‘Gran Turismo’ Film Review
Blomkamp and crew give us an intimate look at the world of high stakes, elite racing, portraying it as glamorous and dangerous.
Gran Turismo is a full throttle crowd pleaser that gloriously proves that playing video games isn't always a waste of time. This remarkable true story revolves around Jann Mardenborough, a young man who goes from being a hotshot racing simulator driver to the real thing in the elite world of race car driving. The film is heartfelt and electric, with action sequences that rival Ford v Ferrari, Senna, and Rush.
Baby-faced Archie Madekwe is Jann, who’s always butting heads with his blue-collar father Steve, played quietly and earnestly by Djimon Hounsou. Their scenes together are the emotional fabric of the story. Madekwe is one to keep an eye on, as this could be a star-making turn for him. Steve doesn’t see any future for Jann in simulation racing games. Steve’s feet are planted firmly on the ground. He’s had to give up his dreams to settle for an average Joe job. Jann is determined to prove him wrong and participates in a Nissan challenge to find the best Gran Turismo simulation driver. As he rises in the ranks, the corporatization of fun is made abundantly clear. Jann is plucked from obscurity by Orlando Bloom’s Danny Moore, Nissan’s starry-eyed motorsport executive.
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Jann has to train with arbitrary, failed race car driver Jack Salter, a role David Harbour consumes. Their scenes together are also emotional coil that undergirds Jann’s ardent journey of self-discovery. Darren Barnet is Matty, Jann’s rival who’s a cocky racer who could be the perfect face for the Nissan competition.
As the stakes grow higher, Jann melds with the car, becoming one with it. As he travels the world, the shots of the cityscapes are stunning, giving us a sense of being an outsider like Jann, seeing these vibrant places for the first time.
Neill Blomkamp’s directing puts us in the driver’s seat with Jann, letting us feel each turn and acceleration. The style of the racing scenes is a real nod to gamers, blending the excitement of the game with the dangerous, magnetic aura of actually driving a beast of a car.
At first, it seems like the film might be formulaic but once Jann enters the Nissan competition and gets a taste of being away from home, the story picks up momentum, with the intensity increasing with each race. This is a story about looking for the horizon. Jann, Jack, and Danny are underdogs who have a singular love, race car driving. They each have different methods of embracing this love, which isn’t unconditional. It’s a meaty, brutal relationship between man and machine.
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Kazunori Yamauchi of Polyphony Digital developed the PlayStation Studios game Gran Turismo. It came out in 1997 and was the first of many simulation racing games. Fans of the game will appreciate Blomkamp’s attention to detail and seeming passion for the art form of racing, both real and simulated. Jason Hall and Zach Baylin’s script veers away from weighty dialogue, allowing for the conversations to be awkward, painful, and joyous – natural.
Gran Turismo means “grand touring.” Blomkamp and crew give us an intimate look at the world of high stakes, elite racing, portraying it as glamorous and dangerous. Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawczynski’s score creates an undercurrent of stealth sonic waves, driving the emotional beats of the film.
Produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and PlayStation Productions, this Columbia Pictures release hits screens exclusively August 11, 2023 and wide release August 25, 2023.
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Sonya Alexander started off her career training to be a talent agent. She eventually realized she was meant to be on the creative end and has been writing ever since. As a freelance writer she’s written screenplays, covered film, television, music and video games and done academic writing. She’s also been a script reader for over twenty years. She's a member of the African American Film Critics Association and currently resides in Los Angeles.
