TIFF Movie Review – Rush (2013)

A clash of styles and egos follows two ambitious race car drivers from the Formula 3 circuit to the top class of Formula 1.  Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) is as disciplined and meticulous as James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) is carefree and reckless; what the two rivals do share is a death-defying profession and an abundance of arrogance.

As much as there is action out on the racetrack a lot of drama takes place in the personal lives of the two lead protagonists/antagonists.  Both of them are fuelled by a growing contempt for the other. Daniel Brühl (Goodbye, Lenin) has the harder role portraying a blunt object of logic whereas Chris Hemsworth (Thor) has the opportunity to ooze charisma.  Niki Lauda and James Hunt are unlikable people but one has to admire their drive to push themselves to win.

Director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) and his production crew are in top gear; they provide a stylish performance which is as slick as the manoeuvres being made out on the racetrack.  The camera work is kinetic and the pacing is brisk while at the same time both Brühl and Hemsworth are given enough screen time to flesh out their cinematic personas.

Enjoyable moments are the roadside assistance scene that takes place out on the Italian countryside and the clever depiction of a race being visualized within the mind of a driver.  The women characters are not explored in great detail as they exist to expose the emotional flaws and frailties of their male racing idols.  Overall, Rushis an exhilarating piece of moviemaking.