Video games have become more and more ingrained into our culture as of late, with hit TV show The Last of Us or the commercial success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films proving that it is possible to translate these epic long houred video games into concise cinematic storytelling. There has been a few dud’s along the way - looking at you Prince of Persia and Warcraft - but it appears the filmmakers around today were brought up on this gaming generation and as a result these fans of the games have been delivering fan-worthy and audience pleasing experiences. The latest to get this treatment is Gran Turismo, but instead of taking the route of having the film based in the game world it is instead based in the real world by telling a true story about a gamer turned racer.
Filmmaker Neill Blomkamp has crafted some very interesting and visually stunning films in his time, from District 9 to Chappie, and he utilises his skills to create an extremely immersive experience with racing on the big screen. In some racing films such as Le Mans ’66, there is a lot of close up camera work on the drivers and the cars, in Gran Turismo it appears they’ve gone for a more bird’s eye, top down approach in order to compliment the style of the video game series that it is based on. As a result, this film feels very fresh and different when compared to other similar films. The variety of racing circuits, from Germany to Dubai, keeps the momentum going and mixes in a bunch of different visuals with each location. Gran Turismo therefore feels like a truly cinematic event.
The story is based around real-life gamer turned racer Yann Mardenborough, played here by Archie Madekwe but with the real Mardenborough performing the car stunts in the film. Mardenborough was a big fan of the Gran Turismo games and wanted to be a racer, but his family never saw a future for him in playing video games. Yann soon proved his family wrong when a racing academy, GT Academy, was announced and Yann won a spot in it. Orlando Bloom plays Danny Moore, a marketing executive who brought the players together with David Harbour playing Jack Salter who helps train the wannabe racers. Each actor brings their all and help to elevate the film and raise the stakes by making the dangers of the sport feel real and threatening - there is a reason why racing is a dangerous sport. It is Madekwe who brings the heart of the film and his performance truly excels around this veteran cast.
The film does go on for a fair bit as it expands the story with a romantic love-interest, an accident where Yann contemplates whether this sport is for him and there are other sub-plots for the other characters too. There is a lot to juggle and sometimes it slows the film down a little bit, but when the racing and the action picks back up you’re glued to the seat again. The sound design, music and cinematography are perfectly balanced and they all help to increase the immersion of the film. This is a great cinematic experience as you do feel the speed of the cars within the cinema thanks to all the sound work. Gran Turismo is another great example of how to turn a video game into a piece of cinema and hopefully other films will continue this ethos.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Gran Turismo works really well in thanks to the true story nature of the film. The racing segments are intense and immersive, highlighting the dangers and the fun of the popular sport. Then there’s Archie Madekwe who plays Yann, and Madekwe delivers a very compelling performance as the wannabe racer. Whether you’re a fan of the games or not, this film does an amazing job at catering to both the gaming audience and the general audience. It may feel a little plodded along the way, but Gran Turismo certainly delivers the entertainment.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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