A One Mann’s Movies review of “Gran Turismo” (2023).
“Grand Prix”; “Le Mans”; “Rush“; “Le Mans ’66” (aka “Ford v Ferrari”). There have been some cracking films based around the sport of motor-racing. And now Neill Blomkamp has added to that list with “Gran Tursimo”. Amazingly, this is based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, now just 30 years old, who acted as one of the stunt drivers in the film.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) is a misunderstood teen, always the subject of criticism from his ex-professional-footballer father Steve (Djimon Hounsou). Steve thinks he should spend less time on computer games and more time doing something ‘useful’. His mum (Geri Halliwell-Horner) is constantly trying to keep the peace. But an unbelievable opportunity presents itself to Jann when Nissan marketing-man Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom) comes up with the wheeze of finding the best Gran Turismo players in the world and putting them into real cars in real races..
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Moderate threat, infrequent strong language”.)
Talent:
Starring: Orlando Bloom, David Harbour, Archie Madekwe, Djimon Hounsou, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Maeve Courtier-Lilley.
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp.
Written by: Jason Hall & Zach Baylin. (From a story by Jason Hall and Alex Tse….. although I understood from an interview with Blomkamp (on Kermode and Mayo’s “Take”) that the film was a pretty straightforward telling of Jann’s biopic, so why did people get “story” credits??).
Twitter Handle: #GranTurismo.
Some brilliant racing cinematography. (Source: Sony Pictures).
“Gran Turismo” Review:
Positives:
- The motor-racing scenes are terrific. In simulating the different driver views you can select in the computer game, the camera is sometimes a 1st person view inside the car; sometimes on the bonnet and sometimes hovering behind the car. Overlaid on the screen are helpful game-style graphics, for example, to chart Jann’s position in the race. There is also some wonderful drone work, with the camera soaring over stands and zipping down into the racing action in a truly exhillerating way. Hats off to the director of photography, Jacques Jouffret.
- And the VFX are deployed brilliantly. At one point, Jann’s car disintegrates into every component and nut and bolt as he flashes back to driving the same course in his bedroom. Then, flashback over, the car reassembles itself and the race continues. Great stuff.
- Archie Madekwe does a fine job in the lead role of Jann. His fledgling love story with young Audrey (a very sweet Maeve Courtier-Lilley) is nicely done and adds a bit of love-interest in between all of the petrol-head action. But the real heart of the film is owned by David Harbour as Jack Salter, ex-driver and ‘drill-sergeant’ of the rookie team. Harbour oozes charisma and lights up every scene he’s in.
- This is a film that is a MUST SEE on the big screen, since not only are the visuals fantastic, but the sound design is EPIC. Cars aurally whizz at you from the back of the screen and you get to see and hear the piston-pumping action inside the engines.
- There’s a nice music score by Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawczynski that reaches a suitably triumphic crescendo at the points it needs to.
Negatives:
- Given that the movie was co-produced by PlayStation Productions, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. But the start of the film feels, in promotional terms, like you are being bludgeoned to death by a PlayStation console and (to a slightly lesser extent) by a Nissan gear-stick.
- The script insists on some truly heinous mansplaining. There are some real head-in-your-hands moments. One of the best (or rather, the worst) is Bloom’s Danny Moore talking to the team minutes before Le Mans. “Now, just to remind you,” he drones, “Le Mans is a 24 hour race”!!! It’s the most bonkers moment since that woman was desiging the Celine Dion tour-posters on the ever of the tour in “Love Again“!
- There are some moments of dodgy acting. Orlando Bloom never fully convinced me as the sleazy marketing guy with a $-focused agenda. And when Jann phones his mum to announce that he’s got into the GTA Academy, Geri Halliwell sounds about as surprised and pleased as if he’d won a bottle of wine in the village fete tombola!
- Djimon Hounson (who, amusingly, I note has been seen as “Wizard” in each of his last two films “Shazam!: Fury of the Gods” AND “Black Adam“) does a fine job as Jann’s semi-estranged father. But this element of the story never felt fully enough developed to make a unification scene deliver the emotional punch it could have done.
Summary Thoughts on ”Gran Turismo”
This is a good old-fashioned kind of film. A biopic told in a linear and unflashy way. An untold true story of a kid who defied the odds to come out on top. It’s not a perfect film. Looking at my, quite significant, list of negatives, I was more leaning towards a 3.5*s for this one. But, you know, sometimes a film just rises above its obvious flaws and just makes you feel good. This is one such film.
Recommended for watching on the big screen.
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Trailer for “Gran Turismo”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVPzGBvPrzw .
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