Underrated

Rating: 7/10 (21 March 2019)

I was quite surprised by this movie. The ratings are good, but I don't like Ron Howard and I thought it was the usual, hollow overdramatization of actual events. Instead, it's a very nice movie, fairly accurate, and a must-see for any racing enthusiast.
First and foremost, the racing scenes and the championship events are accurate and spectacular, they're pure fun.
I have to say there are some of the most perfect special effects I've ever seen, you can't say what's real and what's not.
Also, I've NEVER seen a more accurate depiction of the 70's style; that's a very important thing to preserve the atmosphere and let you believe the movie is actually set in the 70's. Lots of movies fail miserably while attempting this. Here, every single t-shirt and haircut of the crowds in the stands is spot-on, the film grain for the racing scenes is very good, the cars are perfect, and most notably the tracks are straight out of the seventies.
I like when the actors look like the real people they are interpreting. Here, everybody is a dead ringer: Niki, Marlene, Clay, everyone.
Acting is good, Bruhl starts a bit over the top, but soon you'll get aquainted with his persona, and you'll find it's actually a very good performance.
Supporting cast is on par.
Just Hemsworth is a bit off target, because Hunt had a playful note he's not able to replicate. Here he plays just the "handsome rogue", and little more.
The Lauda-Hunt relationship is the less accurate part of the story, but this is an understandable license.
Lastly, some quotes have real swagger, the Drake makes a cameo appearence, and the scene where Lauda drives in the italian countryside is outstanding.