Rush

Fast cars, beautiful women, fiery explosions – Ron Howard’s Rush has all the elements of a high budget summer blockbuster. But the profound depth and detail in storytelling, along with flawless performances, set this drama apart from most others this year.

This film follows the rivalry of Formula 1 drivers Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) from Austria and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) from Great Britain and their fast-paced journey from family outcasts to renowned celebrities and the choices that led them to the pivotal 1976 Grand Prix. The story is fascinatingly retold in this heart-pounding and tense biopic that can’t be missed.

Hemsworth and Brühl are steadfast and convincing in their depiction of these juxtaposing yet similar characters. Hunt – wild and single-minded – wins over easily with his good looks and charm, but we begin to see his darker side when his playboy lifestyle comes to a halt. His cold disposition and the hostile way he shuts out his wife is telling of a man truly driven by both personal and professional thrills.

Lauda, contrary to Hunt in both looks and demeanour, is far less free-spirited. Direct and egotistical, his appeal lies in his initial underdog story and the determination he has to be successful. With a certain degree of arrogance, he rises to many challenges, but he is calculated in his decisions and weighs every action.

The pair are antagonistic and heroic in equal measure and despite the competitive nature of the sport, audiences will find themselves invested in both characters. Their experiences, along with the drive and recklessness necessary to put your life on the line for the title of World Champion, make for extremely gripping content that will leave you breathless in suspense.

While the roaring of engines is loud enough to make your ears bleed, the elaborate cinematography of blurred landscapes make it seem as though you’re in the driver’s seat, feeling the pressure of each turn in the track. With quick cutaways to close-ups of defective car parts and dangerous collisions, along with the commentary in the stands, it’s as if you are witnessing each race first-hand in an exhilarating spin that you’ll hope won’t end!

Natasha Fonseka

Rush is released nationwide on 13th September 2013.

Watch the trailer for Rush here: