Gran Turismo. 7/10
You've seen this movie before. But sometimes you just need to put enough of your own spin on a tried and true formula to find success. This is that. Its a cool enough story that it manages to stay engaging enough through most of its run time. It has the most basic bitch rivalry you could possibly imagine that largely falls into the background, only to remind you during a race. However, that works for this movie because Jaan's greatest rival is himself as he tries to acclimate to the world of being a real race car driver. The 3rd act is about what you would expect from a movie like this so I started losing interest by the end, though the first 2/3rds of it and the cast is charming enough to make it work. I quite liked the flourishes of the GT game elements that pop up on screen.
It deserves a spot in the 'good video game movie' list.
Well, having finally seen it:
No. The true story get stretched to really fill a daft narrative like the Flugplatz crash being moved up in the timeline for drama, the TEAM OF SUPER GAMER PEOPLE being a pivotal moment despite Yann and Ordonez sharing their car with a veteran. Ordonez himself having already two Le Mans races (and a podium) under his belt. They could've used Ordonez's prior success to bolster how the GT Academy looks within the movie but Yann is held aloft as the Academy's big graduate. Then again, maybe they don't want to draw attention to the Academy's actual success rate. These people generally have short careers due to funding and ability.
I'd have got more joy out of a documentary than a showy, gamey biopic featuring the acting talents of erm ... Geri Halliwell. This simply doesn't go deep enough, like it was made for children. The racecraft they try to demonstrate in this about racing lines is dumb. "COMMIT!" Commit to what? If Martin Brundle can explain traction, racing lines and all that jazz on a fortnightly basis, why can't this movie? I also just don't rate the kid playing Yann. He's got nothing. 2/5.
Anyway, I've also seen Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, In Bruges and The Whale. All great movies although I'd have given Killers of the Flower Moon the Oscar. It has more complex characters and, whilst it's got a longer runtime, it doesn't drag. It is a horrible true story about horrible people. Oppenheimer settles in on Nolan's usual quirks (WHOMP, overpowering soundtrack, back-and-forth timelines) and, whilst it's good, it's too fucking safe. Someone earlier in the thread says these people don't talk like scientists. I'd argue they do ... and then they stop as the focus becomes more about Oppenheimer's political affiliations. 5/5 for Flower Moon, 4/5 for Oppenheimer.
The Whale - This movie is also excellent. Brendon Fraser puts in a great performance but the whole cast has a chance to shine. The reclusiveness of main character allows for a smaller cast to really take the focus. I like digging into the characters motivations and, despite Charlie wanting to reconnect with his daughter, he's not willing to break the addiction or seek medical attention. Despite the grim inevitability of it all, it manages to give a relatively hopeful resolution. There's moments of humour but the real meat of the movie is two people arguing and then crying afterwards in most of the scenes. My kinda jam. 5/5.
Lastly, In Bruges - Just daft fun. Colin Farrell puts in a performance I never knew he had in him as a completely likeable eejit. It's sharply written with plenty of callbacks that make me smile. 4/5.
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