Has there ever been a truly definitive movie made about professional race car driving? That's a gap that director Ron Howard looks to fill with 'Rush,' a movie looks like one of the most exciting (and, admittedly, awards bait-y) films coming our way in the back half of 2013. This isn't just a movie about people who drive really fast cars -- this is a period drama about two professional rivals whose hatred for each other led to some of the most fascinating Formula One racing of all time.

Chris Hemsworth stars as James Hunt, a playboy, celebrity and lady's man. Daniel Bruhl plays Niki Lauda, his methodical rival. Although you can easily Google these two men and find out what ultimately went down between them, do yourself a favor and don't. It's a terrific story and both make incredible, complicated characters. This is the kind of true story that deserves the cinematic treatment. Ron Howard has his fair share of hits and misses, but this is a hard story to screw up.

Here's the official synopsis:

RUSH portrays the exhilarating true story of two of the greatest rivals the world has ever witnessed—handsome English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl). Set against the sexy and glamorous golden age of Formula 1 racing, Rush follows the two drivers as they push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error.

Two-time Academy Award® winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon), teams once again with fellow two-time Academy Award® nominee, writer Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen), on Rush, a spectacular big-screen re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda.

Also starring Olivia Wilde (TRON: Legacy) and Alexandra Maria Lara (The Reader), Rush is produced by Andrew Eaton (A Mighty Heart), Howard, Academy Award® winner Brian Grazer (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind), Eric Fellner (Senna, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Morgan and Brian Oliver (Black Swan) and executive produced by Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media, Todd Hallowell and Tim Bevan. Universal Pictures will distribute the film in North America.

'Rush' opens in theaters on September 20, 2013. Expect it to pop up a lot when people start making their awards predictions.

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