MovieChat Forums > Rush (2013) Discussion > Who did you admire more, Hunt or Lauda?

Who did you admire more, Hunt or Lauda?

posted 11 years ago by Manifest_12
72 replies | jump to latest

Judging by their characters in the movie, who did you like/admire/identify with more, Hunt or Lauda? Here's my brief breakdown of the two from my observations:

JAMES HUNT: Impulsive, hotheaded, likes to enjoy himself (with parties, ladies, drink, racing, etc), brash, competitive, fiery.

NIKI LAUDA: Methodical, distant, prickly, intellectual, loner, desires excellence (even at the expense of enjoying himself), demanding on himself and others.

James races for the thrill of the race, the danger, and the prizes, where Niki races because he's good at it, it makes money and that's his element.

Both characters have their own way of being an A-hole. I don't think one was more humble than the other. James is a bad boy. Lauda is a machine. Judging by the movie, I don't envy either of their personal lives; where James is wild and superficial, Niki is cold and robotic. (Happiness is the enemy?) I think both belong on the track.

I give my vote to:

NIKI LAUDA

He displays a lot more control than James. His steely intellect earned my admiration early in the film. His "no-BS" straight talk means his insults are unmitigated and he'll trash you without remorse, but at the same time it means his compliments are genuine. Both men are tough, but Lauda is made of metal. Lauda was brave enough to refuse his inheritance and gamble on his dream of being a F1 driver. He was more level-headed and precise, and very disciplined.

I'll admit James had a better handle on how to live his life when not on the track, at least when he's not binging. He lives in the moment, saying "What's the point of having a million of medals, cups and planes if you don't have any fun?" Lauda lived in his head, he can't admit to even liking racing (or flying). I don't actually want to be either of them.

I rooted for Lauda the whole movie though.

[–] Spinners1961 11 years ago

After watching the film - Lauda.

[–] zxcv-9 11 years ago

Lauda is admirable, Hunt was enviable.

[–] killahbillah1 11 years ago

Hated Lauda and his ratty little face from the second he opened his mouth.

I really hated him in this movie.

[–] stranger251 11 years ago

Lauda, all the way for me.

To me he was the main character of the movie and overcame more tragic circumstances. Every time he opened his mouth I knew he was going to say something meaningful, insulting (in a professional way), or something abusive in a funny way. I did admire the fact that he was hesitant to race when clearly it would be foolish to ignore the weather and unnecessarily risk your life.

[–] shananika 11 years ago

I definitely admired Lauda more. As you said, he was far more intellectual than Hunt. I love that Lauda was actively involved in the improvement of his cars and he had smart ideas that the mechanics didn't even think of. It was not just his talent in the car that made him great, it was also his intelligence. I also appreciated his "no-BS" attitude. Everything he said, no matter how harsh, was genuine. Hunt, on the other hand was happy to sell out and be fake at times in order to gain fans and supporters. Lauda was so good he didn't have to do that. I also like the fact that Lauda was governed by the rules and was unwilling to cheat or to allow anyone else to cheat. And Lauda was right in that final scene at the airport: Hunt wouldn't have won if Lauda hadn't been injured. The injury caused him to miss a few races and he also chose to pull out of the final race. Even with all that, he still would've been World Champion again if Hunt hadn't placed at least 3rd in that final race. If Lauda had been in just one more race, he would've had enough points to win the whole thing even with the injury.

Hunt says "what's the point if you don't have any fun"? I think Lauda did have fun in his personal life, just not at all the same kind of fun. Hunt was wild. He spent his free time partying, drinking, doing drugs and sleeping around with numerous chicks. When he died of a heart attack at age 45, Lauda wasn't surprised. Hunt was surrounded by a bunch of unstable party-boys and sluts, many of whom only hung around with him and supported him because of how famous and "dangerous" he was. Lauda only had his wife, but they actually had a real relationship. They genuinely loved and respected each other. He wasn't a party boy, but he enjoyed his life and even pulled out of a race, costing himself a championship, because his personal life was more important to him than that title.

When Lauda says "Happiness is the enemy", I get what he means. He wasn't happy in his personal life before he met his wife. She made him happy and gave him something to live for and something to 'lose'. Having that means his mind is no longer 100% on the race when he's in his car. He has something to lose now and that is a distraction. It "puts doubt" in his mind. It later causes him to pull out of the final race because it's no longer worth it to him to risk his life in those kinds of conditions. But, as he said, he has no regrets. Not one.

Lauda was more intellectual, more respectful, more responsible and just an all around better person IMO. He did have a very prickly personality and didn't like getting close to people, but I still preferred him. I was rooting for him the whole time too.

"Winter is coming."

[–] mackay254 11 years ago

He wasn't happy in his personal life before he met his wife.

You mean the wife he later divorced? OK, that was underhand.
Lauda was the first 'professional'. He was driven - pardon the pun.
Hunt was the last of the 'gifted'.
To be the best in any sport, sacrifice is needed now. Lauda understood that, all those years ago. For that, he has to be admired. But, there's a beauty in Hunt's attitude.
Oh, I'm British! I'm jaundiced, possibly, by virtue of my nationality. I admire Lauda, I just loved Hunt!

[–] zod9992000 11 years ago

Hunt "The Shunt" was a mere blip in F1, a bright meteor that streaked across the sky.

Lauda sits in the Valhalla of F1.

[–] shananika 11 years ago

Well, I'm going based on the film, but in real life Lauda and his first wife were married for roughly 20 years. I've seen some websites that list '91 as the year of their divorce and other websites that list '96. So they were married somewhere between 15 and 20 years. Once again though, going by the film they had a very solid marriage.

Hunt was gifted, I've just never been crazy about the "bad boy". Hunt had to basically grovel to get back into formula 1 because none of the sponsors liked his party boy reputation. Lauda came off like a d0uche at times, but at least he was being honest. And no sponsors had any problems with him because, unlike Hunt, he wasn't a liability. He was far more responsible and sensible and I personally appreciate those qualities in a person.

I liked Hunt and one of my favorite scenes in the film was him beating up the reporter who had asked Lauda how long he thought his marriage would last now that his face was burnt. I just admired Lauda more. All based on the film though.

"Winter is coming."

[–] xionpig1 11 years ago

My say is Hunt.
I think Lauda is the real a$$hole the whole movie. He can't handle his loss. Like at the very end, when Hunt beat him. A loss is a loss. Although i do admire his talent and knowledge in the field. He's really a great racer but man, You don't cry like a little bitch when you're defeated.

[–] Explosivediarrheakidgenius 9 years ago

He didn't cry like a bitch.

-------Gå på disco rulla hatt, med SunTrip varje natt-------

[–] Saayer 10 years ago

in my professional life... i am like niki lauda... workaholic, factual and distant. that's why, i liked Hunt more.

in the film as well, i think they deliberately made hunt's character grow on you more. suzy leaving him, sponsors leaving him, him beating the rude reporter etc. he developed the underdog sympaty.

Behind every fortune... is a crime!

[–] SamoanJoes 10 years ago

Hands down my vote goes to Lauda.

[–] PhoenixPhuck 10 years ago

Lauda is the smarter of the two, so I'll agree with his opinion and vote for ...

JAMES HUNT

Look, we all know Lauda was the better racer and his perseverance to come back from the injury is legendary...and while this film serves as a platform to share that story, it's actually a love letter to James Hunt.

Lauda recognizes what makes Hunt special...he envies it, but it drives him to be the best...because he knows he could never be like Hunt, he could only be him.

Hunt was a bright shining star that burned half as long because it was twice as bright...Lauda knows...Lauda knows.

I would have voted Lauda throughout the majority of the movie...up until the final minute...when Lauda waxes poetic about Hunt.

as Hunt told Lauda: "...don't bring the percentages into this. Don't be a pro. The minute you do that, you kill what's good about this. You kill the sport."

Even tho this was the complete opposite of Lauda's philosophy, he couldn't help but respect and love Hunt and his perspective.

Even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

[–] CranberryNoVodka 10 years ago

Lauda. I can't stand people in real life who take things so lightly. It actually stresses me out.

If you treat a girl like a dog, she's going to piss on you