Rush review

RUSH:

FUEL POWERED RACING ACTION, EMOTIONAL DRAMA, AND OUTSTANDING ACTING DESERVE AN OSCAR!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** 1/2 out of 4

UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt in Rush

            Director Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Frost/Nixon, A Beautiful Mind) brings the incredible true story of Formula One racing rivals; James Hunt and Niki Lauda and the rivalry that made them champions to the big screen in his latest film, Rush. With gripping racing action, strong performances by the film’s cast, powerful emotional drama, and outstanding filmmaking, it really showed Howard threw everything he got into the film.

            Formula One drivers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth-Thor, The Avengers, The Cabin in the Woods) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl-The Bourne Ultimatum, Inglourious Basterds) have developed a fierce rivalry in the 1976 Formula One Racing season.           During the races, Hunt and Lauda transformed the competition into an epic duel between the two of them, like clashing titans battling each other to be rewarded, over time their hatred towards one another made them the champions people remember today.  

            With the support of Hunt and Lauda’s wives Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde-Tron: Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens, In Time) and Marlene Knaus (Alexandra Maria Lara-The Reader), their racing supporters, and their legions of screaming fans, they’ll do whatever it takes to see this racing duel to the end.

            Rush overall is an incredible movie, the story is executed perfectly, Hemsworth and Brühl’s performances as Hunt and Lauda are phenomenal, the racing action is exciting, and the emotional drama is all done very well. Chris Hemsworth was great as James Hunt and was a ton of fun to watch, but I’d have to say Daniel Brühl’s performance as Niki Lauda was a little better, it seemed like his portrayal of Lauda was much more emotional and a little more interesting than Hemsworth, but still they both did fantastic.

            Besides Hemsworth and Brühl, Olivia Wilde’s performance as Suzy was very surreal, since the character has an accent, and I wouldn’t have imagined Wilde to pull it off that well. Like most of Ron Howard’s films, his vision of the story is absolutely breathtaking, The mood of the film is perfect and builds atmosphere, the sets are big and epic, enjoyable characters, and wonderful music by Hans Zimmer, it’s totally worth “Rushing” to your local movie theater and paying the eight dollars to experience a thrilling and emotional sports flick that will most likely be a strong Oscar® contender.