What is the first word that comes to your mind when you hear or read the name, Chris Hemsworth?
If that was a Family Feud question, I’d imagine ‘Thor’ would garner the most votes, followed closely by ‘Beautiful’ and its many synonyms.
Hemsworth has always had the makings of a capable leading man, and those credentials were greatly heightened following Thor: Ragnarok.
Since then, the Australian Oak has operated exclusively in the realm of blockbusters with stratospheric budgets – Men In Black: International, Infinity War/ Endgame, Extraction.
In my opinion, Chris Hemsworth has starred in two genuinely outstanding films, Ragnarok being one of them.
The other film has been buried underneath the avalanche of his rapid ascent as an A-lister, but it remains one of his finest films and performances – Rush (2013).
Set against the glamorous golden age of Formula 1 racing in the 1970s, Rush tells the true story of the great rivalry between handsome English playboy James Hunt ( Chris Hemsworth) and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Austrian driver Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl).
Ron Howard’s drama adheres closely to that most clichéd of sayings about great sports movies – it’s a sports movie where the sport is secondary, irrelevant even.
The titular ‘Rush’ isn’t provided merely by the wonderfully choreographed and filmed racing sequences; it’s got more to do with the fascinating dynamic and crackling chemistry between its twin protagonists.
Hemsworth is pitch-perfect as the jaunty and cavalier Hunt, a man who lived every second of his life. And Bruhl turns in a clinic as the markedly more methodical Lauda.
It’s that push and pull dynamic between the two leads that fuels the film. The dichotomy is fascinating.
It’s a truly marvellous two-hander. Made all the more appealing by the fact that neither of the two characters is pigeonholed into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ or ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’
These are two immensely talented rivals with contrasting approaches, to both their life and their profession.
Oh and I’d be loath to not mention Hans Zimmer’s typically stunning soundtrack. It adds an added layer of rush to the film. We take this man for granted; he is outstanding, almost exclusively.
So if I were to wrap this up tight with a bow or whatever, Rush is one of the finest sports films made the past decade, with one of the finest endings as well.
And Chris Hemsworth’s performance in the movie is his greatest hour as a dramatic actor so far.
“People always think of us as rivals but he was among the very few I liked and even fewer that I respected. He remains the only person I envied.”
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