Good acting, but not that much beyond that

Rating: 6/10 (20 April 2020)

It's probably best if I start by saying, there are few recreational activities that I care about less than car-racing. I am an avid fan of sports films, but this isn't really a sport, so Rush doesn't get any benefit of the doubt from me. That's not to say there's nothing good in this movie. The character work from Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth is great, and that's what gets you invested in the story. Niki Lauda (the man that Daniel Brühl plays) proves to be the most fascinating person in the film, because he has such a uniquely abrasive personality, and yet shows that there are some emotions underlying that rough exterior. I was definitely interested in where his journey would end up. The fact that this was all based on real events made it that much more powerful, knowing that he had overcome so much in his life to be a success.
James Hunt (the man that Chris Hemsworth plays) is much less fascinating. He is simply a jerk that seems to care about no one. That's where Rush lost me. The one lame "save the cat" moment that they give Hunt is not nearly enough to make me like him. The end didn't click all that well, because I couldn't buy that one conversation and a single good deed could turn their rivalry into a friendship. I was afraid he was going to remain the protagonist for the entire film, and his tedious relationships would become an important plot point. Thankfully, later on the movie focused in on Lauda much more, and his intriguing marriage. I enjoyed aspects of Rush more than I expected, particularly the acting, but it never could get over the hump to be a movie I loved. Frankly, I think an ESPN documentary on the subject would be a bit more effective.