Rush

Rush - Dir. Ron Howard

Nobody could accuse Ron Howard of being a visually stylish filmmaker. In fact, if you asked me to name any specific trademarks in Howard's techniques, I'd draw a blank. However, Howard's career has blossomed from 80's comedies like Gung Ho and Cocoon to prestige dramas like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and Frost/Nixon, the latter of which was written by Peter Morgan. Morgan is well known for penning movies based on real-life events from the British royal family in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death (The Queen) to a harrowing account of Idi Amin's brutal regime (The Last King of Scotland). Howard and Morgan have teamed up again for Rush, a story lighter in tone, but no less compelling.

Rush is set in the world of Formula-1 racing during the 1970's, a time when technology and safety guidelines seem downright archaic compared to today. Injuries and deaths were a regular occurrence as 42 drivers lost their lives between 1950 and 1980. F1 spectators were enraptured by the rivalry between champion racers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). Hunt is a blonde Adonis, a brash and cocky Englishman who fit perfectly in the era of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. Even Hunt's failures were spectacular. His brief marriage to supermodel Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde) ended when she left him for screen idol Richard Burton. On the other hand, Lauda is cold and calculating, a veritable Vulcan. His bluntness doesn't make Lauda any friends among his fellow racers, who see him as arrogant. But, Lauda is driven, no pun intended. Shunned by his wealthy family, Lauda bought his way onto his first F1 team and rebuilt his car from the ground up to his specifications. Later, he joins Ferrari to win his first championship.

A rain soaked course in West Germany changed their lives forever. Lauda argued to postpone the race as weather conditions made the already dangerous track more treacherous, but Hunt rallied the other racers to his side and the race was on. Lauda suffered a near fatal accident that caused severe burns to his face. Against all odds, Lauda was back in the driver's seat six weeks later.

Rush is undoubtedly Ron Howard's best looking picture and his strongest work since 2008's Frost/Nixon. Howard and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire) make liberal use of car-mounted cameras to drag the audience along for the ride. Some snazzy graphics help to jazz up the requisite montage sequences. There's a slight graininess to the look of the film that, along with excellent make-up and costume design, accurately capture the heyday of the 70's. Rush won't have enough racing to satisfy enthusiasts, but this is primarily a character study.

Morgan doesn't go the easy route by painting one of the leads as the villain. He finds the right balance and makes Rush equally Hunt's story as much as it is Lauda's. The screenplay builds an antagonistic relationship between the characters while naturally growing them into a mutual understanding and respect. Hemsworth is pitch perfect as the golden boy James Hunt. He is, after all, the god of thunder. Hemsworth's charisma could have overshadowed his co-star, but Daniel Bruhl is just too good to recede into the background. It's a shame Bruhl's performance was lost in the shuffle during awards season. Lauda isn't the most likeable guy around, but Bruhl imbues him with an unwavering determination and subtle charm. If that doesn't work, Lauda will earn your sympathy as he undergoes the painful procedure to have fluid drained from his damaged lungs.

Since Rush focuses on the macho world of Formula-1, the female characters get the short change. Olivia Wilde and Natalie Dormer from Game of Thrones mostly serve as arm candy for Hemsworth though Alexandra Maria Lara gets the meatier role as Lauda's wife, Marlene. Thankfully, she's not the stereotypical worrywart. She's a woman with a quiet understanding that the dangerous world of racing is her husband's life.

Rush doesn't reinvent the sports drama, but it is a well-made picture built around two solid performances from Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl. The beautiful presentation of the Blu-ray makes this an easy recommendation.

Rating: *** (*****)