WHO’S IN IT?
Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds), Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy), Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones), Alexandra Maria Lara (The Reader), Pierfrancesco Favino (World War Z), Christian McKay (Me and Orson Welles), Rebecca Ferdinando (Outside Bet)
WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?
Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind), director, co-producer; Peter Morgan (The Queen), writer, co-producer; Andrew Eaton (The Killer Inside Me), Eric Fellner (Les Miserables), Brian Grazer (Apollo 13) and Brian Oliver (Black Swan), producers; Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight), composer; Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire), cinematographer; Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill (The Da Vinci Code), editors
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
It’s the 1970s, and within the glamorous, competitive world of Formula 1 racing is the great sporting rivalry between the charming English playboy James Hunt (Hemsworth) and the brilliant and methodical Austrian driver Niki Lauder (Brühl). Both men’s lives on and off the track are examined right up to the 1976 season where they both push themselves to the ultimate limit in order to beat the other
WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?
The story of the real-life rivalry between Formula 1 racers James Hunt and Niki Lauder is one that has not been heavily in the public eye, until now. When opposites attract, sparks fly – but perhaps not in the romantic sense you may be thinking – and when they do so on a racetrack that could claim the life of any driver at any moment, it makes for some high-octane action and drama which is exactly what Rush aims to offer.
Given the sport’s popularity all over Europe – for any Americans reading this, think of it as a fancier, more dignified NASCAR – it’s not impossible to imagine the international scope that this film could stretch itself out to, but will it be strictly limited to this corner of the Earth? Don’t count on it, because the theme of rivalry is a universal plotline that nearly always lends itself to good drama or, at other times, comedy. But this is strictly a drama first and foremost, and one that examines what it is that drives others to be the very best at what they can be, even if it ends with sour results.
But that shouldn’t weigh it down, especially when the film has a considerable amount of talent both in front of the camera and behind it. Thanks to his title role in Thor, Chris Hemsworth has gone from playing small roles like Kirk’s dad in Star Trek to becoming the latest pin-up idol by mesmerised young women everywhere. Not only does the Australian actor have the looks but he also has the charisma and charm to be a major new Hollywood player, so his casting as English playboy Hunt is absolutely spot-on. Daniel Brühl also has a bit of a following after his appearances in films like Inglourious Basterds and Joyeux Noel, so many eyes will also be on him as the troubled Austrian driver Lauder.
Meanwhile, we have the almighty duo of Ron Howard and Peter Morgan on directing and scripting duties respectively. Former Happy Days star Howard has turned out to be quite the director with an Oscar and many established film credits to his name, while Morgan is always reliable with his written work on films like The Queen, The Damned United, and Howard’s own Frost/Nixon. That film shows the power of their union to create an intense showdown between David Frost and Richard Nixon, so expect similar wonders with their work on James Hunt and Niki Lauder.
Already poised to be a prime contender for the upcoming awards season, and yet another spotlight role for the ever-popular Hemsworth, Rush is bound to be a classic of the sports genre which deserves to be seen before it zooms (or “rushes”, if you will) beyond your reach in the cinema.
