'Rush' is definitely a rush, and a great film

Finally, I managed to squeeze in a couple of free hours to take in the latest Ron Howard-directed movie, the sports drama Rush, in the theater. We just got back and I wanted to give a snap review, before my thoughts turn to more pressing matters, like work (boo, hiss). In a nutshell? Rush is fantastic. If you're on the fence about seeing it, just hop on over to the greener pasture and go see this movie.

I am thankful that I didn't know a whole lot about the back story of Rush before I saw the film. That's half the fun: Before I started writing this I looked up all sorts of factoids about the incredible rivalry between two storied Formula One race car drivers, James Hunt and Niki Lauda.

I'm not going to spend too much time on the plot of Rush, but know this: These two Grand Prix champion-level race car drivers had vastly different approaches to their sport. James Hunt, played by Chris Hemsworth, was a British playboy of the highest order. The guy knew how to party - to the extreme. He was reckless both on and off the track. Niki Lauda (played wonderfully by Daniel Bruhl), by contrast, was an introverted genius, a Austrian racer who took discipline to a whole different level. Given that both men were incredibly talented in their sport, is it any wonder that they became rivals?

I have to confess I love a good sports movie. Any sport, really, just give me a great story and I'm happy. That's exactly what I got with Rush: A phenomenal true story. I loved not knowing the details of these two men's careers, but if you already do, I'm still pretty darn sure you'll enjoy this film. If you're a Formula One fan, you've probably already seen Rush at least once, and I'm betting you liked it as much, or more, than I did.

But even if you know nothing about racing at all, especially Formula One, it doesn't matter. Rush is built rock solid on character development. By the end of the film (which has scenes that will have your pulse racing right along with the cars traveling at 100 miles per hour or more), you'll be fully invested in the outcome. You'll marvel at Niki Lauder. You'll find yourself admiring these incredible race car drivers for their determination and their bravery. Will you want to go out and become a Formula One driver? Probably not, but you'll certainly remember Niki Lauder and James Hunt's names.

If you'd like a little more detail about the real life story and how accurate it was conveyed on film in Rush, I'd highly recommend checking out Time magazine's "Movie Fact-Check" here. It's actually the first thing I read when I got home, because I just could not wrap my head around the fact that the story was true. I love that I was moved enough by the movie to scurry home and start furiously reading the facts. That's a sure sign of a winning movie in my book.

Now, is Rush one of Ron Howard's best movies? I will argue that yes, it just might be. It has all the hallmarks I want in a great film: Strong characters, excellent acting, just enough drama and some truly thrilling scenes. Yes, the racing scenes are outstanding: The editing is super tight and I've already mentioned the pulse-pounding part. If that's your thing, you'll enjoy Rush. Even if it's not, you'll already be so pulled in by the human element of Rush, it won't matter.

It might take me some time to put Rush in the same category as my other favorite Ron Howard movies: Apollo 13, Parenthood, A Beautiful Mind and Gung Ho (oh hush, it's a great movie and I heart it okay?!), but I can see this being of the same caliber. Overall, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Rush garners more than one Academy Award nomination.

One last thing: If you do go see Rush, and you find yourself wanting more, I'd highly recommend watching the 2010 documentary Senna. It's one of my favorite documentaries ever, on anything (sports or otherwise) and it tells the remarkable tale of three-time Formula One champion driver Ayrton Senna. Last I checked, Senna was available via streaming on Netflix Instant. No excuses people, see it!

Photos courtesy of The New York Times and The Driver's Daily