Rush to watch ‘RUSH’

Filmmakingis a chance to live many lifetimes.
                                                                                       - RobertAltman 

Ever since the Monaco GP, when Ron Howard andhis team played the movie for all the drivers and team members, my foot hasbeen tapping worse than Christian Horner’s, intolerantly waiting for the movie to hit the big screens. F1 fans obviously wanted to see the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, the unforgettable and golden memories of 1976.While, the other non-racing fans, wanted to watch the movie for heartthrob Chris ‘Thor’ Hemsworth.

Just as Robert Altman pointed out, filmmaking is the chance to live many lifetimes, Ron Howard’s movie ‘RUSH’ gives a chance to all F1 fans to re-live the 1976 season with his brilliant work of art. NikiLauda and James Hunt were two characters who had totally opposite, yet beautiful insights on life itself, and Howard did a phenomenal job to try and bring out the versatile contrast between the two greats which made them exclusive in their own manner. Daniel Bruhl portrayed the perfect Niki Lauda –the highly technical, no nonsense speaking, straight-forward Lauda that we've seen today. His mixed sense of humor and a technical mind gave a nice flow to the movie; while on the other hand, Chris Hemsworth rocked the character of James Hunt. Despite the spitting image of James in him, Chris played the role of a British playboy who was determined to win, but often failed to impress his fellow team members and sponsors because of his tomfoolery.

Though the story of James and Niki was far too complicated with intricacies and small detail, the film had just enough content for the viewers to know what exactly happened between the two over the years – from F3 to F1.

The movie was most certainly hyped, and for the same hype that was created, it didn’t disappoint its viewers because it wasn't movie that just went on and on about racing, but included the right amount of everything – humor, philosophy and romance to spice it up. 

Was RUSH the best racing movie we’ve seen?

I’d say yes, after the 1966 movie ‘Grand Prix’,no other movie has succeeded to capture the true essence of racing in Formula One. And to ice the cake, no other movie actually showed what F1 is all about,while Rush nailed every scene, equalizing the glam, money and the risk in this sport.

What makes RUSH so watchable and capturing?

Firstly it’s the whole plot itself. To take the intense rivalry between Lauda and Hunt itself was an exciting theme. It had everything that looked and sounded Hollywood, just the way the world’s biggest market- America would love it.  It had the hardcore competition that some fans would enjoy, the spice and lust that sells well and of course, the finely promoted film since the Monaco GP made it a must must watch film even if you aren’t an F1 or a motorsport fan.

Casting: James Hunt was played by Chris Hemsworth – who looked like Hunt and also captured the real James on course of the film. If you’ve ever read the book ‘James Hunt’ by Gerald Donaldson, you’ll understand the real James and his actions and reactions similar to Chis’ brilliant acting. Daniel Bruhl who played Niki Lauda also did an absolutely mind blowing job. His constant interaction with the real Niki, along with his incorporation of the very same into his acting (and the make-up artists) got the perfect Niki Lauda done. Marlene, Niki’s wife was played by Alexandra Maria Lara, and though her appearance throughout the movie was considerably less, her acting showed strong emotions and reinforced the phrase ‘behind every successful man, there’s a woman’.    

Music and soundtrack: There’s not one movie where Hans Zimmer hasn’t made it big. His sound track for rush also was one of the best. The movie opened with roaring V12 engines and was followed by the engrossing and deepening music ‘1976’ composed by Hans and his team. And the rest of the movie was given life to by the other themes,thanks to Zimmer.

The cars – the best part of the movie, where genuine cars of the teams were used and directed in a flawless way, showing the immense tension in the paddock and the cockpit of the driver, the speed and detail which people outside generally tend to miss and glamour and glitter in the world of formula one.

And to top it all off, it’s a Ron Howard film!

Just like the movie says, everybody’s driven by something. And Ron was driven by the fascination he had for Formula One and ultimately made his mark in the F1 fraternity for re-polishing and for giving us an opportunity to re-live a part of F1’s glorious history.