Rush
450 bhp. 167
mph. 25 drivers. 16 races. 1 World Champion. Numbers won’t sell it but the
story will.
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The movie starts with the fated day of
August 1 1976 the German Grand Prix and on the most dangerous track the Nürburgring circuit. The
race starts and then never ends. The epic rivalry shared by our two
protagonists ( yes we have two protagonists and probably the only villain here
is the heavy rain ) – Niki Lauda and James Hunt meanders through the circuitous
tracks across the Formula 3 and Formula 1 and ends at where it all began – The
thirst to be the best. And they do become the best but at what cost. One loses
his wife his love while the other almost his life. This begs the question –
should you put everything on line just to prove that you are better than
others.
Philosophical
bullshit aside, the movie was a treat. The tense races, the bacchanalian
Thor, the tight-nerved, almost puritan Austrian all come together to
paint on screen the masterpiece of World Championship of 1976. What stands
strikingly out in the movie is the different persona of these two racers. Its
not just Niki Lauda vs James Hunt but dedication and discipline against Passion
and aggression. And even until the end you’ll garner points to support either
of the two. Personally, I prefer the independent disciplined and cautious Niki over
the ardent but uncontrollable Hunt. And even you, as an impartial viewer would
appreciate the slow, gentle but the definite rise of Niki Lauda from shadows to
stardom.
Other than the
Story and the actors, a special praise goes to the Director – Ron Howard, who despite
his freedom, told each and every aspect creatively but truthfully. He
brilliantly portrayed the story contrary to the typical sports movie where a
single hero is on a path to inevitable glory. What further sets this movie apart from other car race
movies is the direction. Instead of overburdening us scenes upon scenes of cars
zooming by, the director creatively used camera shots from just about
everywhere - down at a driver’s feet inside the cockpit, behind spinning
wheels, up above trees that hide speeding cars and obviously by the side of the
track as cars whip by.
In the end, it
was worth spending 3 hours to watch The Rush twice.
