Ron Howard’s latest film, “Rush,” is a visceral masterpiece. The film succeeds in not only transporting viewers to the high-octane formula racing of 1976, but through deep examination and fleshing out the personalities of the main characters.

The film revolves around the rivalry between Formula One racers James Hunt (a British racer who is known for his reckless partying and charm) and Niki Lauda (a brilliant and structured Austrian who defied his parents’ expectations of going into business). The two racers hail from quite similar backgrounds, but their tenacities and rivalry to claim the world title in Formula One racing is what made them popular across continents.

To the American public, Formula One racing is just a hyped up version of NASCAR (except mostly for the rich and famous). However, Ron Howard does an exceptional job of swatting away that stereotype by introducing the basic concepts of the sport and what makes it so popular on to the main screen. From low angle shots of cars zipping through the track at 100mph, to the driver’s point of view of the race, every shot is exhilarating and breathtaking.

Furthermore, James Hunt’s exacerbating explanations about the sport show how it involves an impeccable amount of precision and skills. Formula One drivers are not just going around in big circles; they are driving through treacherous conditions and rough tracks. This is easily visible in the final 1976 Grand Prix race at Mt. Fuji in Japan.

Niki Lauda followed a strict routine. He wanted a car engineered to be faster than all the others and he personally stuck to a planned schedule of dedicating his life to racing. On the other hand, James found racing exhilarating since it got him close to death. He was known as a power driver for his risky moves and his ability to attract hordes of women. Niki considered him an intemperate man who had many personal faults and was only in formula for the fame

Additionally, the film expresses entrepreneurial spirits. Niki Lauda took a chance and acquired a massive bank loan to pay for his Formula One car and was able to repay that through a major sponsorship with Ferrari and Marlboro. Niki’s ambition to become the world champion and still compete, even after his near-death crash, embodies the qualities of an entrepreneur who is confident and believes in his product.

I believe the exploration of the dynamics of Niki Lauda and James Hunt is what makes the movie a commercial and critical success. Despite both of them coming from wealth, they both chose to defy the norms set forth by their families and pursue their ultimate ambitions of racing in Formula One. One would assume that these two individuals would get along like best friends, but that is not the case. Ever since they met in Formula 3 racing, they have been bitter rivals. One could call it a clash of egos or a clash of talent. This epic rivalry drove one another to success in Formula One and if it wasn’t for this rivalry, this story would never have been able to be told so elegantly on the main screen.