Another video game movie adaptation! But this time, there's nofantasy world or colorful characters, as this is a Gran Turismo film, based on one of the most famous racing games. Directed by Neill Blomkamp(District 9, Elysium, Chappie), the feature film will be one of the summer blockbusters and is due in cinemas on August 9.
After his sometimes dubious experiments, Neill Blomkamp, who surprised the world with District 9, is moving away from science fiction, his preferred genre, for this grand spectacle film with an impeccable cast. The cast includes Orlando Bloom (unforgettable Legolas from Lord of the Rings), David Harbour (best known for his role as Hopper in Stranger Things), Djimon Hounsou and, above all, Archie Madekwe, who plays the title character.
In Gran Turismo, viewers will discover the odyssey of a young teenager who dreams of becoming a professional racing driver. To achieve this, he takes part in a series of motor racing events, each more spectacular than the last.
Our verdict
Let's just say that Gran Turismo is an excellent surprise. Forget Oppenheimer, Barbie, En Eaux Troubles and the other summer blockbusters, because this is the best! And beyond being a simple video game adaptation that simply reproduces the gameplay mechanics on screen, Gran Turismo goes further. The game itself is an integral part of the story, and the main character is an avid gamer. He's arguably one of the best gamers in the world. This talent enables him to join the GT Academy, which aims to turn the best players into professional drivers.
To sum up, the Gran Turismo film is a true gamer's fantasy, showing that anything is possible. Worst of all, this incredible story is inspired by the true story of Jann Mardenborough, brilliantly played by Archie Madekwe. Let's not forget that a video game adaptation is also a hidden marketing campaign, and that the systematic presence of the Playstation logo can be irritating, as can the hyperbole about the quality of Gran Turismo games, but if you play along and accept this quid pro quo, prepare yourself for a great show.
Because yes, Gran Turismo is impressive from start to finish. It's a true motor racing film, which has no reason to pale in comparison with the best feature films in the genre (Rush, Le Mans 66). And if Neill Blomkamp has lost his way a little in recent years, he remains an excellent director, and proves it once again here. The racing scenes are impeccable, and you can clearly see that they were made for real and not with digital special effects. In fact, the grandiose aspect and palpable sense of danger are perfectly conveyed. We also appreciate the few nods to video games, with art direction that sometimes reproduces the cinematics. It's not systematic, but it's well done enough to amuse viewers accustomed to these codes.
In short, Gran Turismo is as much about the best video game adaptations as it is about the best sports movies, with all the themes that go with them. The film is inspiring, and pushes the viewer to surpass himself- classic notions in this kind of production, but when it's this well done, it almost makes you want more.
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