If you were a Formula 1 fan back in the 70s you would recognise the rivalry between drivers James Hunt (McLaren) and Niki Lauda (Ferrari) and be fascinated by the story still – but does it work for someone who wasn’t around in 1976 and has never been a motor-sport fan? Well, definitely, yes, in my opinion, because more than anything the movie is about people – admittedly very rich, very famous people, but also those who took fantastic risks, at a time when motor-sport was probably at its most dangerous and uninhibited, and the things which drove them to do so.
The story moves along at a leisurely pace initially to give the viewer room to soak in the historical context, before the pace picks up with the racing sequences. The film progresses at an ever more rapid pace until the dangers become very apparent, very quickly, and the drivers’ capacities for truly rational (and moral) decision-making become skewed and unfamiliar.
Ron Howard as a director is usually a very solid bet, and he maintains that reputation here. It is a human film about a subject that you either care about very much or absolutely not at all – but Howard makes it a broader topic than motor-racing; much more than just friendships or relationships.
It almost forces you to take the side of one of the two drivers. Whatever you decide, it’s a poignant rather than a triumphant experience. What initially looks like just a “sports” movie, has a greater depth – even an inkling of philosophy, or an underlying notion of Greek myth.
Certificate: 12
1 hour 41 minutes
Netflix (subs) / Prime (£3.49) / YouTube (£3.49)
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara
