Review of Rush (2013) by Jon H — 24 May 2014

Goodbye Thor. Throwing away his superhero alter-ego for a real-life persona, race-car legend James Hunt, gone are Chris Hemsworth's bulging biceps that once made every man jealous and every woman swoon. Gone is the booming voice that made him sound like a deaf Shakespearian actor. Hemsworth proves that, after years of kissing Natalie Portman and smashing Tom Hiddleston's head in, he isn't just a character actor, but one to be taken seriously. He commands "Rush", providing us with a charismatic anti-hero that is just as unreadable as he is compelling. He is James Hunt, and Daniel Brühl is his Austrian rival, Niki Lauda.

Their frenemy status is centered around their Formula One races, as they are always hot on each others heels and it never is completely permanent who the reigning champion will be. Ron Howard's face-paced but also distinctly smooth direction gives the film the type of meat it needs - never does "Rush" ring with a sort of dinky "based on a true story" façade - the story unfolds like any good drama, and only do we have to remind ourselves every once in a while that this is a work of non-fiction, melodramatic or otherwise.

The key to the film's success is how well it balances its action and its drama. The races are exhilarating and unpredictable, and the delves into Hunt and Lauda's personal lives are highly interesting because they differ so greatly - Hunt is a handsome womanizer who is also fond of drugs and alcohol, while Lauda is an introvert that considers himself to be a man of brains, not of looks. When Lauda finally does get into a crash, the two aspects of the film collide with complete naturalness and heartbreak. Brühl is the kind of actor that may not have the face and body of his co-star, but he has a rare talent in which he can transform into the man he's playing without even flinching.

"Rush" is a clear-eyed, thrilling, and fascinating journey that commands your attention for 123 minutes.