Exciting, fantastic and thrilling

Rating: 9/10 (1 February 2014)

When I think about who this film would target for its audience I think of males who like watching Formula 1. But I am a girl who now and then watched F1 with her dad and isn't amazingly interested in it and know very little of the history of F1. I never knew who Lauda and Hunt were. Yet here I find myself, blown away and feeling this is one of the best films of the year.
This film was so exciting to watch, it was if you were there in the crowd, in the driving seat, in the pits. The pace was incredible and perfectly timed. The cinematography was beautiful, enhancing the thrill of the race. In the Japanese race I literally was holding my breath till the end, it was like watching the race live, incredible feeling watching it. Editing was fantastic, directing was fantastic. Whole thing was fantastic.
Acting wise, for me, Hemsworth's best film to date. He was fantastic in this. He captured, what appeared to me as a conflicted driver who was like a horse chomping at the bit, ready to fly forward at tremendous speeds. In films such as Thor he is restricted, Thor doesn't really express much emotion, much personality (love Thor 1&2 btw, not criticising the film or Thor as a character). But as James Hunt he came into his own, a masterpiece of acting. In regards to Bruhl, phenomenal too. Brilliantly captured Lauda's reserved personality, the way he's strict with himself and his limits, but hold his passion for the race and the car. Together they managed to make the bond between the two racers exciting and you felt like you were there with them, feeling their emotions towards one another. Especially when Lauda came back from hospital.
One thing I think they could have done with this film is added a bit more original footage, especially in the racing scenes. Would have been fantastic to have seen some of it integrated with the crisp film work. I did like the ending, seeing the original film, but more would have been very welcome.
Last point, WHY THE HELL HAS THIS NOT BEEN NOMINATED FOR AN Oscar, MORE GOLDEN GLOBES AND MORE AWARDS?! This is a damn fantastic film which I feel has been very underrated in its coverage. Plan to see this? Then what are you waiting for, it's bloody amazing.