The Journey of Gran Turismo’s Unlikely Racer
Since the late 1990s, the ‘Gran Turismo’ racing games for PlayStation have raked in billions, putting them in the same league as some blockbuster movie franchises. It was only a matter of time before a cinematic spin-off hit the scene, following in the tire tracks of other live-action adaptations of PlayStation games, including last year’s ‘Uncharted.’
Enter ‘Gran Turismo’ the movie, narrating the true (albeit improbable) tale of Jann Mardenborough, a Gran Turismo virtuoso who transitioned from the digital realm to becoming a professional racer on tangible tracks.
Mardenborough’s shift from pixels to asphalt served as a compelling advertisement for ‘Gran Turismo’ as more than just a game, though his journey was far from seamless. In director Neill Blomkamp’s meticulous storytelling, Jann (portrayed by Archie Madekwe), a teenager hailing from Cardiff, Wales, grapples with doubters and formidable learning curves, both on and off the racetrack.
His underdog narrative, questioning if this digital driver can make it in the real world, unfolds as a classic story of a young man proving his mettle to his family and other sceptics.
Madekwe’s portrayal of Jann is unassuming, with each step in his journey unfolding as a delightful surprise. After Jann’s father (Djimon Hounsou) dismisses the prospects of gaming as a future career and introduces him to a job at a rail yard, Jann goes on to win a contest hosted by Nissan to scout promising Gran Turismo players.
His mother (Geri Halliwell Horner) provides a bit more encouragement. Jann secures a spot in the company’s racing academy, overseen by a stern engineer, Jack (David Harbour), and a slick marketer, Danny (Orlando Bloom). Once again, Jann surpasses expectations, outperforming a more TV-ready competitor to earn the opportunity to race professionally.
The movie adopts a video game structure as Jann competes in races worldwide to secure his contract with Nissan. A triumph in Dubai is followed by a celebration in Tokyo, but a subsequent race sees him flip his car (a nod to the real-life incident in 2015, though the film adjusts the timeline). As with many sports movies, the narrative is laden with training and competition, building up to a climax at Le Mans, the annual 24-hour race.
Blomkamp’s portrayal of the track scenes lacks a gripping physicality, or “drive” if you’ll pardon the term. The editing and camerawork could benefit from a sharper sense of rhythm and velocity. While this might be forgivable with a strong screenplay, the film’s cliché-ridden script lacks flair, even though Jann adds a likeable quirk by listening to Enya or Kenny G to relax before races.
Madekwe conveys youthful vulnerability and a pleasing air of quiet determination, even if his performance is subdued. The movie may not reach the same heights as a wildly popular racing simulator, but it should exude excitement and dynamism in its cinematic language. Once the novelty of witnessing a gamer become a driver wears off, we’re left with a decent racing drama in a medium capable of delivering so much more.
