OTTplay Lost and Found - RUSH ( 2013 )

Films about cars and racing have piqued the interest of global audiences for decades. The commercial success of the Fast and Furious franchise despite its glaringly obvious shortcomings reaffirms the notion that adrenaline-fuelled films about fast cars appeal to a wider demographic. However, the 2013 film, Rush, directed by Ron Howard, is an anomaly. Despite featuring stunning visuals, vibrant sound design by Hans Zimmer, excellent performances, and an engrossing screenplay, the film has faded away into obscurity in recent years.

Starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl in lead roles, the film is a retelling of the real-life rivalry in the 1970s between Formula One drivers James Hunt and Nikki Lauda. The film brings to life one of the greatest rivalries in the sport’s history as it chronicles their respective careers from Formula 3 to all the way to the top of the podium in Formula 1. The film also focuses on Nikki Lauda’s near-fatal crash in 1976 at the Nürburgring in Germany after his car burst into flames. His return to racing just six weeks after the accident after suffering life-altering injuries to his face and lungs is the stuff of legends.

The film is also a homage to some of the other great rivalries in Formula 1 such as Alain Prost versus Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher versus Mika Häkkinen, and Fernando Alonso versus Kimi Räikkönen. The charismatic and flamboyant Hunt is essayed to near perfection by Hemsworth while the excellent Brühl completely transforms himself into the pragmatic and unrelenting Lauda. German actress Alexandra Maria Lara also deserves praise for her stunning performance as Lauda's wife Marlene. Olivia Wilde, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Stephen Mangan play other supporting roles, along with a cameo by Natalie Dormer. The film is easily one of the finest of the last decade and offers some truly spine-tingling moments.

Well thats the OTTplay Lost and Found for today, until the next time its your host Nikhil signing out.

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• Written by Ryan Gomez