David Harbour (in a supporting role) is a full-throttle delight in Neill Blomkamp’s semi-stirring underdog sports movie, inspired by the genuinely incredible story of English gamer-turned-racing pro, Jann Mardenborough. Gran Turismo’s message will enchant children sick of being told (by adults) that video games are a waste of time. Fake it till you make it? Hell, it worked for Jann.
Archie Madekwe is disarming as the diffident Cardiff teen whose love of PlayStation game Gran Turismo infuriates his hard-working dad, Steve (Djimon Hounsou). Jann’s skills at the wheel allow him to win a Nissan-run competition. Once at Nissan PlayStation Academy, he impresses growly, good-hearted trainer, Jack (Harbour; waywardly intense and soaring above every cringey cliche).
The scriptwriters position Jann as a working-class hero, the antithesis of entitled brats who take fast cars and fawning fans for granted. Orlando Bloom is entertainingly silly as Danny, the enterprising Nissan rep who bellows, “Let’s take the sport away from these pricks!”
Here’s what’s confusing. The film-makers acknowledge that Danny, obsessed with profit, is willing to lie to get what he wants. But, within the movie itself, product placement is shameless, while the truth is often swerved. All sorts of tricks are employed to pull in US viewers. But worse, details relating to a tragedy in Mardenborough’s life have been re-arranged to give the third act extra welly.
In the movie, Mardenborough is involved in a crash at Nurburgring, which has fatal consequences for a spectator. Due to race at Le Mans 24 Hours, Jann is naturally guilt-ridden, which, in turn, leads to rousing pep talks from Jack and Danny. The ending couldn’t be more upbeat (the big tragedy is followed by the hugest of wins).
In reality, though, the lead-up to Mardenborough’s Le Mans triumph was smooth and the horrific accident came two years later. Suggesting the incident helped propel Jann to greatness is not only false, it’s reprehensible. The family of that spectator have had their worst nightmare turned into a moveable feast. Shame on you, Sony.
In Ron Howard’s Rush, the track scenes were terrifyingly/thrillingly immersive. Blomkamp’s epic, on the other hand, loses momentum by showing us unnecessary graphics (the car’s engine, alas, is as interesting as a pile of toenails). Still, I’d be lying if I said the set-pieces didn’t reduce me to a nervous wreck. Go, go, go, Jann!
Racing is popular with younger demographics (partly thanks to the Netflix doc, F1 Drive To Survive). I took a teenage girl to the screening. Her verdict? “I loved the racing and the stuff with the dad made me cry. But who was the awful woman playing Jann’s mum?” Apologies to Geri Halliwell. Kids can be so cruel.
134mins, cert 12A
