When I heard that Chris Hemsworth was going to be playing racing star James Hunt I have to admit I didn’t exactly jump for joy as this genre of film usually isn’t my speciality nor my primary interest. However, I was proved wrong and have been since persuaded to watch more movies by the same director Ron Howard as the delivery of this ever so elegant story was expertly executed and shot.
Synopsis
Written by Ron Howard and written by Peter Morgan this film is focused around the 1976 Formula 1 championship and the legendary racing drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt of whose rivalry was of epic proportions. This movie also depicts the horrible accident where Niki Lauda suffered burns to his body almost halting his career. This film is the perfect choice if you are looking for drama, suspense, a bit of action and a movie that sticks to the facts!
Good Bits?!
To start off, just as I have mentioned before when it comes to making a film about sport Ron Howard really has produced a masterpiece. The best bit for me? The fact that the facts are the facts! Howard stuck to what actually happened and utilised the highlights of their racing careers to create an atmosphere where we feel we can connect not just to the actors but the racers themselves.
This ties into the relationship itself between the racers. Yes they were competitive and their desires to win we’re exponential, but as the film develops we see how their relationship, which at first seems to be hate but turns into appreciation and profound sportsmanship. We also see how even upon retiring the two drivers are still deeply respectful of each other and how their lives developed after racing.
This is also compounded by the remorse that Lauda feels when Hunt sadly passed away in 1993 from a heart attack due to a somewhat fast and furious lifestyle.
Another thing that I was impressed was the casting, you can tell that the director took a lot of time choosing carefully who he thought would portray these famous racers perfectly. This is especially interesting as Howard almost had to cancel the film as he couldn’t find anyone to play James Hunt aren’t we so glad (especially the girls) that Hemsworth came into the director’s view.
Well that’s it for this review, yes it is short, but hey I can’t say no more than rent the film for yourself and enjoy! If you wanna see the trailer simply click the link below!
M.Palk 