A brief rhetoric analysis of a trailer for "Rush" made in a group.

2. OVER VIEW
“Rush” (Dir. Ron Howard) is based on the competition
between 1970’s Formula One racers, Niki Lauda (Daniel
Bruhl) and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). The story
follows their rivalry and different styles of driving along
with showing the risks and consequences of making a
mistake behind the wheel.

3. NARRATIVE AND LANGUAGE
Using rhetoric analysis, we will look at how
the film constructs the following themes:
•
Masculinity
•
Formula One Driving
•
Fame

4. MASCULINITY
The verbal rhetoric at the beginning of the trailer constructs James Hunt as a successful
ladies man:
Interviewer: "How'd you achieve this advantage?”
James Hunt: “Big balls”
The innuendo “big balls” could be interpreted in one of two ways –
•
It constructs him as a adventurous and brave as he is willing to take risks for his
profession.
•
It also has suggestions about what makes him a male and is quite sexual, suggesting
that he has a lot of experience with women.
The repetitive photographic rhetoric of James Hunt being with other women reinforces
this, and sets him up to look like a player.
The presentational rhetoric of James smashing a mirror and then looking into his
reflection suggests that his profession has broken him as a man. The violent action is
also stereotypical of masculinity.

5. FORMULA ONE RACING
The editorial rhetoric of the fast paced edit makes it look like the frames of
James Hunt racing and then being with women are “flickering” into
each other, mimicking the speed of the race cars. This anchors the
film’s name “Rush” as it feels fast.
The fire coming from the car is symbolic of danger suggesting formula one
racing is hazardous. The stormy weather gives the audience a sense of
foreboding as well, suggesting racing is a risk taking sport.
The over the shoulder shot of James Hunt staring at Nicki Lauder
constructs a binary opposition between the two drivers, suggesting that
formula one racing is competitive. The diegetic sound of race cars build
suspense for the pending race. This also over laps with the theme of
masculinity as men are stereotypically competitive.

6. FAME
The champagne bottle being sprayed every where in the opening
scene suggests that this man is a successful man of celebrity
status, as champagne has connotations of success and wealth.
James Hunt is also being interviewed by someone, which suggest
that his voice is one that should be heard as it is important.
The large stadium of people and the diegetic sound of crowds
cheering and clapping also suggest he is of a high status.

7. LINKING TO THE KEY READINGS
The film is based on a true story, but has some elements of fiction to drive
the narrative.
The trailer ends with Hunt saying “I fully expect, the next press conference
we all have will be with me as world champion” for those who do not
know who won this could be seen as a cliff hanger (Ellis, 1982, 146). For
those who do it is not.
Unlike television, this film relies on the image on screen, using spectacle
and high quality stunts (ex, the car on fire) to maintain the viewers
attention. (Ellis, 1982, 120)
We can also argue that I have got this themes from this film because I
wanted to, and I have used rhetoric as a language tool to manipulate it
to mean what I want it to mean. “Films mean because people want them
to.” (Nowell-Smith, 2000)