Film review: Rush (8 out of 10)

He was on crutches with his leg in plaster.

However, in true playboy style, he had a beautiful woman on each arm for added support.

By then he had given up Formula 1 racing and was working hard on his new career of Tv personality and man about town.

Director Ron Howard’s latest movie focuses on the man’s life a few years earlier as he tussled on the race track with another sporting legend, Niki Lauda.

The two of them had gone against their family’s wishes to enter the sporting arena and battled with each other over the years in Formula 3 and finally at the pinnacle of motor racing, Formula 1.

Rush focuses mainly on their rivalry and the head to head clashes they had in 1976, the year Lauda had his horrific accident.

Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and Daniel Bruhl as Lauda are excellent, looking and sounding just like their counterparts.

The racing scenes are done so well that when some real footage is slotted in you can hardly tell.

The sheer raw power and energy of the F1 cars is reproduced so that you can appreciate just how dangerous they were back in the day.

Thankfully modern racing cars are far safer nowadays.

Lauda’s accident is recreated frighteningly well and his medical treatment may turn a few stomachs.

While the movie is about the rivalry between the two drivers and their completely different lifestyles, it also acts as an affectionate tribute to Hunt.

The man certainly lived for the day and was a real superstar to his adoring faans.

He crammed a lot of living into his 45 years before his fatal heart attack in 1993.

You don’t have to be an F1 fan to appreciate this movie, the performances from men, women and machines is first rate, providing a fascinating true story.

Film details: Rush (15) 123mins

Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley