Developed by Polys Entertainment and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, Gran Turismo was released on the PlayStation in 1997. The game received universal acclaim and sold over 10 million copies worldwide, making it the highest-selling PlayStation game. Since its release, the game spawned several sequels and spin-offs, becoming one of the most popular video game franchises ever. In 2008, Sony collaborated with Polyphony Digital and Nissan to start GT Academy, offering players a shot at real-life racing. In 2013, Sony Pictures announced a film adaptation of the games with Joseph Kosinski directing, only to cease in 2018. Development resumed in 2022 with Neill Blomkamp directing, but this time, the subject would be GT Academy graduate Jann Mardenborough. The movie was filmed in Hungary between November and December 2022 with a budget of $60 million. After premiering at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in July 2023, Gran Turismo hit theaters in August.
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Synopsis
Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom) pitches an idea to the Japanese HQ: make Gran Turismo players real racers. Despite its unconventional nature, the board agrees to fund his project, dubbed The GT Academy, and he starts preparing. After being turned down by several prospects, Moore hires racer-turned-mechanic Jack Salter (David Harbour) to train the would-be racers. Meanwhile, gaming enthusiast Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) aspires to be a racer despite objections from his father, Steve (Djimon Hounsou). Jann gets his shot when he places first in a qualifying race and enters The GT Academy, eager to succeed. Despite the odds stacked against him, Jann manages to win and graduates as the representative of Nissan Racing. Even after achieving his dream, Jann struggles with getting his license, maintaining his relationship, and dealing with a terrible accident. Will Jann emerge victorious, or will he end up like his father?
Review
If I’m being honest, the trailers for Gran Turismo did not impress me at all, so I had low expectations. That said, I was surprised with how enjoyable this biopic was, even if it was somewhat predictable. The cast all do a fantastic job, with Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, and Orlando Bloom being the highlights. Madekwe, who was also in Midsommar, makes for a likable lead and comes off as very relatable. Orlando Bloom is also enjoyable, coming off as a business-first guy while showing he genuinely cares. Arguably, the real scene stealer is David Harbour, channeling the same sarcastic energy he brings to Stranger Things into here. Given how he delivers his lines, you sometimes wonder if he was even aware that cameras were rolling. Once again, he’s utilized way better in this than the godawful Hellboy reboot from a few years ago.
Admittedly, as great as the cast is, some actors feel underutilized, namely Djimon Honsou, who disappears for much of it. Neill Blomkamp’s track record hasn’t been the greatest regarding direction, but he did a good job here. While the races don’t have the same intensity as Ford v Ferrari, they’re shot relatively well and do the job. However, several races are condensed into montages, making it feel like they’re just glossing them over. While it would be easy to say this movie is a giant commercial for the games, it isn’t. Sure, there are a few scenes where they go in-depth about the games, but it never feels like product placement. Some of the movie’s two-hour and fifteen-minute runtime could’ve been trimmed, but it never felt dull or overly padded. Overall, Gran Turismo is not the most original, groundbreaking film ever, but it doesn’t need to be.
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