It’s a little name in cinema SF and yet it has firmly established itself in the worldwide cinema landscape: Neill Blomkampa 43-year-old South African director made a name for himself through the extraordinary district 9 (2009), which opened the doors of Hollywood for him. A success that he has not been able to convert since his next major productions, Elysium (2013) And Chappie (2015) were underestimated and judged a thousand miles away from the first city that had revolutionized the world of science fiction cinema. Then followed a long desert traverse for what is rightly considered one of the most talented filmmakers of his generation.
Originally tied to large productions extraterrestrial ( – dropped in favor of Ridley Scott’s Covenant) Then RoboCop ( – stopped by Blomkamp to focus on own projects) on which the filmmaker focused West Studios, his production company, and has released several critically acclaimed genre short films as well as a feature film released during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will have been Raqqa, Firebase, Zygote Then Demonic. But that’s the way it is Gran Turismoinspired by video games and the life of Jan MardenboroughThe Blomkamp returns to center stage.
Inspired by a true story, the film tells the story of this young Briton who managed to integrate the family Gran Turismo Academy after notable appearances on the game of the same name. This is how the newcomer becomes a real racing driver. A project led by PlayStation And Sony and apparently quite a headache for one Blomkamp who is looking for a saving return. And against all odds, Gran Turismo is indeed one.
She could be careful, but the paw Neill Blomkamp is there. From the format, to the mechanical and rusty aesthetics, to the dense and palpable shake cam, the filmmaker continually adjusts the shots to suit his point of view. We want to intensify the emotions, bring the viewer closer to the action, and we succeeded. The technical mastery hides well the few possibilities of the plot: building a feel-good story around a character, with some dangers, but above all an ultimate success.
The nervous, if somewhat brief, racing scenes surprise us with their resounding dynamics and the alternation of pressure, action and emotion that make us direct participants in the adventure unfolding before our eyes. The threesome Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, and Orlando Bloom is characterized by its omnipresence and its mastery of emotions. We get a skillful blend of genres with this film, a feel-good tale of an average young man holding on to his dreams to show the dimension of anything that is possible if we believe in it. A film that will not leave an indelible mark on the world of cinema, but which undoubtedly fulfills its mission: Take the viewer into the action and make them smile.
Gran Turismo has been in French cinemas since August 9, 2023.