Racing on

Rating: 7/10 (15 February 2014)

I remember as a kid watching the final race of the 1976 F1 season live on television and the tussle between Niki Lauda and James Hunt in the porung rain.
It was only when I was older I realised what Lauda had gone through in the earlier part of the season when he suffered a horrendous crash and burns to his body.
Rush is a film about two committed, driven, at times equally infuriating and detestable racers.
Lauda the calculating, loner from a business minded family who was a well known strategist. He knew how to set up his racing car.
Daniel Brühl captures the spirit of this almost cold, aloof character who will then have to recover from an almost fatal accident and make him appear human, even likable.
Chris Hemsworth has the showy role as the wild, erratic, playboy James Hunt.
The guy always looking to have a good time partying. He is reckless on the track, Hunt the shunt is his nickname.
However Hunt as his own demons and in the 1976 Formula 1 season, he spends most of his time chasing Lauda who had a dominant points tally.
Unlike other race films, director Ron Howard did not have to try too hard in getting a thrilling storyline. Real life provided it.
Lauda was well ahead in the championship until his accident which allowed Hunt to claw back. Lauda miraculously recovered enough despite his burns and returned to racing and the title went to the final race decider.
Both actors capture the spirit of the people they portray. Hunt became well known to racing fans after his retirement as a F1 commentator and Hemsworth does well in getting his vocal mannerisms with maybe just a lapse or two to his Aussie accent.
I reckon the film would have little interest to those who despise racing but for others there is plenty of thrills here.