In Depth Analysis of Rush (2013) Film Opening

Genre
This Introductory scene suggests that this film is a Biography Action Drama. This is because of the slow initial build up and then after the flag drops, the edit is much faster. The music also builds the suspense alongside the slow paced edit. This use of suspense is similar to that of an Action film. What makes this an Action Drama rather than just a standalone Action film is that it focuses on the emotional and relational development of realistic characters. In this case, Nikki Lauda and James Hunt, who are real people who were racing in the 1970's. The film being about real people and based on true events, their battle for the world championship in 1976, makes this a Biography film also.

Narrative
In this clip, the film's opening is set before the 1976 German Grand Prix, race 10 of 16. This is the race in which Lauda had his near fatal accident. This means the film doesn't follow a chronological order since, after this scene, the film starts in 1970. 

Character
Due to this being a Biography orientated film, the audience are expected to know about the story, just now how the film company chooses to portray it. This also means they will know the characters involved, so they dont really need much of an introduction. However, a fairly substantial introduction is given about

Atmosphere
During the clip, it can be seen that the clip has a slight blue tint to it. This may have been done with a tinted lense on the camera or with effects during the edit. Regardless of how it was done, it seems to add to the clip as it gives a somewhat depressing atmosphere. This could potentially foreshadow the events that happen later on (Lauda's near fatal crash on the day of the race shown, 1st August 1976)

Setting
Having watched making-of films of this films, the start line, where the intro was filmed, is at Blackbush Airport in Hampshire, England. They built a makeshift start-finish straight complete with pit-lane, which could then be changed where and how they needed to replicate whatever track they needed to. Coupled with some props and costumes as well as special effects in the editing room, they could make their pit lane into whatever they needed so it would look like the real thing. Ron Howard, the director, said that the majority of the film revolved around Blackbush. When watching the film, however, you have no idea that they have used the same pit lane about 10 times over. The attention to detail on the set is remarkable as you wouldn't believe how these little things can make it look so believable. Only someone who knows every racetrack in the world and watching every sort of motorsport religiously would be able to tell the difference. 

Sound
The music (non-diegetic) used in this opening goes alongside the slow-paced edit to help build the suspense, but rather than going to a fast-paced music track, the music, when the flag drops, cuts out altogether, and all sound from thereon is just diegetic, sound being primarily made up of engine noises and tyres, with the crowd cheering being heard briefly before the engine sounds taking over as the only thing that can be heard. This I believe adds to the film as it is as if the viewer is there as there is no additional sounds that have been added on over the top. This technique of only having engine and tyre sounds was used in the 1968 film Bullitt during the main car chase (one of the greatest Movie Car Chases of all time).

During the intro, you can also hear Nikki Lauda (played by Daniel Brühl) narrating over the top. He starts by describing what Formula 1 was like in this time period.

"What kind of person does a job like this? Not normal men, for sure. Rebels, lunatics, dreamers. People who are that desperate to make a mark, and are prepared to die trying."

Then afterwards, introduces himself and his biggest rival during his racing career, James Hunt (played by Chris Hemsworth) and explains how this rivalry is what he was remembered for most of all.

"I don't know why it became such a big thing. We were just drivers busting each other's balls. To me this is perfectly normal, but other people saw it differently. That whatever it was between us went deeper. The other thing I'm remembered for is what happened on 1st August 1976, when I was chasing him like an asshole..."

Having watched this film (several times) and knowing the story of James Hunt vs Nikki Lauda I'm fully aware of what happened during this rivalry. James Hunt was the one who won the 1976 season (by a single point) so you would expect him to be the one narrating, rather than Lauda. This choice I believe is rather clever as it allows us to hear things from an alternate perspective, since the film being about a British Formula 1 World Champion and made by an American film company may suggest that they would have a bias towards the colonies (i.e the British). 

Titles
There are no titles in the opening