Film Review: "Gran Turismo" (2023).

"From gamer to racer." This is Gran Turismo. This biographical sports drama film directed by Neill Blomkamp, written by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin, and based on the racing simulation video game series of the same title developed by Polyphony Digital, and the true story of Jann Mardenborough. The film is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer, a failed former racecar driver, and an idealistic motorsport executive. Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world.

In July 2013, it was announced that Sony Pictures was developing a Gran Turismo film with a script penned by Alex Tse. In 2015, Joseph Kosinski was hired to direct, with a new script penned by Jon and Erich Hoeber. However, by 2018, the film was no longer moving forward. However, in May 2022, it was announced that a new film adaptation was in early development. Shortly afterward, Blomkamp was hired to direct a script penned by Hall and Baylin, and Sony set a August 11, 2023 release date. Baylin cited Rocky (1976) and Top Gun (1986) as influences on this film. In September, it was reported that Stephen Barton would compose the films' score. By mid November, Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Djimon Hounsou, Geri Halliwell, Takehiro Hira, and Thomas Kretschmann were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in mid December. Filming took place in Budapest, Hungary and was shot on the Sony Venice 2 cameras. Cinematographer Jacques Jouffret took advantage of the Rialto extension/detachment system of the cameras in order to place sensors in tight locations of cars, away from the main camera body. In late April 2023, Lorne Balfe was announced to take over from Barton. Due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the film's release date was pushed to August 25.

The film stars Madekwe, Harbour, Bloom, Hounsou, Halliwell, Hira, and Kretschmann. Some members of the audience I attended for the film snickered at the mythologizing of the young actor on the screen. Madekwe would be wise to pay heed to such derision.

The only noteworthy thing about this big, dumb testosterone video game fantasy is the first screen teaming of Harbour and Bloom. It was not so much about innovation and originality as it was about recycling the same themes about the glories of victory and the triumph of professionalism, which the film produces in droves, but without any real impact. Like the previous race car pictures, it's designed to give audiences an overdose of the thrill of victory; it wants us to jump out of our seats, pumping our fists in the air and roaring for the hero to pulverize his opponents. Not only does the film disappoint on the basic narrative level, it is also a peculiarly thrill-less action movie. Shot from the driver's point of view, the race sequences lose their novelty as swiftly as its source media.

Simon says Gran Turismo receives:

Also, see my review for Chappie.