Tune in to ABC this Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 5:30 Am for an inspiring episode of “Small Town Big Deal” titled “Darby’s Warrior Support; Lincoln Logs.”
In this episode, hosts Rodney Miller and Jann Carl take viewers on a journey to discover the incredible work of Darby’s Warrior Support. Dedicated to aiding combat veterans, Darby’s Warrior Support provides a supportive environment for rehabilitation and transition to civilian life. Through heartwarming stories and powerful testimonials, viewers will witness the profound impact this organization has on the lives of those who have served their country.
Additionally, the episode explores the timeless appeal of Lincoln Logs, a beloved childhood toy that has captured the imaginations of generations. Viewers will learn about the history of Lincoln Logs and their enduring legacy in American culture.
Join Rodney and Jann as they shine a light on these remarkable stories of resilience, service, and the...
In this episode, hosts Rodney Miller and Jann Carl take viewers on a journey to discover the incredible work of Darby’s Warrior Support. Dedicated to aiding combat veterans, Darby’s Warrior Support provides a supportive environment for rehabilitation and transition to civilian life. Through heartwarming stories and powerful testimonials, viewers will witness the profound impact this organization has on the lives of those who have served their country.
Additionally, the episode explores the timeless appeal of Lincoln Logs, a beloved childhood toy that has captured the imaginations of generations. Viewers will learn about the history of Lincoln Logs and their enduring legacy in American culture.
Join Rodney and Jann as they shine a light on these remarkable stories of resilience, service, and the...
- 4/21/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
Exclusive: Ethan Embry (Blindspotting) and Li Jun Li (Babylon) have signed on to star in Alma and the Wolf, a new feature from director Michael Patrick Jann (Drop Dead Gorgeous) and writer Abigail Miller.
In the psychological horror-mystery, set on the wild Oregon coast, Embry plays Ren Accord, a troubled police officer who must pull himself together when, while investigating a mysterious wolf attack, his estranged son goes missing.
Others set to star in the pic include Jeremie Harris (Legion), Lukas Jann (Organ Trail), Kevin Allison (The State), Mather Zickel (Organ Trail), Beth Malone (Fun Home), Alexandra Doke (City on Fire), and Dana Millican (Soft & Quiet).
Jann and David Codron are producing following their collaboration on the cult favorite Drop Dead Gorgeous, starring Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards and Ellen Barkin, and the horror Western Organ Trail. Ali Jazayeri, David Gendron, and Viviana Zarragoitia are exec producing through Tpc (formerly...
In the psychological horror-mystery, set on the wild Oregon coast, Embry plays Ren Accord, a troubled police officer who must pull himself together when, while investigating a mysterious wolf attack, his estranged son goes missing.
Others set to star in the pic include Jeremie Harris (Legion), Lukas Jann (Organ Trail), Kevin Allison (The State), Mather Zickel (Organ Trail), Beth Malone (Fun Home), Alexandra Doke (City on Fire), and Dana Millican (Soft & Quiet).
Jann and David Codron are producing following their collaboration on the cult favorite Drop Dead Gorgeous, starring Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards and Ellen Barkin, and the horror Western Organ Trail. Ali Jazayeri, David Gendron, and Viviana Zarragoitia are exec producing through Tpc (formerly...
- 3/20/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Age Out (A.J. Edwards)
The only thing worse than never getting your happy ending is having it within grasp and realizing you cannot accept it. To see salvation and turn around knowing it would be a lie is the type of heartbreaking choice we often have to make in order to keep on going. It’s the decision that separates man from monster: an admission of remorse, guilt, and regret. Our actions cause ripples that affect countless others we haven’t met yet or never will and while that truth allows some to sleep at night, the rest wonder what nightmares the collateral damage of their deeds endure as a result. You could say that the only thing separating those two groups is love.
Age Out (A.J. Edwards)
The only thing worse than never getting your happy ending is having it within grasp and realizing you cannot accept it. To see salvation and turn around knowing it would be a lie is the type of heartbreaking choice we often have to make in order to keep on going. It’s the decision that separates man from monster: an admission of remorse, guilt, and regret. Our actions cause ripples that affect countless others we haven’t met yet or never will and while that truth allows some to sleep at night, the rest wonder what nightmares the collateral damage of their deeds endure as a result. You could say that the only thing separating those two groups is love.
- 9/29/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Gran Turismo is a biographical sports drama film directed by Neill Blomkamp from a screenplay by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin. Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a teenage Gran Turismo (racing simulation video game series developed by Polyphony Digital) player, who gets the chance to become a professional race car driver. Gran Turismo stars Archie Madekwe in the lead of Jann, with Orlando Bloom, David Harbour, and Djimon Hounsou playing supporting characters. So, if you loved the car racing film here are some similar options you could check out next.
Ford v Ferrari (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – 20th Century Studios
Synopsis: Academy Award® Winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in Ford v Ferrari, based on the true story of visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Bale), who together build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company...
Ford v Ferrari (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – 20th Century Studios
Synopsis: Academy Award® Winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in Ford v Ferrari, based on the true story of visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Bale), who together build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company...
- 9/27/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Despite a few bumps and an over-reliance on familiar cliches, the big-screen anticipated adaptation of the popular video game "Gran Turismo" still dazzles thanks to Neill Blomkamp's solid direction and the performances from all involved.
Featuring Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou, "Gran Turismo" chronicles the true-life story of Jann Mardenborough -- a dedicated gamer who seized the opportunity of a lifetime: racing in the major leagues. Not virtually, mind you, but on a real track alongside genuine cars and professional drivers. While the script takes liberties with the factual narrative, the core essence remains, ensuring the audience enjoys a nice helping of grounded drama to accompany the popcorn-fueled excitement.
Naturally, no adaptation of a video game is replete without paying homage to its source material. Blomkamp crafts a film centered around the world of "Gran Turismo" that seamlessly resonates with the essence of the game itself.
Featuring Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou, "Gran Turismo" chronicles the true-life story of Jann Mardenborough -- a dedicated gamer who seized the opportunity of a lifetime: racing in the major leagues. Not virtually, mind you, but on a real track alongside genuine cars and professional drivers. While the script takes liberties with the factual narrative, the core essence remains, ensuring the audience enjoys a nice helping of grounded drama to accompany the popcorn-fueled excitement.
Naturally, no adaptation of a video game is replete without paying homage to its source material. Blomkamp crafts a film centered around the world of "Gran Turismo" that seamlessly resonates with the essence of the game itself.
- 8/26/2023
- by Jeff Ames
- Slash Film
South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp has directed five major feature films to date: the Oscar-nominated "District 9" in 2009, the class-conscious sci-fi tragedy "Elysium" in 2013, the oddball "Short Circuit"/"RoboCop" mashup "Chappie" in 2015, the low-budget stinker "Demonic" in 2021, and now the video-game-adjacent biography "Gran Turismo" in 2023.
With the exception of "Demonic," each of Blomkamp's films is explicitly or implicitly about class. "District 9" is about alien visitors who are forced to live in a run-down shanty town outside of Johannesburg. "Elysium" features a posh space station where the wealthy live in comfort while the impoverished live on the overheated, overpopulated Earth below. "Chappie" is an Acab movie about a police robot coming to fight for the people and against its corporate creators.
"Gran Turismo," meanwhile, is about Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), an expert player of the titular racing video game, who is tapped by Nissan to become a race car driver for real.
With the exception of "Demonic," each of Blomkamp's films is explicitly or implicitly about class. "District 9" is about alien visitors who are forced to live in a run-down shanty town outside of Johannesburg. "Elysium" features a posh space station where the wealthy live in comfort while the impoverished live on the overheated, overpopulated Earth below. "Chappie" is an Acab movie about a police robot coming to fight for the people and against its corporate creators.
"Gran Turismo," meanwhile, is about Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), an expert player of the titular racing video game, who is tapped by Nissan to become a race car driver for real.
- 8/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Neill Blomkamp’s “Gran Turismo” movie from Sony Pictures packs all the adrenaline and all the emotions. Based on a true story, the film follows young Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) as he gets the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go from a video game racer to a real race car driver. It all started with Gran Turismo game creator Kazunori Yamauchi (Takehiro Hira) who got ahold of an automobile simulator and transformed it into a very real racing experience for gamers. Dreamer and Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom) took the love for the game a step further by giving the best players a chance to go through a Gran Turismo academy to compete for the chance at racing on some of the professional courses featured in the game.
Enter David Harbour’s Jack Salter as Chief Engineer enlisted with determining whether the transition from a video game simulation to the real deal is even possible,...
Enter David Harbour’s Jack Salter as Chief Engineer enlisted with determining whether the transition from a video game simulation to the real deal is even possible,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Gran Turismo director Neill Blomkamp is back on track.
Sporting his best reviews in a decade, the South African filmmaker was able to merge his two passions, filmmaking and cars, to tell the unlikely true story of professional racing driver Jann Mardenborough (portrayed by Archie Madekwe). The British racer turned his Gran Turismo video game prowess into an actual racing career by winning the Gt Academy in 2011 and earning the opportunity to drive for Nissan.
Over the past decade, in-camera filmmaking has become a popular selling point in order to capture a portion of the audience that’s grown weary of VFX-heavy blockbusters. And while Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story was filmed with as much practicality as possible, Blomkamp refreshingly does not want to undersell the significant contributions and artistry of his VFX team.
“Every time you see the actors in the car, they’re going the speed...
Sporting his best reviews in a decade, the South African filmmaker was able to merge his two passions, filmmaking and cars, to tell the unlikely true story of professional racing driver Jann Mardenborough (portrayed by Archie Madekwe). The British racer turned his Gran Turismo video game prowess into an actual racing career by winning the Gt Academy in 2011 and earning the opportunity to drive for Nissan.
Over the past decade, in-camera filmmaking has become a popular selling point in order to capture a portion of the audience that’s grown weary of VFX-heavy blockbusters. And while Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story was filmed with as much practicality as possible, Blomkamp refreshingly does not want to undersell the significant contributions and artistry of his VFX team.
“Every time you see the actors in the car, they’re going the speed...
- 8/25/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Plot: The true story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a gifted Gran Turismo player who parlayed his skills into a professional race car driving career.
Review: While some might roll their eyes at the notion of Hollywood making a movie out of Gran Turismo, the famed racing simulator, this is a surprisingly rock-solid effort that’s not much of a video game adaptation at all. Similar to the recent Tetris, this is less of a video game adaptation than a dramatization of a fascinating true story that involved the game. Nissan actually did have a competition where Gran Turismo players were given a chance to train as professional racers. Mardenborough was gifted enough on the track that he went onto a legit career in F1.
It adds up to a pretty interesting underdog story that offers director Neill Blomkamp a change of pace, with this essentially a straightforward sports movie.
Review: While some might roll their eyes at the notion of Hollywood making a movie out of Gran Turismo, the famed racing simulator, this is a surprisingly rock-solid effort that’s not much of a video game adaptation at all. Similar to the recent Tetris, this is less of a video game adaptation than a dramatization of a fascinating true story that involved the game. Nissan actually did have a competition where Gran Turismo players were given a chance to train as professional racers. Mardenborough was gifted enough on the track that he went onto a legit career in F1.
It adds up to a pretty interesting underdog story that offers director Neill Blomkamp a change of pace, with this essentially a straightforward sports movie.
- 8/25/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
This article contains spoilers for Gran Turismo.
In his new film Gran Turismo, director Neill Blomkamp steps away from the sci-fi and horror tales he’s been spinning to tell a story—taken from real life—of a video gamer who became so good at simulated race car driving on the titular PlayStation game that he actually made the leap to becoming a professional race car driver, reportedly driving in more than 200 races and managing to hold his own against drivers who had been behind the wheel their entire lives.
The young man in question is Jann Mardenborough, played by Archie Madekwe in the film, and he is a native of England, although he spent most of his life growing up in Cardiff, Wales. It’s been pointed out already that neither Madekwe nor anyone else in his family employs a Welsh accent—something that a lot of less discerning viewers (especially in the U.
In his new film Gran Turismo, director Neill Blomkamp steps away from the sci-fi and horror tales he’s been spinning to tell a story—taken from real life—of a video gamer who became so good at simulated race car driving on the titular PlayStation game that he actually made the leap to becoming a professional race car driver, reportedly driving in more than 200 races and managing to hold his own against drivers who had been behind the wheel their entire lives.
The young man in question is Jann Mardenborough, played by Archie Madekwe in the film, and he is a native of England, although he spent most of his life growing up in Cardiff, Wales. It’s been pointed out already that neither Madekwe nor anyone else in his family employs a Welsh accent—something that a lot of less discerning viewers (especially in the U.
- 8/25/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo is unlike most video game movies. It’s actually the true story of Jann Mardenborough (played here by Archie Madekwe), a gifted Gran Turismo player who parlayed his skills into a professional race car driving career. It’s a fascinating tale that’s anchored by Madekwe and co-star David Harbour’s performances, as well as Blomkamp’s immersive style. We actually had a chance recently to sit down with the director and talk about his latest, which is a pretty huge departure from his earlier work like District 9, Elysium or Chappie.
One of the things that I guess I found most refreshing about Gran Turismo is that when you think of a video game movie, you don’t often think of the term based on a true story.
Nb: I think that was one of the main things that drew me to it. It...
One of the things that I guess I found most refreshing about Gran Turismo is that when you think of a video game movie, you don’t often think of the term based on a true story.
Nb: I think that was one of the main things that drew me to it. It...
- 8/25/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Warning: This article contains spoilers (and not the ones you find on cars) for "Gran Turismo."
In many ways, the most shocking thing about "Gran Turismo," the based-on-a-true-story sports drama/biopic of how Jann Mardenborough transformed from a gamer to a full-fledged racer, is the fact that such a grounded and straightforward film ended up with director Neill Blomkamp ("District 9," "Elysium," and "Chappie") behind the wheel. Competently directed and following much of the same formula as several other films in this genre have done before (you can check out my comprehensive review for /Film here), "Gran Turismo" wouldn't seem like the obvious choice to act as a lightning rod for potential controversy. An obsessive racing simulation gamer enters a competition, qualifies for Gt Academy, and relies on the support of friends, family, peers, and his trainer to become an actual, professional driver. Simple enough, no?
Well, it is, aside...
In many ways, the most shocking thing about "Gran Turismo," the based-on-a-true-story sports drama/biopic of how Jann Mardenborough transformed from a gamer to a full-fledged racer, is the fact that such a grounded and straightforward film ended up with director Neill Blomkamp ("District 9," "Elysium," and "Chappie") behind the wheel. Competently directed and following much of the same formula as several other films in this genre have done before (you can check out my comprehensive review for /Film here), "Gran Turismo" wouldn't seem like the obvious choice to act as a lightning rod for potential controversy. An obsessive racing simulation gamer enters a competition, qualifies for Gt Academy, and relies on the support of friends, family, peers, and his trainer to become an actual, professional driver. Simple enough, no?
Well, it is, aside...
- 8/25/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Hey, as the Summer movie season races (hint) to that Labor Day finish line (again), the studios aren’t quite done with toy-based stories. In that aspect, a new box office champ has been crowned with the “pink princess” zooming past those video game plumbing icons. Now, this new release leans into the latter’s territory as its roots are in the gaming world. Oh, and like the “under the radar” Tetris flick, it is actually based on a true story, This isn’t a twist on the old “Cold War Cloak and Daggar” thriller like that one or even an “origin story” of the game’s creation. Instead, this is closer to an old-fashioned, grit and glory, sports underdog fable, Yes sports, as we follow one determined young man whose dreams become reality when he enters the world of Gran Turismo.
I should clarify that the film does begin...
I should clarify that the film does begin...
- 8/25/2023
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
This article contains spoilers for "Gran Turismo," particularly the ending (duh).
It's the quintessential rags-to-riches tale of the 21st Century. A group of highly-skilled gamers is plucked out of digital anonymity around the world, subjected to a grueling and intensive training academy, and then placed in enormously expensive and wildly dangerous racecars to compete against much older and more experienced pros. What could go wrong?
Director Neill Blomkamp's latest feature, "Gran Turismo" (which I reviewed for /Film here), tells the shockingly true story of how Nissan and PlayStation partnered up for one of the most unbelievable stunts in professional sports history. Centered on young gamer-turned-racer Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe), the film takes him from his gaming computer in the suburbs of Cardiff to the fastest and most difficult racetracks across the entire globe ... all thanks to the efforts of Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom), the brainchild behind the entire venture,...
It's the quintessential rags-to-riches tale of the 21st Century. A group of highly-skilled gamers is plucked out of digital anonymity around the world, subjected to a grueling and intensive training academy, and then placed in enormously expensive and wildly dangerous racecars to compete against much older and more experienced pros. What could go wrong?
Director Neill Blomkamp's latest feature, "Gran Turismo" (which I reviewed for /Film here), tells the shockingly true story of how Nissan and PlayStation partnered up for one of the most unbelievable stunts in professional sports history. Centered on young gamer-turned-racer Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe), the film takes him from his gaming computer in the suburbs of Cardiff to the fastest and most difficult racetracks across the entire globe ... all thanks to the efforts of Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom), the brainchild behind the entire venture,...
- 8/24/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Before it became a movie — but after first launching as a series of racing simulation games — “Gran Turismo” was the platform that in 2011 allowed Jann Mardenborough to become a professional driver. At 20, and even from behind a virtual console, the Cardiff, Wales native was so skilled at navigating the complexities of the sport — not just the races themselves but the assembly of his vehicles’ literal nuts and bolts — that he earned a chance to attend Nissan and PlayStation’s Gt Academy, and later to compete against real professionals on the same world-class tracks recreated in the game. 12 years later, “Gran Turismo” tells Mardenborough’s incredible story, for which he returns the favor by being the driving double of actor Archie Madekwe, who plays him in the film.
“The movie focuses on the first four years of my career where I was a Nissan driver,” Mardenborough tells Variety. “Revisiting that is cool,...
“The movie focuses on the first four years of my career where I was a Nissan driver,” Mardenborough tells Variety. “Revisiting that is cool,...
- 8/24/2023
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story star David Harbour considers his new film to be a real-life The Last Starfighter.
In Nick Castle’s 1984 film that Steven Spielberg and Seth Rogen have both tried to remake, Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is an aimless teenager who perfects an arcade game called Starfighter and ends up being recruited by the game’s alien inventor to help fight in an interstellar war. Well, Neil Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo tells the true story of how Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) mastered the Gran Turismo video game en route to being recruited by Nissan and becoming a professional racing driver.
Harbour’s character, Jack Salter, who’s a former driver turned mechanic, is the one tasked with actually turning Jann into a proper race car driver, and the role has shades of Robert Duvall in Days of Thunder (1990), John Candy in Cool Runnings (1993) and Emilio Estevez...
In Nick Castle’s 1984 film that Steven Spielberg and Seth Rogen have both tried to remake, Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is an aimless teenager who perfects an arcade game called Starfighter and ends up being recruited by the game’s alien inventor to help fight in an interstellar war. Well, Neil Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo tells the true story of how Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) mastered the Gran Turismo video game en route to being recruited by Nissan and becoming a professional racing driver.
Harbour’s character, Jack Salter, who’s a former driver turned mechanic, is the one tasked with actually turning Jann into a proper race car driver, and the role has shades of Robert Duvall in Days of Thunder (1990), John Candy in Cool Runnings (1993) and Emilio Estevez...
- 8/23/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In 2009, Nissan teamed up with Sony for Gt Academy, a reality TV show that posited a real-life Last Starfighter scenario: that the Gran Turismo series is such a finely tuned racing simulator that players who mastered the games could be trained to harness their skills to become actual professional racers. To the credit of all involved, that theory turned out to be true.
The focus of Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo film is the true story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), the biracial son of a retired British footballer who goes on to be Gt Academy’s third and youngest winner. Jann’s journey into the professional racing world is marked by some very impressive, consistent highs and an extremely terrifying low, stemming from a major crash in 2015 that’s depicted in the film in pretty harrowing detail.
Despite being pretty cinematic on its own merits, this Gran Turismo still...
The focus of Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo film is the true story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), the biracial son of a retired British footballer who goes on to be Gt Academy’s third and youngest winner. Jann’s journey into the professional racing world is marked by some very impressive, consistent highs and an extremely terrifying low, stemming from a major crash in 2015 that’s depicted in the film in pretty harrowing detail.
Despite being pretty cinematic on its own merits, this Gran Turismo still...
- 8/22/2023
- by Justin Clark
- Slant Magazine
Orlando Bloom relished exploring the gritty side of the racing world in 'Gran Turismo'.The 46-year-old actor plays Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore in the new movie based on the racing video game series of the same name and was impressed with the "dedication" that goes into the sport.Orlando told HeyUGuys.com: "One of the things that surprised me during the making of the movie is there's so much glamour in what you see of the racing world."But actually, what goes into it, the dedication, the focus, the excellence for all of the team members and not just the drivers. That's something that we explore in the movie."It is a very passionate movie, it is a very fast-paced action movie but at its core is a beautiful heartfelt story and a true story at that, which is what I think will keep people coming back for more.
- 8/19/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Gran Turismo, based on the PlayStation racing simulation games and directed by District 9 helmer Neill Blomkamp, is many things: a sports movie, an underdog story, a somewhat accurate biodrama. It is also a film about dads.
We’ve all seen it before, whether in October Sky or High School Musical: a plucky young man wants to follow his dreams while his father disapproves. In Gran Turismo, Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) wants to leverage his virtual driving skills into a professional racing career. His ex-footballer dad (Djimon Hounsou) thinks, perhaps quite rationally, this is insane. But when a novel training program called Gt Academy plucks Jann from his small Welsh hometown for the opportunity of a lifetime, our timid novice finds another father figure in the form of his prickly, reluctant mentor.
That is Jack Salter (David Harbour). The Nissan marketing exec who wants to turn gamers into racers––Danny Moore,...
We’ve all seen it before, whether in October Sky or High School Musical: a plucky young man wants to follow his dreams while his father disapproves. In Gran Turismo, Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) wants to leverage his virtual driving skills into a professional racing career. His ex-footballer dad (Djimon Hounsou) thinks, perhaps quite rationally, this is insane. But when a novel training program called Gt Academy plucks Jann from his small Welsh hometown for the opportunity of a lifetime, our timid novice finds another father figure in the form of his prickly, reluctant mentor.
That is Jack Salter (David Harbour). The Nissan marketing exec who wants to turn gamers into racers––Danny Moore,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Lena Wilson
- The Film Stage
When Sony and Nissan decided to let video gamers compete for a chance to race real-life race cars, Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) beat about 90,000 other players for the opportunity. This film relates - with a fair degree of poetic licence - the story of what happened next as he trains to become an professional driver, a journey that would become marked by incident.
In terms of story, this is largely a run around a familiar track, with complete with a pitstop involving Jann's desire to win the approval of his ex-professional footballer dad Steve (Djimon Hounsou) and his longing to win on the racing circuit. He is mentored by retired driver Jack Slater (Stranger Things’ David Harbour bringing what depth he can to a role that is also fully kitted out with cliches), as slick marketer Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom) tries to make bank from the situation.
The...
In terms of story, this is largely a run around a familiar track, with complete with a pitstop involving Jann's desire to win the approval of his ex-professional footballer dad Steve (Djimon Hounsou) and his longing to win on the racing circuit. He is mentored by retired driver Jack Slater (Stranger Things’ David Harbour bringing what depth he can to a role that is also fully kitted out with cliches), as slick marketer Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom) tries to make bank from the situation.
The...
- 8/9/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Archie Madekwe in Gran TurismoImage: Sony
While it’s been ripe for mockery on Twitter—sorry, X—Gran Turismo does have a basis in reality. Indeed, Sony lucked out here, having an actual story to attach to a story-less IP, and an aspirational one at that. After all, what gamer...
While it’s been ripe for mockery on Twitter—sorry, X—Gran Turismo does have a basis in reality. Indeed, Sony lucked out here, having an actual story to attach to a story-less IP, and an aspirational one at that. After all, what gamer...
- 8/8/2023
- by Eric Francisco
- avclub.com
Working in an oft-traversed realm, Gran Turismo director Neill Blomkamp and writers Jason Hall and Zach Baylin have delivered a racing car drama that’s rather different from the others. With plenty of potent auto action, some well-defined characters and welcome fresh components, this is an engaging look at people who overcome their own doubts and perceived shortcomings to help pull off something genuinely unusual. It’s a lively, spunky piece of work with no pretenses and all the more welcome for that. Originally dated for August 11, Sony pivoted amid the actors strike, and is sneak previewing the next two weekends, with the official wide opening on August 25.
For a long time it seemed that becoming a “gamer” was not considered a very likely means of achieving any particular eminence, not to mention real standing, in more legitimate and remunerative realms of endeavor. It was kids’ stuff, certainly something from...
For a long time it seemed that becoming a “gamer” was not considered a very likely means of achieving any particular eminence, not to mention real standing, in more legitimate and remunerative realms of endeavor. It was kids’ stuff, certainly something from...
- 8/8/2023
- by Todd McCarthy
- Deadline Film + TV
While writer-director Neill Blomkamp’s expertise with genre material — from his international breakthrough, sci-fi revelation District 9 (2009), to dystopian dramas Elysium (2013) and Chappie (2015) — makes him a good fit for an action-oriented sports biopic, it’s perhaps his background as a visual effects artist that proves his greatest asset in bringing Gran Turismo to the screen.
Marshaling a well-integrated combination of innovative digital camera techniques, compelling production design choices and an impressive visual style, Blomkamp’s visceral directing emphatically reinforces the film’s dynamic pacing.
Since it’s “based on a true story” (as the title insistently emphasizes), there’s limited potential for dramatic license with the available material. And while subject Jann Mardenborough has an inspiring backstory, the filmmakers don’t manage to wring much tension from a series of fairly predictable plot developments. But video game enthusiasts, including a sizable audience of Gran Turismo devotees and motorsports fans motivated...
Marshaling a well-integrated combination of innovative digital camera techniques, compelling production design choices and an impressive visual style, Blomkamp’s visceral directing emphatically reinforces the film’s dynamic pacing.
Since it’s “based on a true story” (as the title insistently emphasizes), there’s limited potential for dramatic license with the available material. And while subject Jann Mardenborough has an inspiring backstory, the filmmakers don’t manage to wring much tension from a series of fairly predictable plot developments. But video game enthusiasts, including a sizable audience of Gran Turismo devotees and motorsports fans motivated...
- 8/8/2023
- by Justin Lowe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rather than embrace the video-game that inspired it, the film is a simulation of cinema featuring a reliably underwhelming cameo from Geri Halliwell Horner
Product placement has rarely been as chronic or concussive as it is in Gran Turismo, inspired by the real-life experiences of British teenager Jann Mardenborough (played here by the sweetly gauche Archie Madekwe), whose PlayStation proficiency won him the chance to compete as a real-life racing driver in Gt Academy, a Nissan-sponsored promotion intended to get the public loving cars again. Before you can say “Ulez”, he is taking private jets and eating sushi (“This is amazing!”) while glamorous destinations flash by on screen: Tokyo! Dubai! Cardiff!
The contest is the brainchild of Nissan executive Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom), who dreams of turning gamers into racers; Moore, though, comes on like a dullard Willy Wonka as he whittles down the candidates. Thank goodness for David Harbour as Jack Salter,...
Product placement has rarely been as chronic or concussive as it is in Gran Turismo, inspired by the real-life experiences of British teenager Jann Mardenborough (played here by the sweetly gauche Archie Madekwe), whose PlayStation proficiency won him the chance to compete as a real-life racing driver in Gt Academy, a Nissan-sponsored promotion intended to get the public loving cars again. Before you can say “Ulez”, he is taking private jets and eating sushi (“This is amazing!”) while glamorous destinations flash by on screen: Tokyo! Dubai! Cardiff!
The contest is the brainchild of Nissan executive Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom), who dreams of turning gamers into racers; Moore, though, comes on like a dullard Willy Wonka as he whittles down the candidates. Thank goodness for David Harbour as Jack Salter,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being reviewed here wouldn't exist.
At this point, the "video game movie" classification feels just about as broad and changeable as that of a "superhero movie." Is there any point in lumping together movies like "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" or "Detective Pikachu" with "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" or "Uncharted"? (Does anyone even remember "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" or "Uncharted"?) By the same token, any lingering talk of an all-expansive "curse" associated with these adaptations increasingly comes across less like some inexplicable barrier that studios have (mostly) been unable to cross, and more to do with the idea that simply trying to translate a medium as idiosyncratic and immersive as video games into the wildly different language of film has always been self-defeating.
At this point, the "video game movie" classification feels just about as broad and changeable as that of a "superhero movie." Is there any point in lumping together movies like "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" or "Detective Pikachu" with "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" or "Uncharted"? (Does anyone even remember "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" or "Uncharted"?) By the same token, any lingering talk of an all-expansive "curse" associated with these adaptations increasingly comes across less like some inexplicable barrier that studios have (mostly) been unable to cross, and more to do with the idea that simply trying to translate a medium as idiosyncratic and immersive as video games into the wildly different language of film has always been self-defeating.
- 8/8/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
“Gran Turismo” is a film of contradictions. On the one hand, it’s a video game movie while on the other it’s a true story about how a video game turned one of its players into a legitimate racecar driver. It’s a film aimed at fans of said video game, but not quite a feature built for the whole family. While it’s good in the moment, it’s doubtful you’ll must up much recognition of it within the next few months.
The film tells the story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a teenage boy trying to figure out his path in life. His father Steve (Djimon Hounsou), would love to see Jann go outside and experience life, but the young man would rather spend his day playing the racing game, Gran Turismo.
On the surface, Jann’s story has all the hallmarks of a typical formulaic family film.
The film tells the story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a teenage boy trying to figure out his path in life. His father Steve (Djimon Hounsou), would love to see Jann go outside and experience life, but the young man would rather spend his day playing the racing game, Gran Turismo.
On the surface, Jann’s story has all the hallmarks of a typical formulaic family film.
- 8/8/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
“Gran Turismo” is a race-car movie that gives the audience a contact high. That’s what you tend to want from an action drama about gleaming supercars zooming around labyrinthine tracks at 300 kilometers per hour. But there’s an innocence to this one, and a surprise authenticity. It’s like a “Fast and Furious” movie made without cynicism, and it gets to you.
The film is based on a true story, which it sticks impressively close to. The central character, Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), is a biracial kid from Cardiff who sits in his room playing Gran Turismo: a state-of-the-art training simulator that’s been marketed as a video game. At home, Jann can take any curve at maximum speed, passing competitors as if he were slicing through space. He’s a vicarious virtuoso. But he dreams of racing real cars, and one day, out of nowhere, the opportunity presents itself.
The film is based on a true story, which it sticks impressively close to. The central character, Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), is a biracial kid from Cardiff who sits in his room playing Gran Turismo: a state-of-the-art training simulator that’s been marketed as a video game. At home, Jann can take any curve at maximum speed, passing competitors as if he were slicing through space. He’s a vicarious virtuoso. But he dreams of racing real cars, and one day, out of nowhere, the opportunity presents itself.
- 8/8/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
After taking on apartheid and economic inequality with “District 9” and “Elysium,” Neill Blomkamp was finally prepared to make a film about the world’s most oppressed social class: gamers.
Rather than a straight adaptation of the video game that shares its name, “Gran Turismo” is a celebration of the people who play it. It’s a pious ode to Sony’s wondrous PlayStation system (anyone with even the slightest grievances with “Air” or “Blackberry” should steer clear of this one), and a grating middle finger to anyone who dares suggest that the answers to a gamer’s problems might lie outside the “Call of Duty” lobby.
It’s also a thrilling retelling of one of the craziest stories in recent sports history, shot with the level of skillful spectacle that the source material demands. Blomkamp might have directed the best 90-minute sports movie of the decade — it’s just...
Rather than a straight adaptation of the video game that shares its name, “Gran Turismo” is a celebration of the people who play it. It’s a pious ode to Sony’s wondrous PlayStation system (anyone with even the slightest grievances with “Air” or “Blackberry” should steer clear of this one), and a grating middle finger to anyone who dares suggest that the answers to a gamer’s problems might lie outside the “Call of Duty” lobby.
It’s also a thrilling retelling of one of the craziest stories in recent sports history, shot with the level of skillful spectacle that the source material demands. Blomkamp might have directed the best 90-minute sports movie of the decade — it’s just...
- 8/8/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Video games are the new superheroes, in that every Hollywood studio seems to want their own film adaptation to cash in on the success and the acclaim of movies like "Sonic the Hedgehog" and shows like "Arcane" or "The Last of Us." Sure, while the so-called "video game curse" has finally been disproven, we still get huge flops like "Monster Hunter." Still, just like the colossal failure of "The Flash" is not deterring DC Studios from going full-steam ahead with adding even more millions to the budget of "Aquaman 2," the failure of some projects is not stopping Hollywood from catering to the biggest entertainment industry — gamers.
The latest video game movie is not a conventional one. "Gran Turismo" is not really adapting any lore from the games or even telling the meta story of how the rights were secured, à la "Tetris," but instead, it's a movie based on a true story,...
The latest video game movie is not a conventional one. "Gran Turismo" is not really adapting any lore from the games or even telling the meta story of how the rights were secured, à la "Tetris," but instead, it's a movie based on a true story,...
- 7/29/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
This article appears in the new issue of Den Of Geek magazine. Get your copy here.
How do you adapt a racing simulator to film? When Neill Blomkamp was approached by Sony to direct Gran Turismo, he was skeptical about the project, to say the least. “My initial response was, you can’t make a movie out of that,” he tells Den of Geek magazine.
But when Blomkamp read the script, he quickly realized that the film would be unlike any video game adaptation he’d ever seen—and unlike any movie he’d ever made.
“I never imagined myself directing a car movie or a sports movie. It’s continually surprising to me that I made this,” he says with sincerity.
The peculiar thing that inspired Blomkamp to take on the project is that the film isn’t actually based on the game at all. It’s inspired by...
How do you adapt a racing simulator to film? When Neill Blomkamp was approached by Sony to direct Gran Turismo, he was skeptical about the project, to say the least. “My initial response was, you can’t make a movie out of that,” he tells Den of Geek magazine.
But when Blomkamp read the script, he quickly realized that the film would be unlike any video game adaptation he’d ever seen—and unlike any movie he’d ever made.
“I never imagined myself directing a car movie or a sports movie. It’s continually surprising to me that I made this,” he says with sincerity.
The peculiar thing that inspired Blomkamp to take on the project is that the film isn’t actually based on the game at all. It’s inspired by...
- 7/21/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
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