“Gran Turismo”, directed by Neill Blomkamp, tells the incredible tale of Jann Mardenborough, played by Archie Madekwe, a once gamer turned racer after winning a competition put on by Nissan. This captivating, under-dog story details Jann’s struggle with fulfilling his dream of driving race cars. While the story has a slow build-up, it ultimately helps to add to the emotions and feelings of triumph that follow Jann as he slowly becomes a real racer and his preparation for the competition, 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 2013.
Aside from being a racing story, this tale teaches audiences about the value of chasing one’s dreams, even if it is against all odds. Everyone has a unique dream, and they should aspire to follow the dream and hopefully even grow from it. There may be challenges and obstacles that will discourage people from following their dreams, but this film encourages viewers to grow past these hardships to achieve one’s dream.
The acting from all the actors and actresses is well done, but David Harbour gives an outstanding portrayal of Jack Salter, the mentor figure and trainer of Jann. His performance has so much depth for the character and highlights the power of mentorship in the film. His character is also used to symbolize the resilience, perseverance, and aspiration of chasing one’s dream through himself and the lessons he teaches Jann during the film. The movie also pays tribute to the real-life Jann Mardenborough, as he stars in the film as one of the stunt drivers – a fitting role for the racing legend.
This high-octane adventure will leave viewers holding on tight as the amazing cinematography helps to capture the feel and power of modern-day racing. The many shots of the cars, racing, and even the landscape and track make this movie feel special amongst other racing movies. The clean racing transitions help to make the action sequences memorable, while also allowing the story to slow down when needed to convey heartfelt moments and teach viewers the value and significance of chasing one’s dream. This emotional rollercoaster is critically highlighted thanks to the awesome cinematography by the director of photography, Jacques Jouffret. Additionally, the visual effects add video game elements that pay homage to the real-life game counterparts. This is commonly seen with the addition of a blue racing line that shows up consistently to show the traditional racing path of the game. Aside from the video game visuals, the overall visual effects for the cars and long-shot racing sequences are distinctly unique to the film and will leave viewers amazed. The fluid motion of assembling cars in scenes leaves an awe-dropping feeling while not distracting from the overall scene with over-the-top visual effects. The visual effects overall work to not distract or overwhelm viewers, but instead add some interesting and unique transitions that can arguably be used to better convey the theme of following one’s dream.
Gran Turismo is an amazing movie that is not only thrilling to watch, but also an inspiring underdog story that everyone can easily relate to in their own way. Viewers can easily relate to Jann and share his struggles and triumphs throughout the film. This is easily a must-watch for racing fans but should be viewed by everyone at some point or another. Whether it be to see the visuals, the camera work, a favorite actor, or for the story itself, Gran Turismo is a must-watch film that will leave viewers gripping their seats and their hearts racing with delight.