It’s hard to believe how few films about the Grand Prix have made it to the big screen considering the worldwide appeal of the sport and the amount of money that has been pumped into advertising over the years. Grand Prix has also produced some of the greatest rivalries in sport, Hunt and Lauda, Schumacher and Hakkinen and Senna and Prost. On top of that, Formula 1 is a particularly thrilling with a need for speed and an excellent vehicle top of the list of priorities.
However, Formula 1 is also particularly dangerous, many drivers have lost their lives in accidents, others have been very badly wounded. Like Lauda in the film comments, every time he gets in his car he knows there is a 20% chance he is going to die. Although this is obviously a frightening prospect, it gives motorsport a dangerous element that arguably doesn’t exist in other sports.
Ron Howard must have been entirely aware of the challenges facing him for Rush. Not only are there a giant group of Formula 1 worshippers, but with a film as big in scope as this partiuclar production, there were so many elements to get correct, most notably, the cars, the sound and the look of the 1976 Championship.
The film begins with the first time new racers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) meet at a Formula 3 race. Their characters are immediately outlined, Hunt is the English playboy who thinks it is more important to enjoy life, loves a good drink and is particularly fond of women. Lauda, on the other hand, approaches every race with a great seriousness that Hunt is incapable of displaying. With a great deal of money behind both racers, they both end up in the big leagues, Formula 1 and a Grand Prix championship.
During the 1976, the rivalry between Hunt and Lauda becomes more apparent, both racers are incredibly eager to win the World Championship title. However, after one particular meeting about whether a racecourse is safe enough to drive on, a terrible accident occurs which changes the rest of the Championship race and the relationship between Hunt and Lauda.
Most importantly, this is not just a film for Formula 1 fans or even sports fans, the rivalry between Lauda and Hunt is so intense, and yet endearing, that the races almost take up a background position to this wonderful story. What translates is Hunt and Lauda’s extreme appreciation for each other, and indeed respect, something that the real Lauda did indeed profess.
That is not to take anything away from the actual races themselves and the fact that Rush really begins to address some of the problems with racing that you will witness in Senna. Like any good sports film, you will be on the edge of your seat for every Grand Prix, even if you do know the outcome. The sound will literally take your breath away, so intense and loud that you will feel like you are actually watching a Grand Prix race.
Hemsworth as the charismatic Hunt is absolutely perfect, but the real star is Daniel Bruhl who manages to capture Lauda absolutely, his every move, his look, that accent. Considering that Lauda is still alive and has himself commented on how much Bruhl acts like him, this is quite the achievement. Both men come across as less than nice in their own particular ways, but there opposite natures certainly attract them to one another, Lauda would certainly like to be liked more while Hunt could do with being more disciplined.
However, what is unexpected for such a “manly” film of sorts, is how sweet this story actually is; Hunt and Lauda almost act like brothers who can criticize each other but won’t let anyone else criticize either one of them. A certain scene after a press conference may break your heart a little.
Not just for sports fans, Rush is definitely one of the better sports films you will see.
