July 12, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

Film Review: Gran Turismo

FILM REVIEW
GRAN TURISMO
Rated PG-13
135 Minutes
Released August 25th

“I would say I’m obsessed with cars,” says Neil Blomkamp, director of the film Gran Turismo, which Is based on the true story of racecar video gamer Jann Mardenborough, who in 2013 became an actual race car champion whose team placed third in the storied 24 Hours of LeMans. Blomkamp was a perfect choice to direct this movie about the unlikely transition from a video game to a real racetrack that was accomplished by Mardenborough. Blomkamp was focused on making the film as realistically as possible without overusing visual effects, and he understood the old-school logistical planning required to get the number of cars he needed to each of the many racetrack locations. Production was on a quick turnaround, and the complex shoot itself was completed at the speed of a car race.

“Every time you see the actors in the car, they’re going the speed that it looks like they’re going,” Blomkamp says. In this sense, Gran Turismo was made with a similar commitment to accurate recreation of speed as was Top Gun: Maverick. I truly appreciate this quest for authenticity in movies. I like to feel like I’m driving the racecar, not just watching it. In this sense, Blomkamp succeeded, and partly, he didn’t. There is some amazing racing footage in this movie. For me, the editing of the race scenes did not stay on the driver’s sightline long enough. The frequent shifts of point-of-view during the races were disconcerting. One minute, you are in the car with the driver; the next minute, you are overhead looking at the car from above, then from behind the group of race cars, then moving the opposite direction. Perhaps the filmmakers felt that the audience would be bored by continuously watching from the cockpit. I don’t believe so. There is a beautiful scene toward the end of the film where the race car driver and gamer blend eerily, and I would have loved to see more of that.

The tension is kept high throughout the film, thanks to the great cinematography by Jacques Jouffret, the wonderful soundtrack by Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawczynski, and strong performances from Archie Madekwe as “Mardenborough,” David Harbour as “Jack Salter,” Djimon Hounsou as Mardenborough’s father, and Orlando Bloom as “Danny Moore.” Blomkamp auditioned many actors for the role of Mardenborough and chose Madekwe even though at 6’4” tall, he is not of the stature to be a race car driver. The director was impressed with his “real, unvarnished, and accessible” performance. Madekwe found the tight space in the cockpit to be extremely claustrophobic. However, that seems to have played as palpable jitters and fear on screen as he waits for each race to start. Blomkamp notes, “So Archie suffered, but it puts the audience in there with him.”

The real Mardenborough assisted on the film as a consultant and as a stunt driver for Madekwe. He also approved the inclusion of a racing accident, which is a key part of the movie, and the story stays close to reality. After LeMans in 2013, Mardenborough went on to have a stellar racing career.

The transition from gamer to real racer underlies the passion of all racing gamers. “In Gran Turismo (the game), you can test the limits of the track with the car in a way that real race car drivers would never do because you don’t want to endanger the car or yourself. And apparently, there is actually a slight edge that they can gain because they’ve tested it so many times and know the limits,” says Blomkamp. It is of note that the film honors Kazunori Yamauchi, the Japanese game designer who produced Gran Turismo and shows the years of painstaking work and detail that go into the development of the game. In spite of the SAG strike preventing marketing and red-carpet appearances, Gran Turismo has done well at the box office, as it should, because it’s a film worth seeing.

Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com

Related Posts

Chinese Bakery Hi Bake to Open First U.S. Store in Beverly Hills: REPORT

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Hi Bake will offer a fusion of French and Asian pastries, including croissants filled with molten chocolate or wagyu beef...

County Supervisors Move to Preserve Measure J Amid Charter Error

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Measure J mandates that at least 10% of the county’s locally generated, unrestricted funds be allocated to community investments like...

Sen. Ben Allen Highlights Challenges, Economic Gains for LA28 Olympics

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The remarks came during the first informational hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on International Sporting Events State Sen. Ben...

Downtown Santa Monica CEO Andrew Thomas to Step Down

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Thomas, who rejoined DTSM, Inc. in 2022, oversaw the introduction of a private security program, expanded homeless outreach, and boosted...

Mayor Bass Issues Directive to Protect Immigrant Communities

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The order expands access to city resources for affected families and requests records from ICE, including details on arrests Mayor...

(Video) Summer Camp at School of Rock West LA Turns Kids Into Rockstars

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

To Sign Up Now, Go To Schoolofrock.com Summer Camp at School of Rock West LA Turns Kids Into Rockstars To...

County Health Leaders Decry Federal Policy Barring Undocumented from Programs

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

The officials argued the policy jeopardizes care for all residents, noting it could deter people—regardless of status—from seeking treatment  Leaders...

LA Medical Center Seeks Help Identifying Unconscious Patient

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

He has been unconscious since admission, and staff have been unable to determine his identity Los Angeles General Medical Center,...

L.A. Louver Marks David Hockney’s 88th with Exhibit

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Hockney, a British artist born in 1937, gained fame with the British Pop Art movement and later became known for...

California Seizes $476 Million in Illegal Cannabis

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

The operation, described as UCETF’s largest to date, involved support from multiple state agencies The state confiscated $476 million worth...

Suspect Arrested in Shoe Retail Theft Spree Across LA County

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

During the search, police recovered two firearms and a significant quantity of merchandise The Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Retail...

For the Win Burger Chain Expanding to Brentwood: REPORT

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Popular items include the double cheeseburger with bacon and jalapenos, as well as loaded fries topped with For The Win...

The Bar at Century Plaza to Celebrate National Caviar Day with Exclusive Tastings

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The seven-hour event will feature exclusive caviar tastings and champagne pairings The Bar at Fairmont Century Plaza will host a...

Father-Daughter Authors to Host Book Signing to Aid Fire-Affected Women

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Ten percent of proceeds from book and art sales will benefit the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, a nonprofit initiative created...

Metro Reports Crime Drop, Higher Rider Satisfaction, and Progress on Major Projects

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The Authority said the drop in violent incidents—down to the lowest level since May 2019—coincided with more uniformed personnel and...