'Rush': Rivalry with heart
THOR ON SPEED. Chris Hemsworth as F1 racer James Hunt. Photos from the film's Facebook
MANILA, Philippines - "Rush" is a fuel-injected flick about the real-life rivalry between two historic Formula One racers, British James Hunt and his toughest competitor, Austrian Niki Lauda.
Directed by Academy Award winner Ron Howard ("A Beautiful Mind," "The Da Vinci Code," "Grand Theft Auto"), "Rush" is a masterpiece thriller that chronicles a 4-year time span leading up to 1976.
As a woman with absolutely no idea of the mechanics of Formula One, I was utterly at the edge of my seat throughout the film. "Rush" recounts a true story with well-defined characters.
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth’s depiction of Hunt as your nonchalant racer is spot on. A philanderer and party animal, he balances the pressure of his profession as a Formula 1 racer in stride.
Daniel Brühl as Niki Lauda is a lovable antagonist whose dedication to his sport is bewildering. The already renowned multilingual actor Brühl (check out his turn in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds") also appears in another much-anticipated project, the film bio on Julian Assange, "The Fifth Estate."
Unfeeling and calculated, Lauda emerges victorious even off the race track as his character spins off to safe terrain, with his quiet and accepting wife at his side.
LOVABLE ANTAGONIST. Bruhl as Hunt's rival, Niki Lauda
However, it is really Ron Howard who should spirit off a trophy for this one. Howard successfully loops in intricate shots of the racing together with a heartwarming, relatable story.
The emotional display of "Rush" is unexpected and pleasantly surprising, considering the nature of the plot. But as they say, sometimes real-life stories can be all the more moving than fiction - especially with an accelerated screenplay that screeches to the finish line.
This film has the makings of a heavyweight Oscar contender (like "A Beautiful Mind," which won for Howard his Best Director trophy). Don’t miss it at the cinemas!
Here's the trailer:
- Rappler.com
Giselle Töngi-Walters is the professional 'slashie.' Besides being mom to Sakura and Kenobi, she is also an all-around media personality. She is a model/product endorser/radio jock/writer/actor for film, TV, theater and producer for second generation Fil-Am content. Being part of the Rappler team is a way for her to utilize her academic and showbiz experience and hopefully make some sense beyond all the chismis.
