RUSH - 9.5 out of 10
Out of a rare occurrence, and sheer love for the movie, I saw Rush again. The last time I recalled doing this, it was roughly 10 years ago for the first of the two Crank films. That's not to say either movie is comparable. One is night and day from the other. I just respect Crank for its homage to old 80's movies, video games, and music. It was a movie that took a different approach from the average movie of yesteryear. It was fun and different, and due to its unique blend of absurdity, b.alls-to-the-wall attitude, and humour, I was won over. As for Rush, this is a masterpiece of elite cinematic proportions. Make no misconception about it, Crank to me was anything, but that.
This definitely ranks in the higher echelon of great films on my list, which include the much loved and respected, the ShawShank Redemption, and the under-appreciated, City of God due to its lack of fanfare among the masses. The casting of main characters is impeccable (they look like their real-life counterparts), the score (orchestrated by the fabulous Hans Zimmer), direction, cinematography (the Japan race scene is pure movie motion picture eye candy), and just the fact that the scenes were created with acute detail and accuracy to the real world events that went down... One only has to watch the film's 1976 crash sequence of Niki Lauda and compare it to the real-life event. Ron Howard did an incredible job here. Oh and his daughter is a total babe. Off topic? Absolutely, but wouldn't be an Eli26 post if I didn't...
Getting back on topic, Daniel Bruhl deserves an Oscar nod for his portrayal of former Formula 1 driver, Niki Lauda. To deny him of such an honour, is pure ignorance. Much like it was when Daniel Day Lewis failed to capture an Oscar for his portrayal of the Butcher in Gangs of New York. This man stole the movie for me. Without him in it, this would have been a very good movie, but not one of the greats.
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