Gran Turismo (UAE cinemas): Directed by Neill Blomkamp, ‘Gran Turismo’ starring Archie Madekwe, Orlando Bloom, and David Harbour, is the true story of Jann Mardenborough (Madekwe), a gamer aiming to become a professional race car driver. Despite resistance from his family who have doubts about his chosen career path, his Gran Turismo skills land him in the GT Academy, where a Nissan exec (Orlando Bloom) and retired driver (David Harbour) oversee his journey. Jann's pursuit of his dream, intertwined with romance and gaming culture, forms the spine of the film. Director Blomkamp, the director, revs up classic car-flick mojo, melding it into an absorbing tale that, while not flaw-free, delivers a decent summer cinema fix. Despite a hiccup or two in acting and editing, ‘Gran Turismo’ cruises smoothly when sketching humanity's dynamic with technology - a classic Blomkamp note.
Gordon Timpen