Rush

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Natalie Dormer, Stephen Mangan
Directed by: Ron Howard
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Drama
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Follows the 1970s rivalry between two Formula One race car drivers.

Review:

Tim: Ron Howard is clearly one of the all-time great directors. He has given us so many terrific movies over the years. He is one of the most exciting, competent, effective directors in Hollywood. I always look forward to his films. And yet, while his films are good, I have to admit it's been a long time since he gave us a truly great movie (at least seven years and maybe longer, depending on your view of The Da Vinci Code). With Rush, he gives us another solid, entertaining, competent film. This is a very, very good movie. And yet, it's not a great film. I am a bit worried Howard will continue to give us very good movies that aren't quite good enough.

Rush is a good movie, make no mistake about it. The film follows the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda during their battles in the 1970s. This movie is an entertaining period drama, an exciting Formula One racing film, and a drama between two men who hate and respect each other. It's a solid movie from start to finish, directed by a great director. This movie is absolutely worth seeing.

I thought the performances were good. It was nice to see Chris Hemsworth expand his scope outside of Marvel movies. He had a few strong moments, although I'm not completely convinced he is a great actor. His performance here was good, though. Daniel Bruhl was good as Niki Lauda. It was interesting to see him play this character who just didn't care what other people thought of him. He was content being alone, an unlikable individual who wins despite everyone disliking him. It was fun to see Hemsworth and Bruhl interact together on screen. These two characters couldn't be most dissimilar, yet they do ultimately find some commonality upon which to bond. The dynamic between these two characters drove the entire film.

The supporting cast was good, but no one was really around long enough to make a huge impression. I liked seeing Natalie Dormer, but she disappears. Olivia Wilde was a good addition, but has too little to do. Alexandra Maria Lara perhaps makes the biggest impact of the supporting cast. While it features good performances, they all pale in comparison to Hemsworth and Bruhl. There just wasn't enough room for anyone besides these two.

The story was good, but felt like it could have been tightened up some. I like that Howard spends a good deal of time developing both their characters. The big highlight is when Lauda is seriously burned in a terrible crash. This felt like the most memorable, emotional moment of the film. I expected the aftermath to be explored in as much detail as everything that came before it. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen. So much time is spent on the build up that the aftermath of the crash and Lauda's recovery and return to racing felt rushed. It was almost an afterthought, when it should have been the most memorable, powerful aspect of the film. I didn't care for how Howard handled all of that. The movie isn't short at 123 minutes, and some of the early scenes should have been cut to provide more time on the third act of the film.

I felt like Howard delivered a few good racing scenes, but these could have been better. I know the racing component was secondary to the characters, as it should have been. I just wish more time was spent on the racing, to give us more of a taste of what it was like. Too many races are glossed over. We needed a few more tense, suspenseful moments in the race car. The last race of the film is fairly strong, especially with the rain component, but I felt like the conclusion of that race was rushed.

Ron Howard once again delivers an entertaining, fascinating film that is primarily focused on the characters. He's one of the most famous directors for a reason. And yet, while this film is solid and an achievement, it simply never reaches the upper echelon of films. When I think back to the movies of 2013, I'll remember I enjoyed Rush, but it won't be even close to my top 10. That might be fine for other directors, but with Howard, you expect more.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Frost/Nixon, Days of Thunder, Driven