This film, which explores one of the most famous rivalries in the history of F1, is an interesting character study of two very different men who were much closer in real life than this story suggests.We are introduced first to James Hunt, played with relish by Chris Hemsworth, in what is a gift of a role for any actor. Hunt was notorious for his womanizing and we are quickly given, well, shall we say, an insight into this aspect of his character as he revels in his carefree if slightly feckless lifestyle.
By contrast, Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) is portrayed as something of a tortured soul. A man driven to win by a combination of his peerless knowledge of cars and an intense self-belief which often comes across as arrogance.
He finds himself alienated from other people as a consequence of this attitude and has a reputation as something of a loner on the F2 circuit on which he and Hunt are initially competing.
It is not long until both of them are signed up for F1, a process which does not initially reflect Lauda in the best light. Hunt quickly catches up with his rival and before long, they are competing against each other for the 1976 world championship.
In the meantime, Lauda has found a wife, who is gradually curbing his difficult personality. Hunt has also married, albeit less permanently, as he continues to sleep with about half of London.
These scenes are interspersed with the main event - the races that come to define both Hunt and Lauda's career. Particularly the 1976 German Grand Prix, in which Lauda is badly burnt in a petrol fire.
As Lauda recuperates, Hunt catches him up in the race for the title, forcing Lauda back into the car to try and beat him before the end of the season - a comeback that is against medical advice, against the wishes of his wife and... well, you get the picture. Nonetheless, there are just the right number of sports film clichés to be able to sit through this one.
The accident changes both Lauda and Hunt as their grudging respect turns into a developing friendship. Lauda seems calmer after the accident and whilst some of the scenes with Hunt become more extreme at this point - particularly his violent (if merited) treatment of a journalist, they never become so absurd as to make these versions of real people into caricatures.
There are however a few scenes here that are pure fiction and it has been acknowledged that the film is not entirely true to life. However, the high risk feel of F1 in the 70's has been well executed, the race sequences are well shot and, in my opinion, more interesting than real F1.
The acting is excellent and there are particularly enjoyable turns from Stephen Mangan and Olivia Wilde amongst a strong cast. My only major issue with Rush is that at times it seems obsessed with its leading characters. Hunt in particular seems to get away with being some kind of James Bond figure who rarely experiences the consequences of his actions.
Nevertheless, the film is interesting and exciting. Whilst Ron Howard has taken some liberties with the truth, he has directed a vibrant tale of rivalry between these two very different champions.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the picture used in this blog post and will remove it at the request of the rights holder.
