Synopsis:
Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver.
What We Thought:
Gran Turismo doesn’t reinvent the wheel or provide anything too new in the sports underdog genre, but it’s a solid enough watch. I’ve never played the game nor do I know the true story it’s based on so I can’t say how accurate to the truth the film is or how many liberties it takes with its story. Not knowing the story or never playing the game really doesn’t have an effect on the film so if you are like me you won’t have a hard time following along.
When I first heard about this movie I thought it was going to be a ripoff of the 1980s film The Last Starfighter. In that movie a kid great at a video game in his trailer park is taken to space to help win a war in space. This film is about a kid who’s great at playing the racing game Gran Turismo, but this actually happened. Yep someone came up with the idea that if a player is great at the video game, maybe those skills will translate on the racetrack and racing could gain a whole new fanbase. Players compete in a contest and those players who win will be put in the actual driver seats of race cars. In real life Jann Mardenborough ended up racing competitively for years after competing virtually.
I think not knowing Jann’s story in advance helped. You assume he’ll win or at least finish high enough in the competition to actually become a race car driver or else this movie wouldn’t exist. But what the movie does best is show his highs and lows. Usually in underdog sports movies the main character/team wins it all, but that isn’t the case here. The story of a video gamer becoming a real driver is fascinating enough that him not necessarily finishing first all the time isn’t that big of a deal. It humanizes the character and gives viewers something to root for.
The standout of the film is David Harbour though. You root for Jann, but Harbour plays the old school former driver who doesn’t believe in these kids. He thinks the entire idea of virtual drivers being real drivers is ludicrous and he’s the perfect opposite to the Jann character. Of course he ends up having a heart and his backstory pushes the film forward after a horrific incident. Harbour is great in the role.
If you are expecting the next Ford v Ferrari you’ll be disappointed. That movie is pure racing adrenaline. Gran Turismo is more racing fun. Don’t get me wrong, the actual racing scenes especially the last one are very good especially because the real Jann is the racing stand-in for the Jann “character”. In a dull time for film releases Gran Turismo at least brings some octane to the box office. Will non-gamers and non-racing fans turn out for it though?
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Screenplay by: Jason Hall and Neill Blomkamp and Zach Baylin
Based on the PLAYSTATION STUDIOS video game
Produced by: Doug Belgrad, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Dana Brunetti
Executive Producers: Matthew Hirsch, Jason Hall, Kazunori Yamauchi, Hermen Hulst
Cast: David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner, and Djimon Hounsou
The Nerds Templar 