Hemswort and Brühl are spot on in Rush...

Rating: 9/10 (5 February 2014)

This film, directed by Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, focuses on the intense rivalry between 1970s Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, particularly the 1976 Formula 1 season that saw both men push themselves to unthinkable lengths as they fought for the championship.
But this film is not simply about a rivalry between two drivers. It is about determination, persistence, and the will to win–-it's about just how far some men are willing to push themselves in pursuit of victory and respect.
Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers) plays British party-boy driver James Hunt. Cocky, arrogant, and known just as much--if not more--for his off the track exploits as his ability to drive a race car. If you were to write a book about Hunt's life it would be titled, Beer, Babes, and Breakneck Speed.
The opening scene of the movie is an exceptional portrayal of Hunt. He walks into a hospital wearing his fire suit and sporting a bloody nose and black eye that he sustained not from a crash, but from a scuffle with another driver--supposedly because Hunt had slept with the other man's wife. In true James Hunt fashion, he wastes no time hitting on the nurse who comes to his aid. Hemsworth plays the role with ease. His pretty-boy looks and swagger make him believable as the party–boy, ladies' man who hasn't a care in the world.
Niki Lauda and James Hunt are on complete opposite ends of the social spectrum. A consummate student of his craft, Lauda cannot be concerned with parties or nightlife of any kind. Lauda is driven by one thing: being the best. Daniel Brühl (Inglorious Bastards) plays alongside Hemsworth beautifully. Lauda's character can be best summed up in a scene where he makes his first test-run as a member of the Ferrari racing team. He finishes his test run and promptly calls the car a "shitbox" and says that he doesn't understand how in Ferrari's facilities they built such a piece of crap.
Like Hunt, Lauda is arrogant, but in a way different. Lauda doesn't think he was the best driver. He knows he is. He doesn't think he can set up his car the best, he knows he could and he isn't afraid to tell you. Brühl's accent and delivery capture Lauda's personality with precision. The 1976 Formula 1 season is all about Lauda vs. Hunt. The two battle every race--with Lauda capturing early season dominance. A controversial disqualification because of an illegal car vacates Hunt's first win of the season. In the following weeks, he experiences a slew of blown engines as his mechanics struggle to reconfigure the car.
Then, at the Grand Prix in Germany, Lauda fights to have the race canceled due to weather, but Hunt uses his vast popularity to sway the other drivers to vote to continue the race as planned. In this race, Lauda has a crash that left him trapped in a burning car for several minutes, severely burning his face and lungs. As Lauda recovers in the hospital, Hunt charges up the leader board, closing the gap between himself and Lauda. Despite opposition from doctors and his wife--and still wearing bandages from the burns on his head--Lauda returns for the final weeks of the season.
Everything in the movie leads up to a Hunt vs. Lauda showdown in the final race of the season, which takes place in a torrential downpour that forces every driver on the track to ask the question, "Is this race worth my life?" This race that pushes both Lauda and Hunt further than they have ever pushed themselves, and it pushes one of them past his breaking point. A beautiful and tragic film all at the same time, Rush is a winner. The camera work is excellent. The racing sequences are exciting. But the story and portrayal of these two bitter rivals is the real selling point. Hemsworth and Brühl play their roles brilliantly and make this film worth multiple views.