Title – Rush (2013)
Director – Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Cast – Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara
Plot – Based on the real life rivalry of Formula One racing drivers and on track rivals James Hunt (Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Bruhl) Rush looks to sit the viewer into the high octane action of the drivers at the times perilous 1976 racing season.
“The closer you are to death the more alive you feel”
Review by Eddie on 13/02/2014
When Oscar nominations were announced this year many bemoaned the lack of Rush in any of the categories with Ron Howards FI biopic not even able to score a look in in any of the seemingly appropriate tech or sound spots. It’s a curious and unanswerable question when one is to ask why Rush was so overlooked, but it’s also not hard to see why the film was perhaps just merely forgotten about.
Rush is a film that from a production stand point would be graded in the highest order yet there is an element amiss in the film that stops it from being an emotional movie, a movie that transcends whatever scene it is set in and gets viewers to appreciate it on a whole different wave length. The sound editing, visual effects, stunts and Anthony Dod Mantle’s at times ground breaking and stunning cinematography (after this effort and his work on films such as 127 Hours and Dredd 3D Mantle is quickly establishing himself as one of the best in the DOP game) in Rush are without question A grade efforts but Howard has somehow miss–stepped when concentrating on the lives of these two different and amazingly driven men.
In one of his first lead roles outside of the Marvel universe Hemsworth as playboy James Hunt is a solid presence in the film but one can’t help but feel it’s pretty much Thor in a fast car and therefore not much of a stretch of his acting ability. Daniel Bruhl as the much more stoic and professional of the two racers Niki Lauda does a fine job of portraying a man that at times is extremely hard to care for and that’s where the film becomes an enjoyable one not a classic. These two true life men lead undeniably interesting lives and the focus of the events in the film are on occasions edge of your set moments but to transcend a film to another level (and get those Oscar nominations) you need to have people that no matter how vile or arrogant they get they still draw your feelings out, and James and Niki sadly just don’t have that.
A never dull and visually impressive piece of movie entertainment Rush is another fine entry into the increasingly broad film catalogue of director Ron Howard who is one of the most consistent and interesting directors working today. Rush is also a film that could have been so much more but as it stands is a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable night in with a movie, just don’t expect to be thinking about it in the days following.
3 and a half lung cleanouts out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
I have to admit, I liked it too. Not normally a fan of car racing OR sports films but this one was quite well done and equally interesting.
People really seemed to react well to this one Passion, climbing up the IMDB top 250 on a daily basis.
Eddie
Urgh, I was so disappointed in this film. I thought they missed a trick by not spending more time on Lauda’s accident and recovery, which, I think woud’ve made for a much more engaging film.
Agreed Laura, I felt that would of been an chance to give the movie way more emotional heft but they seemed to get it over and done with in the space of ten minutes.
Eddie
Sad I missed this in theaters. I love sports movies so maybe I’ll enjoy this a bit more than you did?
I think so Jackson, it would take someone in a pretty harsh mind set not to enjoy this one at least a little bit 🙂
Eddie
Good film. I had to laugh at your lung clear out rating though. That bit had me squirming in my seat more than any horror film could!
Oh man that bit had me wincing, I can just not imagine having to go through that type of cleanout ha!
Eddie
i very much want to see this although it seems an odd choice of subject for Ron Howard. One wonders how a UK director (Ridley Scott, namely) would have handled it
Yeh mate it seems like Howard has readily admitted that he pretty much knew nothing about FI or the story really until reading Morgan’s script. Considering that he did a mighty fine job and poor old Scott has been on a lean trot lately, although Exodus can hopefully change that around.
Eddie
maybe another good British director for a high-octane story like this would be Danny Boyle
Oh yeh for sure man! He has worked with Dod Mantle in the past and had great results, I can imagine that story being a lot more crazier than Howards.
Eddie
Very well said. I basically agree, especially with the general conceit. It was fun, by it could have been so much better.
A lot of fun for sure James, just wish it hit home more emotionally as you felt it was ripe for it.
Eddie
Yeah. And that’s what it was trying to do. But it didn’t hit me either.
Had this one downloaded for a while ready to watch..
But everything else seems more important.
After your review however, I may even watch it tonight
I think it would be a solid choice for a pre-valentines day treat, much like The Raid 2 will be next year 😉
Eddie
I have to disagree with “Thor in a fast car” I don’t think those characters are the acting style are alike at all. He’s a legit actor and he’s getting better and better and he’s particularly good at emotional stuff.
Interesting you feel that way between the two Thors, Avengers, Cabin in The Woods, Red Dawn and this I don’t think I have seen Hemsworth doing the emotional stuff perse. I do believe he has ample talent but have not yet seen a real stretch of the ability he has.
Eddie
Emotional stuff is in Cabin, Thor, Avengers…it’s a big part of the role, anger, crying, pain ect…
There’s a scene in Cabin which Whedon and Goddard were blown away by and realized Hemsworth was going to be big. Most of his roles are not that alike when you really think about it or not think about even. His worst was probably the Snow White movie b/c the accent was a little iffy.
Good thoughts, you’re making me want to watch his back catelouge!
Eddie
Broad is a perfect word to describe the directing career of Ron Howard, and certainly a mostly impressive one, as well. Rush did not appeal to me much, but considering the fairly strong support it has garnered, I may catch it eventually.
Nice write-up!
I reckon it’s well worth a track down Matthew. I originally was in the same boat and was swayed by the opinion of the critics and a couple of buddies.
Eddie
Good review Eddie. The fact that Howard was able to make us care for both of these guys and see why exactly it was that they mattered in the grander scheme of things, is something that surprised me and made me happy to see. Especially coming from him, a director I’ve never been too all that big of a fan of, to say the least.
Interesting man, I really liked Howards work on films like Cinderella Man and Frost/Nixon and always feel his films are never not entertaining which is what Rush was.
Eddie
This for me was the sleeper hit of 2013. I fell a little bit in love with it and Daniel Bruhl was amazing!
Bruhl is a great little actor, hoping he gets some more roles that showcase his talent in the future – even if it means fake teeth!
Eddie
I’m following you guys now, you put up an impressive amount of stuff. I did a piece on Rush about a week ago. It’s *slightly* more negative. http://moviequibble.wordpress.com/2014/02/02/rant-rush-really-grinds-my-gears/
Awesome Quibble we look forward to hearing more from you, interesting rant on Rush as it seems an overwhelming precent seemed to dig it, but I can see some valid points.
Eddie
Rush was perhaps the film I regret not seeing the most out of last years lineup. It just looked like the film had a very keen eye for visuals, and a film with a keen eye for visuals usually wins me over (not talking about CGI here). I have seen so many films with an interesting story marred by boring visuals, and the same the other way around, Rush seems like a good balance of the two judging by your review.
That’s what (excuse the pun) got me over the line with this film it was visually impressive in almost every scene and a ton of effort had been put in to do so.
Eddie
Cool! Nice review as always. I haven’t had the chance to see it yet but I really want to…
Cheers, Bokis
Nice Bokis, be good to hear from you if you catch it down the line 🙂
Eddie
I finally saw it and i genuinely loved it! I posted a review on my site if you would care to read my opinions 😉
Cheers, Bokis
Will have a little look mate, really glad you enjoyed it.
Eddie
I still need to see this film, wasn’t sure at first as I didn’t think I’d be that interested but your review has intrigued me!
I to wasn’t that keen on it all but glad I caught up with it on home release.
Eddie
Absolutely agree with you. It could have been a total classic but ended up as just a really great film. Bruhl deserves all the awards for his performance
Spot on man you hit the nail on the head with that statement! I wanted to love it more but just found emotionally it was not enough.
Eddie
Always interesting to hear your take on things, but from my review it was like we were watching different films ha. I was just so impressed with the dialogue and that’s one of the reasons it left an impression for me. Wasn’t surprised it was the same writer of Frost/Nixon. Curious that it was Howard directing it. he does have a broad range.
Yeh mate his new flick this year looks awesome.
E
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