RUSH (review)

RUSH

Niki Lauda: A wise man gets more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

Academy Award winning director, Ron Howard, has been making movies for over 35 years now and I cannot say that I’ve enjoyed much of what he’s done. There is something so intrinsically smooth and simple about the way his latest film, RUSH, is made though, that has me wondering whether I perhaps have judged Howard too harshly in the past. He is so confident as the driver of this racing drama that by the time he crosses the finish line, you will want to stand up and cheer no matter who wins on screen.

In 1976, an F1 rivalry had captured the attention of the global race car community and beyond, when it came to a crashing halt in Nuremberg, Germany. James Hunt and Niki Lauda, portrayed here by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl, were famous for their prowess on the track and their fighting off of it. With their judgment clouded by their egos, they agreed, albeit reluctantly on Lauda’s part, to race in weather they should never have been allowed to drive in on a track that was famous for being difficult even in the best of conditions. Lauda crashed and was engulfed in flames for more than five minutes. His face was severely burned; his lungs were filled with smoke; and his future in racing seemed finished. Lauda was far too strong a competitor to give up that easily though. Also, there was no way he was going to let Hunt win like that.

Fine performances, fantastic 70’s style and a perfectly designed story, as written by the almost always brilliant, Peter Morgan, who worked with Howard previously on another favourite of mine, FROST/NIXON, easily make RUSH one of Howard’s most accomplished and enjoyable rides. Simply put, all who see RUSH will certainly feel one as well.

Your turn!

How many sheep would you give Rush?

[kkstarratings]