Film Trailer Review: Rush (2013)

Rush focuses on the interesting rivalry between the racing drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda in the 1970’s. Both men were big celebrities during that period and their rivalry ended in disaster when Niki was severely injured in a crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix. The men have contrasting personalities which made their relationship even more interesting. Hunt was the flamboyant playboy type while Lauda was more serious and reserved. After the crash that nearly claimed Lauda’s life he recovered from his injuries and decided to start racing again.
Thus the rivalry between the two talented drivers was reignited. Both men then raced to try and win the upcoming 1976 World Championship held in Fuji, Japan.

Rush has an unusual cast with Chris Hemsworth playing Hunt and Daniel Brühl as Lauda. Hemsworth is probably best known for his role as Thor in the comic book movies while Brühl had good roles in Goodbye, Lenin! and Inglourious Basterds. Both actors are decent choices with different acting styles. Their differences in height and physique will also accentuate their diametrically opposed personal styles. The supporting cast includes Olivia Williams as Hunt’s wife Suzy Miller and Alexandra Maria Lara as Lauda’s wife Marlene Knaus. The director Ron Howard is a talented man with years of experience and he is particularly adept at directing films with a fair amount of drama.

Films about racing drivers are quite rare which is surprising. Men and women who risk their lives in pursuit of glory are interesting and it would be cool to find out what makes them tick in a movie. In a sport like racing where there is little margin for error a single mistake could mean death. Hunt explains that for a racing driver the desire to win is greater than the fear of death. This explains the passion those drivers must have for such a dangerous sport. It is cool that a film like Rush is being made as it is set during an exciting period in racing history. Hopefully it turns out to be a film that will appeal to both fans of the sport and those who just enjoy a good drama.

There are some nice period details in the trailer and also an intriguing classical score. The intro shows the two leads who exchange a glance and prepare to begin a race. Viewers are then treated to a nice POV shot of one of the drivers as the race begins. It is a great intro that creates a little atmosphere and is a nice entry point to the film. Hunt and Landa are introduced and the viewer gets to learn a few things about their personality. There is also a nice exchange between the two leads where Lauda tries to explain that self belief is essential if a driver wants to win. Lauda sees himself as being the serious, methodical driver while Hunt is a playboy who just wants to have a good time.
It is rather strange how Lauda is the one who ends up in a serious crash when Hunt seems ostensibly to be the more reckless racer.
Hunt feels responsible for the crash and he starts to take things more seriously. Lauda watches Hunt while recovering in hospital and is inspired to get fit so he can race again. It seems the two men have influenced each other in a positive way and both characters grow as a result.

The trailer shows some nice direction as the racing scenes in particular stand out and they should be a thrill to watch. The personal dramas and relationships between the characters also look interesting. The female leads are not shown much and hopefully they will get a chance to shine in the film too. Their absence is the only flaw in the trailer as it would be nice to see more interaction between them and the male lead characters.

The film is shaping up nicely and it will be released on September 20th. Have a look at the trailer and let us know what you think.