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.

[–] riker-don 10 years ago

The point of the movie was that both men achieved their dream to be the best, but in very different directions. Once they were bitter rivals that came to respect each other, and in some cases, protect each other.

I liked Lauda better, but Hunt wasn't far behind.

[–] By-TorX-1 10 years ago

Lauda. I loved his whole approach to the sport and his self-discipline. I also admired his drive (see what I did there!) in getting back into the car so soon after such terrible injuries. He is a total hero.

I sleep now.

[–] rorge_retson 10 years ago

They were both magnificent. Both were supremely full of passion - Hunt for life in general, Lauda for precision, science, and being the best. Both went about expressing their passion in different ways, but I can neither commend nor fault either for they way they went about it. A truly great film with two great biopics imbedded within it.

[–] Sabre-El 10 years ago

Although I would normally prefer British, Lauda was a more relatable character. What they showed James as is pretty much a character I do not favour.

Clark: Jonathan Kent; isn't it a little past your bedtime?

[–] Laura_848 10 years ago

definitely Lauda.

[–] bluerisk 10 years ago

Lauda.

Ich bin kein ausgeklügelt Buch, ich bin ein Mensch mit seinem Widerspruch.
Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

[–] Mellow-Fellow 10 years ago

Lauda..... For his dedication and sheer will.

But I myself am a James Hunt. all the way, that would be me, I live with a bit more forward thinking but pretty much the same personality as him.

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 10 years ago

What I find most intriguing is the fact that we have to completely different men whose personalities are diametrically opposed and who have really nothing in common psychologically and temperamentally other than their will to win and be the best, but both reach the same goal in completely different ways.

It just goes to show that there is never only ONE way to achieve things.

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

[–] lanis_cupus 9 years ago

An interesting point, but which do you respect/admire more?

Is this to be an empathy test?

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 9 years ago

I answered that question a bit further up. It's OK you asked though. 

Truly, I love them both, 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."

[–] lanis_cupus 9 years ago

I liked Lauda from the word go and disliked Hunt most of the way. But at least he tried to redeem himself at the end.

I think if you're a professional and you know your *beep* you'll always be respected (even if people don't take to you). Hunt, on the other hand, seemed like an 8-year-old who stole his father's car keys.

And no I don't have anything against a rockstar lifestyle (god knows I try), I just wish Hunt had been more like Billy Crudup's character in Almost Famous...or maybe someone who thought he had to maintain a certain image for the public but really had more going on. That would have caused me to be torn between the 2 characters, which I think is what Ron Howard was after.

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 9 years ago

I'm quite sure Hunt thought he had a certain image to maintain. It was the 70's! I absolutely cannot find it in my heart to dislike the guy! :)

I admit the playboy/rockstar lifestyle would have got a bit old as time went by but he might have grown out of it at some time. Unfortunately he was dead at 45.

In the long run I think Lauda was the better driver, because he really took driving seriously. And that will have a positive effect in the end.

Lauda's drive and courage are extremely admirable, the problem was that he was never really likable, attractive and charismatic. At least not to the casual F1 viewer who just wanted a hero to worship. In contrast James Hunt was the golden boy.
Lauda could be, and still can be, very abrasive. I think it was Hunt who said to him at one time:"Is there ever a time when you're not an @sshole?"

Lauda wanted to be a great driver, Hunt wanted that plus all the admiration and worship he could get.

I just loved it that two so different characters, who seemed to come from different planets, reached the same goal and, for all their rivalry, were able to respect each other.

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

[–] lanis_cupus 9 years ago

I just loved it that two so different characters, who seemed to come from different planets, reached the same goal and, for all their rivalry, were able to respect each other.

Yes, this is a theme I'd like to see more of in the movies.

[–] supercyberedu 9 years ago

My choice is Lauda, he wasn't only thinking about himself when asking to cancel the race. He had some moral view of life that I respect.
At the very end of the movie, when Hunt punches the reporter I kinda liked him more, although this was not true in real life, but it seem to be possible.

I like the story because despite the rivality these two pilots seem to respect, enjoyed their rivality, with no hate, just rivality.

I loved when the guy Lauda, told his wife, no regrets, none. That was a real nice moment, similar to when the movie is starting and he said that Hunt could have killed them both if he didn't used the breakes, and Hunt saying well you didn't and making fun of him. After that I already knew on who's side I was going to be.