Gran Turismo (2023)

Gran Turismo is a film based on a video game based on the sport of racing. This had everything going against it since sports movies especially car movies can bomb, and it's a video game movie.

Only a handful of directors, Neill Blomkamp including, could pull this movie off. You might know him from District 9, Elysium, and Chappie. There are some transitions to remind you that everything is based on the video game and that it's also based on a true story. Who knows how much is actually true as I'm not that deep into Formula 1 and other major racing.

David Harbour of Stranger Things fame plays the coach for Orlando Bloom's test program where they take video gamers and try to see if their skill translates to the real world. Turns out it does when the simulation is pristine like Gran Turismo or Microsoft Flight Simulator. Not all simulations have real-world applications, for instance, The Sims doesn't make me a better human.

Archie Madekwe plays Jann Mardenborough the main character. You tend to want him to succeed and since there is a movie based on him you might think that he'll win in the end but perhaps not the way you might think for a typical sports movie. Madekwe has been in a movie you might not remember he was in, Midsommar.

This movie had no business being as good as it was. It could have passed by just being mediocre but I left thoroughly entertained and I really enjoyed the movie. A-

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