkiness but also his devil-may-care attitude. Brühl plays Lauda, a decidedly less handsome character, with the obsession and disconnection that the character calls for.
Like “Moneyball,” “Rush” is a sports film that is more concerned with the characters and how and why they do their job and how they relate to one another. The butting of heads between Hunt and Lauda is what makes it more than just a racing picture. Don’t worry, the racing scenes are rip-roaring and intense, even for audiences who would never watch a race. However, the conflict on the track means so much more because the filmmakers have spent time building the conflict between the characters off the track.