Overview
Films concerning cars and racing have often been less than fantastic (unless Ryan Gosling or Vin Diesel is at the wheel). However, Ron Howard may be about to add another option to that short list with Rush, a film for motoring and film enthusiasts alike. "You've seldom felt more alive in a movie theatre than you will experiencing Rush," was Variety reviewer Peter Debruge's verdict on the film, which is currently sitting at 100 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rush explores one of the most famous rivalries in Formula 1 history — British bad-boy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) versus disciplined champion Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) — and their memorable 1976 season where Hunt and Lauda pushed each other to the limits of their sport, resulting in a horrific crash and legendary comeback that earned its own page in sporting lore. The events of that season in a sport that saw deaths occur annually at the time is the stuff of great human drama, giving Hemsworth and Brühl plenty of fuel to work with.
What is set to push Rush to pole position on the grid though is the incredible realness created by Howard's camera techniques throughout production. He takes the audience deep into the thick of the action by integrating cameras directly into the cars themselves. The race sequences eradicate the boredom of watching cars go around and around and allow us to enjoy the action and the film's exploration of ego. Add in a Hans Zimmer score and this could be very busy come award season.
We are holding a private advance screening of Rush on 2 October at Dendy Newtown, ahead of the film's national release on 3 October. To be in the running for one of 75 double passes, just subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then click here.
