Gran Turismo

Released August 25, 2023

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

* No spoilers *

The (mostly) true story of Jann Mardenburough's remarkable journey from gamer to professional race driver. This is a classic underdog story about outsiders triumphantly overcoming every obstacle in their way. Gran Turismo exceeded expectations and earned its podium finish with commanding direction and kinetic race sequences. That said this is far from perfect. You will have to check your cynicism at the door. The plot is a typical “based on true events” sports biopic but it is presented with so much creativity, care, and heart that it is worth checking out.

The first third of this movie is rough. It felt like a cheap streaming reboot of Skins or some other teen UK drama. The dialogue was corny, the characters were uninspired and the plot was cliche. Thankfully that was all forgiven when the lead character gets his first small victory. From that point onward each obstacle is its own micro story of building triumph and escalating stakes. Just as any great sports movie should be.

The 2 hour and 14 minute runtime races by. There is plenty that could have been trimmed (including a cheesy romance plot) but I am glad it wasn't. As stilted and cringeworthy as some of the early scenes were, they made the later payoffs feel more meaningful. The corporate influence is clear and Sony is shamelessly self congratulatory about the brilliance of the Gran Turismo game and how their crazy marketing stunt of GT Academy actually paid off. They are patting themselves on the back a little too hard and at times it makes the movie feel more like product placement than an honest portrayal. The dialogue does improve but its never fantastic, and save for one exception, the actors are more melodramatic than genuine. However, I was able to look past all of that and enjoy this because of how brilliantly this movie was directed. It’s a case study in how great direction can elevate a movie beyond an otherwise mediocre set of ingredients. Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium) has mastered the sports movie.

Great direction will take you out of your head and put you into autopilot…like you are on rails being led down a path you have to accept. The race sequences are a 300 km/hr puzzle of extreme eyeball closeups, quick cuts to gears shifting, pedals being pushed, and pistons pumping, along with sweeping aerial drone shots of real cars that puts you right into the race. The audio is raw and mechanical, and the roaring engines will get your adrenaline pumping. The sound design is top notch and the music selection is spot on, leading to some great comedic moments. Beyond all of the technical stuff, the way scenes and sequences are structured is perfect. Blomkamp makes each obstacle feel sufficiently bigger and more insurmountable than the last, raising the stakes and ultimately leading to every subsequent achievement feeling more triumphant.

Our lead character, Jann Mardenburough, is played by the fresh faced Archie Madekwe (Midsommar). He fits the underdog gamer aesthetic and does a fine job but his performance is nothing remarkable. Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lord of the Rings) is safe and straightforward as the Nissan marketing executive who thought up the idea to begin with. Bloom is as wooden and flat as ever, and despite being critical to the plot, he is largely forgettable. Djimoun Hounsou (Gladiator, Guardians of the Galaxy) and Gerri Halliwell Horner (yes Ginger Spice from the Spice Girls) put in solid performances as Jann’s parents.

The real star of this movie is David Harbour (Stranger Things, Hellboy) as Jack Salter, the washed out and jaded has-been turned mentor to Jann. Harbour takes mediocre dialogue and gives it so much subtext and heart that you can’t help but feel attached to his character. He is also hilarious. Sports movies are known for their archetypes and like Mickie from Rocky or Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid, Harbour plays the quintessential tough coach who develops a genuine care for his pupil. The way he delivers one of his monologues is so impactful that it will surely find its way into some TikTok gym video or a motivational highlight reel.

Gran Turismo was not a high priority for me and I went to see it on a whim. I did not expect much, but I was wowed. It is a flawed but masterfully directed underdog story that is worth watching. This is not just for fans of the video game, racing, or even sports movies in general. If you are looking for a feel good motivational story and enjoy cheering on as you see an outsider triumphantly defy all odds, you will have a great time.

7/10 - Don’t let the stilted dialogue and cheesy first act fool you, this is a pulse pounding, adrenaline filled story of triumph and achievement that will have you at the edge of your seat. The brilliant direction and David Harbour's performance are enough to elevate this beyond being another cliche sports biopic. It was surprisingly well made and is a great example of how to develop insurmountable stakes and portray the joyous achievement of overcoming them.

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