DVD Corner

Rush Blu-ray Review

“Rush” is a quality sports drama. 

2013’s “Rush” is a sports biodrama about Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Set in the 70’s (with a particular emphasis on the racing season in 1976), the true life story focuses on the rivalry between the two motor racers. The two men were polar opposites with the British Hunt being a hard partying ladies man while the Austrian Lauda is a serious minded, tactical racer who is an expert in automobiles. Even though they were both fighting for first place, the rivalry somehow made them both better. Their individual lives off the track are also touched upon here with writer Peter Morgan exploring the relationship between Lauda and his wife Marlene and Hunt’s sexscapades and ill-fated marriage to model Suzy Miller. 

Ron Howard seemed an unlikely choice for a sports biodrama, but the director has never shied away from tackling any genre. It turns out Howard was a natural for this project and it’s one of his best films in the past couple of decades to boot. 

Formula 1 is not a sports universe that is in my wheelhouse, but it’s always refreshing to see a sports story translated to the big screen and this one is no exception. While the rivalry itself was compelling enough material on its own, it’s the events that transpire with Niki Lauda’s horrific accident that make the story even wilder. Without spoiling it for those that aren’t aware of the real story, let’s just say Lauda’s dedication and drive is nothing short of astonishing and admirable. 

In typical biodrama form, the film does race through the lives and events of the two drivers (pun intended) as tends to be the case with any sort of biopic, but the story thankfully never loses focus as it’s always centered on the lives of the two individuals on and off the Grand Prix. As for the racing sequences themselves, there’s a fair amount of CGI here, but the racing sequences are certainly a rush (pun intended).

The real winners here though are Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl. Hemsworth may be synonymous with Thor at this point, but this is one of his very best movies and performances. He’s a natural fit for this role. Daniel Bruhl has always been a fascinating and intense actor and that holds true here. His portrayal of Lauda elevates the movie as a whole and he plays off Hemsworth so well.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.40:1 1080p. How does it look? The stylish 70’s flavored cinematography shines in hi-def. Note: This Blu-ray is a re-release.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Given that this is a movie about motor-racers, it’s no surprise that the this track delivers a lively audio experience.

Extras:
* Universal trailers
* 10 deleted scenes
* “Race For The Checkered Flag: The Making Of Rush”- A 6 part extra that covers the writing, direction, location shooting, the casting, filming, and style of the film and wardrobe.
* “The Real Story Of Rush”- A 3 part extra that covers the real life figures, F1 racing, and the time period of F1.

August 15, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Chris Hemsworth, F1, Formula 1, James Hunt, Rush Blu-ray Review