Review : RUSH

RUSH: A biopic which gives an adrenaline rush

Academy award winner Ron Howard has a penchant for biopic, one of his movie “A Beautiful Mind” a biopic on the mathematician John Nash who suffered from schizophrenia won him an Academy award for best director.

“RUSH” is another Howard biopic based on the famous F1 racers James Hunt and Nikki Lauda in the 70’s.

The story chronicles the rivalry between Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and the F1 championship of 1976, which was quite eventful with Lauda meeting with an accident on the tracks which almost took his life in Germany. It also showcases the turbulent personal life of James Hunt and his wild ways and living in the edge compared to Lauda’s more planned and calm life.

The script & screenplay by Peter Morgan is captivating and thrilling. It takes a peek on the personal life of the famed racers and their trials and tribulation beautifully never ever slowing the pace. The screenplay has its nail biting moments especially the race sequences.

The race sequences take your breath away especially when they show it through the driver’s angle. The cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle is excellent and captures the 70’s well. The production design by Mark Digby is perfect and every detail is taken care to give an apt 70’s look. Costume Design by Julian Day re-creates the 70’s style with élan giving the authenticity to the story. Editing by Daniel P Hanley & Mike Hill is taut and maintains a pace which was required for the narration.

Performances by all the actors are one of the highlights of the movie. Both Chris Hemsworth & Daniel Brühl give a crackling performance and are convincing as an F1 racer. The body language and the swagger everything has been detailed well in their portrayal. Chris who plays the casanova Brit, James Hunt suits the role to the T and his portrayal does justice to the character. On the other hand Daniel who played the calculated Nikki Lauda the Austrian racer who faces a personal setback after the accident portrays the character with conviction and connects instantly; especially when he returns to the race after his accident and procures the 3rd spot I wanted to scream with joy that is how realistic the portrayal was. Other actors like Olivia Wilde who plays Hunt estranged wife and Alexandra Maria Lara who played Lauda’s Italian wife support the boys with their convincing performance. Rest of the support cast do justice to their roles.

Director Ron Howard comes up with yet another masterpiece with RUSH. The movie is thrilling, entertaining and above all inspiring. Ron successfully connects with his audience well and does justice to the script with his taut direction.

It is very rare that a movie touches you so well that you tend not to forget it, RUSH is such a kind of cinema. I would go with 4 stars.