Gran Turismo is the new film from PlayStation Productions, an arm of Sony Interactive Entertainment focused on developing films based on its famous video game franchises, like last year’s Uncharted. It seemed inevitable then that Gran Turismo would ultimately be just an advertisement for a key PlayStation franchise. Thankfully, though, while this is clearly true, Gran Turismo is also a thrilling good time. 

 

Neill Blomkamp, the esteemed director of District 9, seems an unlikely choice for director of a film like this. Though he is no doubt one of the key elements to the film’s success, another is the great story the film is inspired by. Gran Turismo, does double duty as both a piece of corporate advertising and also as a well realised loose biopic of driver Jann Mardenborough. Mardenborough graduated from the GT Academy programme established by Nissan and Sony Interactive Entertainment with no prior racing experience, leading to a career in racing and a podium placement in the prestigious endurance race 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jann also serves as his own stunt driver in the film.

 

Jann is played in Gran Turismo by Archie Madekwe (See, Midsommar) and he creates an endearing, driven but relatable version of Jann. In support of Madekwe is Djimon Hounsou and Geri Halliwell as Jann’s parents Steve and Lesley Mardenborough. Hounsou is powerful in the few scenes he gets as Steve Mardenborough, the former professional footballer looking to ground his son’s sights in reality rather than on fanciful dreams.

 

However, the two key players that bolster the movie are Orlando Bloom’s Danny Moore, the founder of GT Academy and David Harbour’s Jack Salter, the cynical and washed up former racer, hired to train and change Madekwe’s Jann from gamer into elite racer. David Harbour brings the essential portion of disbelief of the film’s premise, so the audience can feel that the film recognises its own ridiculousness. The great part of Harbour’s performance is how convincing his shift from cynic to ardent proponent of Jann is, and how this ties into his character’s personal journey.

 

Blomkamp’s direction, Madekwe’s endearing Jann and Harbour’s cynic Jack Salter are the key ingredients in making this great story succeed as much as it does, in this format of corporate advertising. Gran Turismo is a thrilling good time because of them.