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.

[–] howie99 10 years ago

Lauda: The True Professional

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Redart27 10 years ago

Lauda : just the fact that he came back to race only six weeks after the fiery crash. That level of passion is heroic.
---
No

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 10 years ago

"Lauda : just the fact that he came back to race only six weeks after the fiery crash. That level of passion is heroic."
I thoroughly agree with that, and I think both personalities are fascinating and there is much to admire about both of them.

But being back in your race car after a horrific accident with third degree burns within about six (!) weeks is a level of bad@assery that would be hard to surpass.

Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

[–] InglouriousSister 10 years ago

I'm more of a Hunt myself, and I'd love to have some of Lauda's attitude, self-control and dedication. The only thing where I'm more Niki is with my relationship, but otherwise I'm way too flimsy and "go where the fence is the lowest" -type (sorry I am not sure if this idiom exists in English, I'm Finnish myself) and "enjoyment before hard work". Thus I'm still studying even when i was supposed to graduate year ago and have spent all my money on travels and fun. So I really admire Lauda and hope in a way I could be more like him.

[–] Innsmouth 10 years ago

Lauda, I identify with entirely.

But I think that a message that this movie carried is that you need contrast and competition for true greatness. As Lauda himself says, it was Hunt that pushed him to get back in the race and strive for his best. Most people hate their "enemies" in life, or all the things they see as opposing them and getting in the way of their happiness. But without opposition, without struggle, there can be no true success. There can not be light without darkness.

[–] RazzberryBeret 10 years ago

Lauda. Tough little bugger.

[–] Sarmoviefan26 (1368) 2 years ago

What you said at the end. It’s so true and applies so much to politics and governments.
All governments to have a good country the need an opposition party.
People who tell the head of state : No, you can’t do that.

Any opposition and good competition is good in everything.

[–] KolaDude 10 years ago

Both men were portrayed as great and flawed in their own rights. I have great respect for Lauda's dedication and professionalism but Hunt was right when he basically said there's no point in winning all those accolades if you live your entire life like you're a robot.

BE YOUR OWN FANBOY

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

Oh, for goodness sake, butthead. Robots don’t have passion. You just don’t understand Teutonic passion.

Lauda’s record speaks for itself. You confuse real passion with carelessness and triviality.

[–] machao2907 10 years ago

James Hunt. I love the way he drive when he's broke up with his wife. I mean, James Hunt doesn't need a wife to stable, to more self-control; what he's need is free, go wild in the race. That's what help him beat Lauda and win a championship. :D

[–] awrobel 10 years ago

Gotta go with Hunt, afterall, even Lauda said as much when he stated he was the only man he envied. Besides, I'm more inclined to accept Hunt's philosophy when viewed from the standpoint of his profession. Granted Lauda seemed less foolhardy, but Hunt seemed sufficiently aware of the danger heaving as he did prior to his races. Also the adulation Hunt received during his lifetime seemed to confer champion status despite Lauda's more prolific career. That said, dying at 45 versus disfigurement at 27, difficult call to say the least ?? Think of it as Joe Namath v Peyton Manning , Broadway "Joe" might have had the shorter career but think of the stories he'll tell his grandkids ( well maybe not his grandkids.......) !!

[–] ninjacatprincess 10 years ago

Any sport is lucky to have two competitive sportsmen like this balancing each other out - fire and ice. James Hunt was the firey, passionate, playboy and Niki Lauda was the calm, cool, collected, rational, technical sportsman. Both pushed the sport forward and made it what it is today...

I see Niki and James had a 'bromance'...they pushed each other and became better when they were competing. They brought their 'A' games each time against each other. Again, no sport can survive without people like this and you can see each one secretly envied the other.

James yearned for more self-control but the lure of wine, women and ego was too strong. Niki was filled with self-control and technically sound, but yearned to let go every once in a while.

[–] adresher-1 10 years ago

I admire Lauda more. I have always preferred the quiet champion to the flashy one i.e. Sampras to Agassi. Also Lauda was clearly the better driver.

What I think is so amazing about the rivalry is how it made them both better racers and they became friends. Although it is Lauda who says at the end how much he admired Hunt and he was the only person he ever envied, you can tell Hunt also has deep admiration for Lauda and probably envies his passion and desire too.