[FILM REVIEW] GRAN TURISMO Review (2023)
Summary: Based on the unbelievable, inspiring true story of a team of underdogs – a struggling, working-class gamer, a failed former race car driver, and an idealistic motorsport exec – who risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world.
Year: 2023
Cinema Release Dates: 10th August 2023 (Australia), 31st August 2023 (Thailand), 9th August 2023 (UK), 25th August 2023 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA, Japan
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Screenwriter: Jason Hall, Zach Baylin
Cast: Darren Barnett (Matty Davis), Pepe Barroso (Antonio Cruz), Harki Bhambra (Avi Bhatt), Orlando Bloom (Danny Moore), Richard Cambridge (Felix), John Carter (James Wallace), Theo Christine (Marcel Durand), Mauve Courtier-Lilley (Audrey), Seline Cuhadaroglu (Sarah Eaton), Mariano Gonzalez (Henry Evas), Geri Halliwell Horner (Lesley Mardenborough), David Harbour (Jack Salter), Emilia Hatford (Leah Vega), Takehiro Hira (Kazunori Yamauchi), Djimon Hounsou (Steve Mardenborough), Ciaran Joyce (Ciaran Cochrane), Jamie Kenna (Jack Man Jones), Akie Kotabe (Akira Akiba), Thomas Kretschmann (Patrice Capa), Sang Heon Lee (Joo-Hwan Lee), Arche Madekwe (Jann Mardenborough), Niall McShea (Frederick Schulin), Lloyd Meredith (Percy), Maximillan Mundt (Klaus Hoffman), Nikhil Parmar (Persol), Lindsay Pattinson (Chloe McCormick), Daniel Puig (Coby Mardenborough), Joshua Stradowski (Nicholas Capa)
Running Time: 135 mins
Classification: M (Australia), TBC (Thailand), 12-A (UK), PG-13 (USA)
OUR GRAN TURISMO REVIEWS
David Griffiths’ Gran Turismo Review
Hold the award for most surprising film of 2023 because Gran Turismo just took a huge lunge for the chequered flag. You could be forgiven that this would be just a big, dumb action film based on a video game. Certainly, many won’t expect for this to be a film that goes deep into human emotion about achieving your dreams or looking at the psyche that it takes to be a car racer… yet that is exactly what the film manages to do.
Directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9) Gran Turismo tells the true story of car racer Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe – Midsommar). The film chronicles how Jann made history by taking part in an unique racing program developed by Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom – The Lord Of The Rings). That program took the best SIMS racers, basically gamers good at Gran Turismo, and entered them into a program that would see them train to become actual car racers.
The film shows how Jann had to overcome the doubts of not only his soccer-playing father, Steve (Djimon Hounsou – Guardians Of The Galaxy), but also the man hired to make him a car racer, the gifted Jack Salter (David Harbour – Stranger Things). It may seem that the whole world is against him but Jann is determined to make something of himself in the world of car racing.
You may have noticed that Sony have gone out of their way to show cinemagoers that Gran Turismo is a true story and not just a film based a video game. From adding the ‘true story’ tag to the films poster and trailer and even having some cinemas mention it on their session schedule screen next to the film’s title. It may have seemed like overkill, but this film deserves to have the fact pointed out because this is more than just a video game movie – this goes into the same realm of films like Rush.
Some of the things that Blomkamp does with the film is pretty amazing. From the special effects and visuals that help meld the film into a fusion of video game and real life through to the fact that the film becomes more of a character study rather than a Fast & Furious wannabe it seems that Blomkamp was the right director to make this film something special.
Of course, he is also aided by screenwriters Jason Hall (Thank You For Your Service) and Zach Baylin (King Richard) who set about getting rid of all cliches and instead make this a character study of not only Jann but the man who helped shape him – Jack Salter. The fact that the film then delves into deep topics such as how does a racer deal with the aftereffects of an accident that has resulted in somebody’s death just adds surprising depth to the film.
Even the fact that Hall and Baylin know how to handle the rivalry between Jann and Jack with fellow racer Nicholas Capa (Josha Stadowski – The Wheel Of Time) shows a maturity with their writing that is really seen in films like this one. That rivalry really could have been overblown, such as the ones in the Creed films, but here it is simply used as a tool to make both Jann and Jack more determined to succeed in their roles.
Surprisingly the screenplay will also see the audience go through a whole range of emotions. From potential tears falling during the scenes after Jann’s accident through to laughs at the choice of music that both Jann and Jack use to get them into a ‘racing’ mood the audience will find themselves at the whim of two screenwriters who really know how to deliver a well-rounded screenplay.
That screenplay also allows for some great acting performances by both David Harbour and Archie Madekwe. Habour embraces getting a big screen role outside of the action realm and his skills shine during the more intense moments of the film. Likewise, Madekwe shows Hollywood that he is more than ready to become a star that can carry a film – his likeness to the actual Jann Mardenborough is just the icing on the cake.
The film does have some weaknesses though. First of all it can’t be considered a true reflection on either Jann’s life or career as there are some inconsistencies to what happened in real life while at other times it feels like the film just doesn’t capitalise on the suspense that could be generated in some scenes. Still those negatives are hugely over-shadowed by the positives.
Gran Turismo certainly won’t win many awards, but this is still a film that is a lot better than many will give it credit for. The character studies it contains into both a car racer and team manager is surprising while the story itself is something that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Gran Turismo is one of the biggest surprises of 2023.
David’s rating Out Of 5
David Griffiths, Kyle McGrath and Lee Griffiths’ Gran Turismo Review
Kyle’s rating Out Of 5
Lee’s rating Out Of 5
Alex First’s Gran Turismo Review
A quarter of a century ago Kazunori Yamauchi created the world’s most accurate car racing simulation game and called it Gran Turismo.
He and his team had spent five years perfecting it. Video gamers quickly became obsessed.
Then, one day, a UK marketing executive for Nissan, Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom), had a crazy, but revolutionary idea.
He put it to the higher ups that Nissan could receive a significant PR boost if a gamer could transfer his skills to the marque’s real racing cars.
Surprisingly, the execs bought it.
Moore came up with the idea of a contest to choose the best Gran Turismo player in the world.
The top ten gamers were selected from a series of live, online events.
Thereafter, they were taught by grizzled engineer and former driver Jack Salter (David Harbour) to drive real racing cars
Pitted against each other, the 10 were whittled down to five and then a single race determined who would be “the chosen one”.
He turned out to be a tall, quietly spoken, but determined British racing car simulation afficionado, Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe).
His father Steve (Djimon Hounsou) had been a soccer champion and Jann’s younger brother Coby (Daniel Puig) also took up the round ball game.
Steve was forever on Jann’s case to play football, urging him to put his time and effort into something meaningful, rather than playing video games.
But Jann wasn’t into the ball sport and he didn’t relent.
Still, his road to becoming the one selected to race was far from easy.
That was nothing compared to what he encountered when he took to the track for real against seasoned drivers, not just videogame champions.
Of course, he had to have his wits about him and learn fast. That was always a given.
But more than that, he faced significant prejudice from drivers, one in particular, Nicholas Capa (Josha Stradowski).
Capa et al were against a simulation driver encroaching on a “big boys’” sport.
Gran Turismo, the movie, is thus based on a true story, which makes it all the more compelling.
Despite the ending never being in doubt – it quickly becomes clear what will happen – it is exciting.
The film – written by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin – throws up plenty of obstacles and challenges.
The premise is “backs to the wall”.
Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) ensures there is no shortage of adrenaline-pumping action throughout.
Of course, it’s the characters – the heroes and the villains – that bring the story to life.
Jack Salter is, arguably, the most interesting of those. He is a man whose career was cut short, but we don’t know why until a significant way into the film.
David Harbour balances the push and pull required of his persona well.
Unbridled enthusiasm, with much to lose, is the default position for Orlando Bloom, as the marketing guru.
Archie Madekwe is likeable and, more often than not, contained as Jann Mardenborough.
The filmmakers have done a great job with the visual effects, specifically by overlaying the simulated video game with “skeletons” of race cars.
The sound, music, production design and cinematography all come together to produce a pulsating ride. Also featuring Geri Halliwell Horner (of Spice Girls’ fame) as Jann’s mum, Gran Turismo has much going for it.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
Other Gran Turismo Reviews:
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