So, I don't understand why Rush totally tanked. Is it that people who like car racing don't want to see movies about foreigners? Because a lot of people like car racing, and I would have thought a significant percentage of them would have wanted to see this movie. I wonder if being rated R hurt it?

This is a great non-spoilery quote from Cuaron about the process of separating scientific accuracy from artistic decisions:

The astronauts [who served as consultants] saw bits and pieces of what we were doing. They were exasperated [for instance] about why [Bullock and Clooney’s characters] are not bringing their solar shields down! [I said,] "Well, you won’t see their faces then, so I’m not going to do it." No, [the consultants said], they would go blind from the sun, they could not see, it is impossible. The funny thing is that you tell them something like, There’s a special polarizer on the shield, and they’re like, Oh my! In the [SPOILER OMITTED] , I added one window. Why? Because I wanted to see the Earth in space! One of the toughest things in the film was the cause and effect of microgravity and no resistance, and you ask them, How does a tether react, you pull one, how does it go? — and they would be like, “Yes, but that window is not there.” I know; we talked about it. What do you think about the tether? “Fine, but that window, I’ve been in three missions, that window—” I know, I know, I’m very aware that window is not there, it was a conscious decision! [laughs] But they just … On the other hand, we invited them to the set, and they were just so in awe of everything we’d re-created, and we were like, Well, we changed this, and they said, “Oh, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter.” They were in awe. Those guys are amazing.

[link]

The rest of the article is pretty spoilery.

Jesse, I think bing R did not help. I also think they could have done more promotion.

As much as I appreciated the ass, why did the movie need to be R? I think it was a great movie, but it wasn't marketed as what it was and I can't help but wonder if that served it well.

There was a lot of promotion in LA--Hemsworth's face was everywhere. Bruhl's was nowhere. I went because of word of mouth, though, not marketing.

Yeah, I mean, I like R for the swearing, and certainly appreciated the ass, but could have done without the gore. (Although I would not be surprised to learn that that was PG13 levels of gore.)

And I feel like I saw TV ads, but possibly I just saw a lot of pictures on tumblr.

The main reason I haven't gone to see Rush is that it's 2 hours long. Although I may go see it now, knowing what it's really about. It seems like the marketed it totally on Hemsworth, and I think that hurt them. People who like car racing are not necessarily the same people who like sf/f.

It didn't pique my interest until I heard Lauda's name in a trailer. I've heard of him. I've not heard of Hunt. Then the word of mouth on quality sealed the deal.

I decided I'd see it when I found out it was about a real-life rivalry rather than a one-man Fast & Furious race/caper film like the advertising implied.

I'm seeing GIFs from the Pacific Rim gag reel, and just this [link] and [link] make me a) twitchy b) love Max Martini c) want to slap Kazinsky.

There is no excuse for that sloppiness! Not even (especially!) a joke!

Kazinsky's glee over getting his nose broken in a fight scene and that footage making it to the final film buys a pass for most anything from me.