4/5 Pitchforks
Over the course of his career, perhaps no director has been as hit, or miss, as Ron Howard. The former “Andy Griffith Show” actor, who has directed Oscar-winning film “A Beautiful Mind,” as well as “Frost/Nixon” and “Apollo 13,” has also put out mediocre films "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons."
His most recent film, "Rush," puts the mediocrity behind him and may just be his most entertaining and well done movie.
“Rush” tells the tale of the legendary rivalry between Formula One racing drivers, James Hunt and Niki Lauda in perhaps the most notorious sports rivalry of the 1970s. Chris Hemsworth (Marvel’s "The Avengers”), plays Hunt – a hot-headed and cocky playboy who races for the thrill. Hunt lives the good life; he wins races, has money, and gets ladies without even trying. Enter Lauda, played by Daniel Brühl (“Inglorious Basterds”), who is Hunt's opposite. Lauda is disowned by his father when he learns he plans to race cars for a living, and Lauda must take out a bank loan in order to get into the sport.
The two men are the epitome of polar opposites, and both Hemsworth and Brühl give standout performances that could be the best of both men’s careers so far.
Written by Peter Morgan, he manages to find the perfect balance between showing the two drivers’ lives on and off the track. Morgan does a fantastic job of truly bringing these two characters to life.
“Rush” is atmospheric, moody, and the racing sequences are breathtaking.
The film’s two stars are supposed to be the leading men, but the real stars here are the perfectly directed racing pieces. Howard finds a wide variety of ways to keep the scenes invigorating with several incredibly effective first-person shots from the driver’s seat.
The high octane, full throttle action is bound to bring audience members to the edge of their seat in what could be one of the most thrilling theater experiences this year.
It may be a bit too early to talk seriously about Oscar nominations with films “American Hustle” and “The Counselor” set for release in the coming weeks, “Rush” is bound to spark early Oscar buzz. With the film's direction, leading actors and cinematographer, Anthony Dod Mantle, the award would be well-deserved. The only thing is, how weird would it be to say that Thor was nominated for an Academy Award?
Reach the reporter at seweinst@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @S_Weinstein95