CAE Reading and Use of English Part 6
You are going to read four reviews of the Formula 1 film Rush. For questions 37-40, choose from the reviewers A-D. The reviewers may be chosen more than once.
Review A
Ron Howard’s Rush is a triumph, primarily due to its masterful character study. The film wisely avoids being a dry, technical chronicle of the 1976 Formula 1 season and instead focuses on the fascinating dichotomy between its two protagonists. Chris Hemsworth embodies James Hunt with a captivating, rock-star swagger that masks a deep-seated vulnerability. Conversely, Daniel Brühl delivers a career-best performance, perfectly capturing Niki Lauda’s meticulous, abrasive, yet strangely noble nature. The racing sequences are visceral and brilliantly shot, placing you directly in the cramped, dangerous cockpit of a 1970s F1 car. However, these scenes serve the characters, rather than the other way around. We are not just watching cars go fast; we are witnessing the psychological battle between two fundamentally different philosophies of life and risk. It is this human core, framed by exhilarating action, that makes Rush an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Review B
While Rush features superbly crafted racing scenes, its true engine is the compelling character drama. The film excels not in its depiction of downforce or pit-stop strategy, but in its nuanced exploration of what drove Hunt and Lauda. Hunt is portrayed as a charismatic hedonist, living life at a breakneck speed both on and off the track, his talent seemingly effortless. Lauda is his antithesis: a disciplined technician who believes success is earned solely through calculation and relentless effort. The genius of the screenplay is that it refuses to villainize either man, instead presenting both worldviews with empathy and understanding. Their rivalry is not one of hatred, but of mutual respect forged in the crucible of extreme competition. The film argues that their clash of personalities, more than any technical innovation, created one of the sport’s most legendary seasons.
Review C
Rush succeeds where many sports films fail: it is accessible to those with no knowledge of Formula 1. You don’t need to understand racing to be gripped by this high-stakes story of rivalry, obsession, and survival. The terrifyingly realistic crash sequences and the palpable tension of the race edits are enough to hook any viewer. At its heart, the film is a classic dramatic archetype— a free spirit pitted against a pragmatist—wrapped in the glamorous, high-risk world of 1970s motorsport. While purists will find some of the details are overly simplified for narrative pace, this is a necessary concession for a mainstream audience. The film’s primary goal is emotional engagement, not a documentary-style recreation, and it achieves this with flying colours. What we get in the end is a powerful human story that just happens to be set in the world of F1.
Review D
As a long-time Formula 1 enthusiast, I found Rush to be a mixed bag. The character work is undeniably superb, with both Hemsworth and Brühl disappearing into their roles with astonishing conviction. Their performances alone make the film worth watching. However, from a technical standpoint, the film takes significant liberties. The chronology of the 1976 season is heavily compressed, and the depiction of team politics and car development is oversimplified to the point of inaccuracy. Certain dramatic moments are fabricated for cinematic effect, which may frustrate those familiar with the real history. That said, the film perfectly captures the era’s visceral danger and the stark contrast between Hunt’s flamboyance and Lauda’s austerity. It’s a compelling drama first and a racing film second, a choice that will satisfy general audiences but may leave hardcore fans wanting more factual rigor.
Which reviewer …
37 shares Reviewer A’s opinion about the quality of the lead actors’ performances?
38 expresses a different view from the others on the film’s technical accuracy in depicting Formula 1?
39 has a similar view to Reviewer C on the film’s success in appealing to audiences beyond Formula 1 fans?
40 agrees with Reviewer B that the film’s strength lies in its exploration of the main characters’ personalities?
For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary
