Gran Turismo (2023)

Gran Turismo (2023)

 

7/10

Starring

David Harbour

Orlando Bloom

Archie Madekwe

Darren Barnet

 

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

 

Gran Turismo is a fun racing game, and the idea of making a movie based on someone’s real-life experiences with the game is epic. This film is a biographical sports drama about the life of Jann Mardenborough. For me, the game was one of the first games I owned on the Sony PS1, so it has a place in my heart.

The movie is intense and does its best to sidestep the usual dramatic cheesiness of Hollywood films. One standout moment is when CGI is used to depict the character imagining himself in a game car, driving recklessly this visual is worth seeing. The fact that these events happened to someone in real life makes it even more fascinating to watch.

The question is, will you, regardless of how good you are in a racing game, want to turn it into reality? This question kept running through my mind as I watched, and it made me respect the character even more for believing he could accomplish this.

The acting is excellent, and the movie’s adrenaline-pumping moments are consistently engaging. I didn’t even notice that the film was over an hour long it flew by.

I also enjoyed learning about the inspiration behind the game and how Nissan came up with the idea to take the highest-scoring players and turn them into real-life race car drivers. The movie begins by exploring the creation of the game, designed to make players feel like they’re on a real racetrack. We then meet Danny (Orlando Bloom’s character), a marketing executive who pitches the idea to Nissan’s board to recruit top players and train them to become professional drivers. Danny hires a former driver-turned-mechanic to help prepare these gamers, selecting the best of the top ten racers worldwide.

Jann is ultimately chosen to transition from SIM racer to real-life driver. The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the challenges he faced during this transformation, including the pain and hardships involved. And, of course, no good movie is complete without a rivalry, so this one includes its own villain to add tension.

In the end, Gran Turismo delivers an exciting and satisfying cinema experience. Although I don’t know much about racing, regardless of how much I played the game this movie drew me in and inspired me to read more about the sport and watch clips I’d only seen in advertisements.

If you’re considering going to the cinema, this movie is an easy recommendation. It’s well worth your time.