Rush

An incredible rivalry unsurprisingly makes for a damn good film.

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Here's what I've been watching and playing over the last seven days...

MOVIES

Rush

Movie summary: James Hunt and Niki Lauda, two extremely skilled Formula One racers, have an intense rivalry with each other. However, it is their enmity that pushes them to their limits. (IMDb)

Okay, I haven't watched Rush in the last seven days, but have been meaning to write about it after finding out I hadn't already.

And that's because it's a bloody good movie that I'm going to recommend immediately because it's that good.

Growing up enjoying Formula One, I had some idea about the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, but didn't really know the details.

The thing is, you don't really need to know the details because Rush does such a good job building up the two leads that it doesn't matter.

The reason it works so well is that both men are simultaneously the protagonists and antagonists of the film, with neither driver being portrayed as being more in the right than the other.

Honestly, there will be points during the film where you'll be cheering for one of them only to find yourself supporting the other thirty minutes later.

It's a brilliant balancing act that director Ron Howard makes look simple, although he did have the real life events to help create drama.

This is probably my favourite performance from Chris Hemsworth, so if you've only ever seen him as Thor, watch Rush and see how good he really can be.

Even then, Daniel Brühl as Niki Lauda is even better, with his efforts being deserving of far greater acclaim than he received at the time.

As I said in a previous post, this and Le Mans '66/Ford v Ferrari make for an amazing automotive double feature thanks to how good both films are.

Rush was seriously overlooked on release, but that shouldn't stop anyone from making up for it and watching it now. [9/10]

GAMES

Immortality

Man, this game is still so good too, especially as I seem to be finding a huge number of scenes I hadn't seen on my previous playthrough.

It does feel a little weird though, as I'd already stumbled across the ending by now on that first time through and I don't think I'm anywhere close yet.

TV

Andor, Season 1

Season summary: In an era filled with danger, deception, and intrigue, Cassian Andor embarks on a path that is destined to turn him into a Rebel hero. (IMDb)

Episode 1, "Kassa"

Wow, that absolutely flew by for what was an episode that was almost nothing but set-up!

And also the least Star Wars-y Star Wars story I've experienced so far, which is not a bad thing at all.

Episode 2, "That Would Be Me"

A bit slower than the previous episode and the lack of anything linking this to the wider Star Wars universe is making everything seem a little insignificant right now.

Episode 3, "Reckoning"

Well, Cassian apparently has a knack for getting droids in trouble over communicators, doesn't he?

At least there was a decent wrap-up showing all kinds of little moments of resistance and rebellion, which was fun to see and an obvious indicator of how people in the galaxy are feeling at this point in time.

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