“Rush”
Updated: Nov 17, 2021
Fast, dramatic, intense.
Welcome to my first film review. Fitting that it is a story about F1 racing. I have been getting into F1 more and more because my boyfriend and I have been binging Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix. I'm clearly obsessed and find the history and the current drivers extremely fascinating and entertaining. Not only has the show widened my view of the drivers as regular people but it also has taught me a lot about the sport. This film was similar because it shows F1 during a very dangerous time.
Here is the trailer https://youtu.be/4XA73ni9eVs
Rush was directed by Ron Howard. I feel like any movie he directs I'm just in awe of. I loved everything about this movie. The cinematography, the acting, the soundtrack, the dialogue. I feel like everything was perfect in telling the story of the rivalry between drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt. The film's main focus is the 1976 season after Lauda won his first world championship the previous year for Ferrari. James Hunt ends up getting a seat with McLaren and that is when the real rivalry starts.
“The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel. It's a wonderful way to live. It's the only way to drive." - James Hunt
I learned so much about Niki Lauda from this film. I had already seen him and his relationship with some drivers on the Netflix show but I found it extremely interesting to learn how he started in F1. He had a knack for improving the cars and was just an amazing driver. Ultimately the rivalry with James Hunt would cause him to have a terrible accident where half of his body was burned. The film shows his month or so in the hospital recovering from the burns, watching races, and fighting to get back to racing himself. This was so incredible to watch, I can't even imagine doing what he did. Niki Lauda ended up racing in the same season as his accident. I also found that my respect for the drivers and the sport grew after watching this film. It just made me appreciate everything so much more.
I think I'd have to give this one 5 stars just because there were so many elements to it that really brought everything together to make it such a great story.