First Take: Rush- Formula 1 isn’t my forté

SYPNOSIS:

The merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.

I was expecting disappointment from this film knowing the subject matter it is dealing with- not every cinemagoer is in to the high octane world of Formula 1 that graces TV screens every couple of weekends, but for once, an Oscar winning director in the form of Ron Howard has perfected a film about F1 for the non-F1 fan.

Howard directs the film with absolute ease and control of the plot, which has been crafted to perfection with regular collaborator Peter Morgan. It tells the story of that fateful 1976 season, and the now infamous Nürburgring incident very well, while also focusing on the seeds of the Hunt/Lauda rivalry back in their days in the Formula 3 leagues. 

It is shot incredibly by Anthony Dod Mantle, with the races shot in such a way that no two meetings are the same- and with Hans Zimmer scoring the action in a 1970′s rock inspired soundtrack, there isn’t much I can fault with this film.

The performances are just first class, with Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl portraying their respective characters so well that even their mannerisms mimic those of the real men, and supporting them is a cast that includes Olivia Wilde, Natalie Dormer, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Stephen Mangan and many others. One thing I can certainly say for sure; this is a loud film in terms of the sound mix, so for you home video viewers, exercise some caution with your surround sound setup when it is released on DVD.

THE VERDICT

Rush is without question one of the best films I’ve seen on the big screen. With a great cast, some stellar direction and a brilliantly written script, there isn’t much to fault, and it could be regarded as a classic in years to come.

Rating: 5/5