Rush

Movie Title--  Rush

Release Year--  2013

Running Time--  2 Hours and 3 Minutes

Director--  Ron Howard

Cast--  Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Marie Lara, Christian McKay, Pierfrancesco Favino

The 1970's rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda

As the images of the racetrack and action in the garage from the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on August 1, 1976 fill the screen, a voice begins to talk about the statistics of Formula 1 racing.  He then introduces himself as Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) and informs the audience that people know him for two things, the first being his rivalry with fellow driver, James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and the second is the event that would happen to him that very day.

The rivalry begins in 1970 at the Crystal Palace circuit in England when the two make contact and Hunt goes on to win the race.  Words are exchanged in the garage between the two of them.  

Lauda has a falling out with his father over wanting to be a race car driver and when he realize that he doesn't have his father's backing, he takes out a loan himself and buys his way onto BRM Formula One team.  When he goes to test drive the car, he meets his teammate Clay Regazzoni (Pierfrancesco Favino) for the first time.  Meanwhile after Hesketh Racing, the team James Hunt is driving for, hears about Lauda buying his way into Formula One, they soon follow suit.  Regazzoni gets hired by Scuderia Ferrari and he takes his teammate Lauda with him.  Lauda wins the World Championship that year.

At the end of the season Hunt's team, Hesketh, team closes up shop because they have failed to pick up a sponsor.  At the last second Hunt learns that McLaren has lost their driver and he goes for an interview.  He picks up the ride for the year.

The start of the 1976 season saw Lauda winning more races while Hunt is struggling to catch him in the points.  When Hunt wins the Spanish Grand Prix, Lauda complains and Hunt is soon disqualified for his car being too wide after a post race inspection.  McLaren then has some trouble complying to F1 rules after this and they suffer a series of setbacks.  It is during this time that Hunt learns that his wife is having an affair.  After their divorce, Hunt regains the competitive spirit he thought he had lost and it is announced that after an investigation, his disqualification in Spain has been overturned and he gains back the points he had lost.  

At the German Grand Prix in 1976 the conditions are really bad for racing and Lauda calls a drivers meeting to discuss canceling the race with everyone.  Hunt then speaks up and persuades the room to continue with the race, saying that Lauda would be the only person to benefit from having one less race to run.

What happens on the track that day will determine the outcome of not only the race but the lives of Hunt and Lauda and the rest of the season.

I thought this film was just amazing.  It truly is one of the better films I have seen lately.  The story was put together so that it was interesting and action packed with very little filler.  It successfully told the story of two men and their legendary rivalry without becoming wordy and boring.  It is a little bit long but in order to do these two men justice, it is well worth it.

Hemsworth and Bruhl are absolutely wonderful in this film.  Their onscreen chemistry was excellent and from the beginning the two of them make you feel like you are actually watching this real life rivalry unfold in front of you.  They story sucks you in and that is the best kind of film; when you feel like you are really there that is when you have the best movie going experience.

Prepare your snacks early for this one because you aren't going to want to miss a second of it and Don't Forget the Popcorn!