When Rush came out in theatres back in September, I made a mark to see it as it’s something up my alley, but never made it out to do so. I regret that now as I think the only way I could have liked Rush more would have been to have seen it up on the big screen.

First things first, no Canadian bands are involved in this film. Rush is about the 1970’s Formula 1 rivalry between James Hunt from Great Britain and Niki Lauda from Austria. The story spans about 6 years, starting in 1970 when the two meet in the F3 driving league as young talent looking to make a name for themselves. Almost from the second they see each other, they butt heads, making one of the biggest rivalries in the sports’ history. James Hunt represented the more playboy lifestyle. Boisterous, a hard partier and a ladies man, it isn’t hard for Hunt to steal a spotlight. Niki Lauda is the other side of the coin. Much more serious with a much more logical and clinical thinking mind. He was also brutally honest, he could never make friends like Hunt could. Where Hunt is the wild child, Niki is the straight laced, rule oriented man. The things they did share was the love of the race track, a natural talent behind the wheel and the unrelenting drive to be in first place.

I can’t think of another race movie like this that I’ve seen other than Days of Thunder and that was a generation ago and a fictitious story. If you see racing cars in todays cinema, it’s going to be on the Fast & Furious angle, not professional racing. Rush is a surprisingly compelling tale and the race scenes are truly thrilling. Great direction by Ron Howard, bolstered by a fantastic sound mix and soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.

Chris Hemsworth plays the ever charming James Hunt with Daniel Brühl as the intense Niki Lauda. They have brilliant chemistry, really selling how different but oddly alike these two men were. They goaded each other on season after season, pushing each other as far as they could go professionally. They both annoyed the hell out of each other, but there was a also a clear line of respect (which the movie really tries to show in it’s storytelling). From the outside it could easily seem like they were enemies, but the right word is rivals. They were each shooting to be better than the other, where being better also meant becoming the champion of the F1 circuit. These two were constantly battling each other for first place finishes.

If you are a fan of the Top Gear show, you have to see this. It’ll feed right into that part of the brain that makes you smile. Intense on the track with great moments of humanity and life off of it. I’ll leave it with one of my favorite scenes that gives the best insight on Niki’s mentality. Shortly after Niki first meets Marlene (who he will later marry), he asks her for a ride to the train station from someone’s house. They’re bouncing along a country road in Italy when Niki turns off the car radio after hearing a noise whenever she accelerates.

Niki: Your fan belt is loose.

Marlene: My what?

Niki: And when you brake your foot goes all the way down, which means there’s air in the system.

Marlene: Anything else?

Niki: No… Apart from the rear brakes are worn out, the front right tire’s a bit soft, which explains why you’re weaving so much.

Marlene: How can you tell?

Niki: My ass.

Marlene: Sorry?

Niki: God gave me an okay mind, but a really good ass, which can feel everything in a car.

Marlene then calls Niki crazy, saying her “very expensive” mechanic just looked at the car and it’s in like new condition. The car breaks down a short while later.