Tag: Ron Howard

Celebrate the late Niki Lauda’s birthday with ‘Rush’

Jeff Mitchell

Niki Lauda would have been 72-years-young today (Feb. 22), but I am very thankful that Daniel Bruhl played the Formula-1 legend in director Ron Howard’s “Rush”.   “Rush” was my #2 film of 2013, and in my humble opinion, Bruhl deserved the Best Actor Oscar that year. Lauda was alive to see Howard’s film, although he didn’t like the rough cut.  Lauda was always a perfectionist (haha), but he gave his approval after seeing the premiere in a packed theatre, and as far as Bruhl’s portrayal of him:  “I think he…

Movie of the Week: ‘Rush’

Jeff Mitchell

Have you driven a Formula One car?   No, we haven’t either, but since they hit speeds of 200 mph, it must be a rush! In 2013, director Ron Howard and his producers perfectly Christ Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl as real-life 1970s Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda in “Rush”, a truly spectacular sports film. In fact, Bruhl’s portrayal of Lauda was the single best performance that our critic Jeff Mitchell saw that year, so there’s no time like the present to feature “Rush” as AHFW’s Movie of the…

Indifference is the one word to describe ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

Jeff Mitchell

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” – The Star Wars universe obviously centers around the Skywalker family, and during Episodes IV through VI, Luke was anointed the main protagonist.   His personal Shakespearean journey is the largest thread in the original films’ tapestry, and millions and millions – and perhaps, billions – of kids welded PVC pipes, wooden sticks and purchased plastic lightsabers to emulate Luke Skywalker. On the other hand, if one took an informal poll of Star Wars fans, more boys, young men and grown men would probably want to…