Review of Rush (2013) by Mike M — 11 Apr 2014

I don't think I've seen a racing movie that wasn't animated or looked like it was made for a straight to DVD release. It was worth mentioning because I don't have any other movies from this genre to compare with, but I will take blind shot and state that Rush is one of the great ones.

The rivalry between the two main drivers played by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl has a progressive feeling to it from just a battle of attitudes between two hotheads to a race without rules. Daniel Brühl is particularly interesting as his character, Niki Lauda, feels completely driven by this rivalry as he finds motivation in the success of his opponent.

The filming itself is unique and downright spectacular. The racing sequenced are clear, detailed and have impact. The perspective of the viewer is split by the cinematographer in mid-race between the pilot, the track and the car itself. You really get to appreciate Formula 1 racing when you see the conditions and the speeds at the pilots operate.

When I saw what the pilot Niki Lauda went through I just imagined they invented an accident to further the development of the character, but once I found out everything from the movie actually happened you get a much deeper sense of appreciation for what you just watched.