Based on the unbelievable, inspiring true story of a team of underdogs - a struggling, working-class gamer, a failed former race car driver, and an idealistic motorsport exec - who risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world.
I've never been a sports or racing kind of person. Regardless, I've still managed to thoroughly enjoy underdog stories and other sports or racing films (2013’s Rush or 2019’s Ford v. Ferrari are great examples of exciting racing films). So despite my apathy towards live sports, in movie form, I can still be quite the happy chappy. This is why, overall, I am disappointed in Gran Turismo. To its credit, the film does exceptionally well for a videogame movie, considering the game has zero plot or backstory. The game has inspired the events of this film, but not in such a straightforward fashion. Much like 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody, events have been omitted or moved around in an attempt to increase the tension and drama.
The premise brings an intriguing question; how transferable are gaming skills to the real world? There has historically been quite a lot of friction around gaming and its effects, with a lot of misconceptions due to a lack of understanding from the previous generations. But as technology and the accuracy of certain games have also improved, it increasingly starts to make you wonder, how well do these hours to coordination and timing translate? Is it possible to learn a skill at a professional level through gaming?
Which is where the film starts to get a bit dismissive and vague. More time is spent ensuring that the audience's view is flooded with Sony and Nissan products than has been taken to explain how the gap between simulation and real life was bridged. We knew to expect the movie to be an advertisement for the Gran Turismo game, but with so many well-executed racing films around, it's expected that the film will still be engaging.
Gran Turismo suffers in its attempts to collect multiple underdog stories into one. Being the best to achieve the goal, then being back at the bottom and having to be the best to reach the next goal, then being back at the bottom and having to be the best to reach the next goal, rinse and repeat, over and over. Writers Jason Hall and Zach Baylin simply put so much content into the storyline that everything gets neglected. Our main protagonist Jann (played by Archie Madekwe) has no onscreen chemistry with either of his parents, or his romantic interest. Orlando Bloom has no presence or emotion in the film at all. The Nissan executives aren't even given names, they simply nod and look concerned. Everything is so overgeneralized and lacks any sense of depth, that the audience is left not really caring about the characters.
The exception to this is David Harbour. Much like his role in Stranger Things, Harbour excels at the grounded aspects of life. Understanding frustration and loss, and having a genuine personality, make his character the redeeming factor in this film. His character's relationship with the protagonist is the only relationship that has any substance. His character is the glue that holds this film together.
Director Neill Blomkamp chooses an almost Michael Bay-esque direction for the racing scenes in the film. The fast-paced editing between overhead shots, in-car shots, and CGI close-ups of mechanical goings-on make for exciting viewing if only it were followable. It is shot and filmed in such a way that we rely heavily on the Gran Turismo game overlays and insistent titling, to explain what is going on in the race, as we have no idea of the geography or progress in the races (we aren't even told who is winning most of the time). Everything is so focused on our protagonist, that the situational awareness is completely wiped out. Luckily Harbour's role allows him to narrate the situation to the audience and provide some context.
Let's be clear, this is not a bad film. Harbour salvages it, but even without Harbour, the film does have some genuine moments that stop the audience from completely dissociating. Gen Z and Millennials will understand the frustration of dealing with parents who only support the child who excels in sports or academics. The excitement and anxiety of rebelling for a chance to see and spend time with someone who gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling. The determination and confidence that come with hours of gameplay, rarely translate to social confidence. Madekwe plays that neglected teen well; he embodies the anger and frustration of the teen population that feels misunderstood and unrecognized.
With a better curation of events, Gran Turismo may have been a brilliant film. All of the elements were there. The writing and direction simply glossed over the interesting parts, and forced too many races into a single movie, at the expense of character development. If the film didn't spend so much time on the "executive-level" side of the story, trying to sell how amazing Gran Turismo is, then the audience may have had a better chance to fully experience it through an engaging film.
The racing does have an odd focus on the physicality of the sport and the risks of fatality. It's a peculiar direction that leaves you questioning why the sport is even allowed, let alone widely supported. But that's a debate for another night. It's a reasonable film, based on a true story (the real-life gamer-turned-driver acts as the stunt driver in the film). It'll never need a sequel, it'll be forgotten a few days after you've seen it, but it'll certainly provide some short-term entertainment on the day. Check it out, even if its just for Harbour, but check it out.
Gran Turismo is in NZ cinemas from August 10, 2023