As Hollywood taps into the fascination for video game-based films post the success of The Super Mario Bros Movie, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, the movie adaptation of Sony's Gran Turismo takes a unique turn. The racing game is not known for its abundance of narrative-ready characters like Italian plumbers or zombie-obsessed individuals. Instead, Sony posed a challenge to well-known director Neill Blomkamp, of District 9 and Elysium fame, to mold a compelling story set predominantly in the realistic world of racing.
Comedy and familiar tropes get traded for a meta-approach in Gran Turismo's spin-off. Instead of creating dynamic fictional characters, the movie takes inspiration from a remarkable piece of Gran Turismo history. In 2008, Sony and Nissan launched the GT Academy, a competition that allowed proficient Gran Turismo gamers to showcase their skills on real-world tracks. The annual winner got to participate in professional races on globally recognized circuits such as Silverstone and Le Mans.
Amongst these gaming champions was the young Jann Mardenborough, hailing from a humble background in Darlington, England. Logging countless hours in Gran Turismo games led him to seize the opportunity at the GT Academy, making him one of the first to transition from virtual to real racing successfully. Mardenborough's captivating life, laden with unprecedented twists and turns, serves as the storyline for the Gran Turismo movie. His involvement in the project even extended to performing stunts for his character - a testament to the film's commitment to authenticity.
Critics offered a variety of inputs on the film, from calling it an "ode to product placement" to praising its surprising emotional depth. A crucial element that drew attention was the sensitive portrayal of a tragic accident that Mardenborough was involved in while racing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany, which saw his car catapult into the air, subsequently causing spectator casualties. The accident, recreated entirely using digital technology, is an integral part of Mardenborough's narrative, adding a melancholic tint to his journey as a professional racer.
In the face of Hollywood's ongoing strikes affecting promotion activities, Sony decided to postpone the theater release of the film to August 25, while offering early sneak previews to fans. This tactic is a hopeful attempt at organic promotion, banking on the audience's enthusiasm to garner hype. Akin to its unique approach, the Gran Turismo movie aims to chart a new course, harnessing the realistic spirit of video gaming and merging it seamlessly with the dramatic flair of mainstream cinema.