GRAN TURISMO
Cert 12A
134 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate threat, infrequent strong language
Could a kid really be a successful racing car driver if his only qualification was being the best at a simulated computer game?
The story of Gran Turismo would beggar belief if Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) weren't by now a well-known figure on the circuit.
But he had no experience behind an actual car wheel when he entered a competition to become a driver for Nismo, Nissan's motorsport division.
In Neill Blomkamp's movie, Jann has a problematic relationship with his ex-footballer dad, Steve (in real life, he began his career at my club, Coventry City), who tries to persuade him to play outside sports.
Actor Djimon Hounsou portrays him as a traditionalist who cannot see the benefits of spending hours in front of a screen.
Meanwhile, his mum is played, in a rare big-screen appearance, by Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell/Horner.
Anyway, the hours of dedication pay off for Jann, who is approached by Nismo's marketing guru (Orlando Bloom) to participate in a unique boot camp.
There, he has to compete against other expert gamers to drive the Gran Turismo car for real and then come under the tutelage of a wizened former driver (David Harbour)
Inevitably, he wins, but after that, the film's meat surrounds his attempt to show his and the project's worth in races.
Unsurprisingly, established drivers have much resentment, led by a rival (Josha Stradowski) who resorts to dirty means to destabilise him.
If Gran Turismo had been pitched as fiction, studio bosses would have turned it down as too far-fetched.
However, while there are a few dramatic embellishments, it is based on an astonishing true story and proves that single-minded dedication can lead to surprising places.
There are some cracking action scenes and much pathos, and Madekwe and Harbour are the pick of an excellent cast.
I was riveted by it.
Reasons to watch: Remarkable true story
Reasons to avoid: If you are not into motor racing
Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: Yes
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10
Did you know? Gran Turismo is one of the best-selling games on the PlayStation console, surpassing 80 million sales as of 2018.
The final word. Neill Blomkamp: "My stuff tends to be a lot darker and more dystopian but this movie felt very inspirational. It had never crossed my mind that I would direct a movie where the audience would leave the theatre feeling uplifted and inspired. This was really appealing to me." PlayStation Blog
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