Rush

Ron Howard (2013)

117min

15 Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Steve Morrissey

There's a real Cavalier-versus-Roundhead thrust to Ron Howard's zippy biopic about the rivalry between Formula One drivers James Hunt, the boozing blond ladies' man - nicknamed "Hunt the Shunt" because of his slap-happy driving style - and Niki Lauda, the nerdy bucktoothed tactician, also known as "The Rat". Howard captures the characters of the two drivers, abetted greatly by near-perfect performances from a swaggering Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and a scowling Daniel Brühl playing Lauda, and evokes the glamour and danger of 1970s F1. The action pivots on the 1976 German Grand Prix, when Lauda crashed and burned, forcing a three-race lay-off while he recovered from life-threatening injuries, allowing Hunt a shot at the World Championship. Peter Morgan's screenplay is faithful to the facts and respectful of both drivers without getting bogged down in technical minutiae, back story or overweening sentimentality. In other words, Rush is thoughtful and informative but also doesn't forget to be thrilling.

Summary

Premiere. The 1976 Formula One Championship season is dominated by a fierce rivalry between two contrasting racers, as daredevil British driver James Hunt and methodical Austrian defending champion Niki Lauda put their lives on the line to outdo each other on the track. Fact-based drama, starring Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl and Olivia Wilde.

Cast & Crew

Niki Lauda Daniel Brühl

James Hunt Chris Hemsworth

Suzy Miller Olivia Wilde

Marlene Lauda Alexandra Maria Lara

Clay Regazzoni Pierfrancesco Favino

Alexander Hesketh Christian McKay

Stirling Moss Alistair Petrie

Nurse Gemma Natalie Dormer

Louis Stanley David Calder

Alastair Caldwell Stephen Mangan

Anthony "Bubbles" Horsley Julian Rhind-Tutt

John Hogan Patrick Baladi

BRM mechanic Jamie Sives

Guy Edwards James Norton

Peter Hunt Geoffrey Streatfield

Agnes Bonnet Joséphine de La Baume

Mario Andretti Kristofer Dayne

Director Ron Howard

Other Information

Language: English, German, Italian +subtitlesColourTheatrical distributor: Studio CanalGuidance: Violence, swearing, sex scenes, nudity.Available on: DVD and Blu-rayReleased on: 13 Sep 2013

Drama

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