Rush

*****
Release Date: September 13th 2013

A re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.

Director: Ron Howard (Angels & Demons, Te Da Vinci Code, A Beautiful Mind)

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde

Rush beats all other racing movies into the ground. All aspects of this film will lead the Oscar front, but let's go in to more detail on why it's superb.

I, like many other non-F1 fans, will not be familiar with the clash between Hunt and Lauda, McLaren's and Ferrari's top drivers in the early 70's (respectively). The history doesn't need to be known in order to understand how bitter someone can feel towards another in a race. James Hunt (Hemsworth), from Suffolk, England tries his hardest to work his way up the ranks from F3 to F1 with raw talent and risk taking. Niki Lauda (Bruhl), from Austria gives up everything and buys his way in with what money he has. He's crafty but accurate and stays by the book.

Opposites don't always attract, especially in their case. They are both lovable and unlikable, our feelings towards them switch from one to the other, never really knowing who to back because deep down, they are as hot headed as each other. There is no good vs. evil, just a relationship we find ourselves wanting to know more about.

Bruhl steals the show, standing out with his struggle with Hunt and the inevitable doom that's to come. Hemsworth's English accent feels a little too familiar with Marvel's Thor, but steps up whenever he's around Bruhl. He still has just as much to deal with, when his model wife Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde) divorces him for the actor Richard Burton.

The combination of cinematography and Hans Zimmer's soundtrack will leave the audience on the edge of their seats with nerves in the epic race that changes the mood completely. If you don't know the story behind the film or haven't seen the trailer then it's best left unsaid. Even if you know, it'll still leave you sweating and wishing it had never happened.

Rush could have swung either way when it comes to director Ron Howard. The comedy (The Dilemma) genre should be left alone whilst Angels & Demons and The Da Vince Code feel a little stretched, but Rush feels like a vast improvement of Frost/Nixon in terms of strong character relationship.

Overview: Incredibly gripping, helped by the two main characters. The best biopic in years.