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Gran Turismo review: Fun but forgettable biopic struggles to land a spot on the podium | Films | Entertainment

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Gran Turismo is a welcome palate cleanser after the ongoing Barbenheimer box office takeover, but it’s destined to be forgotten amongst the chaos.

Sony’s latest effort to bring its iconic PlayStation IPs to screen takes an admirably fresh approach, using Jann Mardenborough’s (played by Archie Madekwe) unique true story as inspiration.

Mardenborough began his motorsport career in the place you’d least expect – his bedroom, watched over by disapproving dad Steve (Djimon Hounsou).

His knack for PlayStation’s highly sophisticated racing simulator makes him the perfect candidate for Nissan’s GT Academy, which aims to turn the world’s best Gran Turismo players into racing professionals.

While its ludicrous premise has attracted derision from movie fans in the run-up to its release, most of what follows actually happened.

Of course, there are plenty of ‘movie with a capital M’ embellishments to pick up the pace, including Stranger Things’ David Harbour as reluctant trainer Jack Salter, who predictably softens up to his young racing protégé.

Harbour quite handily steals each scene as Salter, who appears to be fictional, though his paper-thin backstory as a has-been driver with one more shot at the big time is often patience-testing.

It’s ultimately Mardenborough’s story that shines through – while Madekwe suffers from some rising star clunkiness in the first act, it eventually becomes clear to see why he was picked to portray the groundbreaking driver.

Previously known for roles in Midsommar and Apple TV+’s See, the up-and-comer is most at home behind the wheel and is lucky his occasionally awkward delivery has Harbour’s charismatic ease to bounce off of.

Meanwhile, Orlando Bloom is serviceable as GT Academy’s mastermind Danny Moore, but it’s Honsou who might just be the film’s secret weapon by grounding the emotional throughline with a rigid vulnerability.

Returning from a slight slump in his resume with another turn at blockbuster filmmaking, director Neill Blomkamp is still struggling to reach the heights of his 2009 debut, District 9.

A rare foray into the real world for the sci-fi aficionado, Gran Turismo’s visual style remains uninspired throughout, with on-screen video game flourishes only serving as distractions that slow down or, in some cases, bring the action to a deadening halt.

Impressively, the cast is indeed driving real vehicles for many of Mardenborough’s lightning-fast races, but the film flounders when it comes to delivering a genuine 200-mile-per-hour experience.

Top Gun: Maverick this ain’t – although cutaways to shifting pistons and cylinders help the action feel visceral, the same level of fluidity just isn’t there and Madekwe often gets lost behind the windshield.

Several clumsy drone shots throughout only serve to diminish the vehicles’ speed and highlight some of the ropier VFX, too, probably not what Michael Bay had in mind with his attempt at action innovation with the camera tech in last year’s Ambulance.

Despite Blomkamp’s disinterested driving, the pivotal races are still rousing enough by the final lap that Mardenborough never becomes hard to root for.

Moreover, racing fans may already know the surprising trajectory of the pro’s career, but for the rest of us, an out-of-nowhere development helps Madekwe take his performance to the next level and kicks off the third act with unforeseen grace and depth.

Much like PlayStation Productions’ first big-screen effort, 2022’s Uncharted, Gran Turismo is unlikely to convert any new fans.

Barbie, the smash hit of the summer, is still attracting cinemagoers in pink droves, and it’s unlikely they’ll be swapping their pastels for racing leather any time soon.

Still, it’s certainly an improvement on Tom Holland’s bonkers adventuring last year and has just enough in the tank to win over the cynics.

Only at cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 9th August, 2023



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Next James Bond – Oscar-winning director that snubbed Daniel Craig ‘in talks’ | Films | Entertainment

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It’s all the talk of the town in Hollywood that David Heyman and Amy Pascal are in talks to produce the next James Bond film under Amazon MGM Studios.

This will be the first time an official 007 movie has ever been overseen by someone other than the Broccoli family at EON Productions, who sold their creative control to the streaming giant in a near $1 billion deal.

The latest rumour is that four-time Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón has pitched his “new take on 007” to Amazon MGM, who have already assembled a 007 writers room.

The Mexican filmmaker is best known for directing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Children of Men, Gravity and Roma.

He’s not made a movie since the latter seven years ago, having been focused on his Apple TV+ series Disclaimer, so could Bond 26 be his next?

Hollywood insider Matt Belloni said on The Town podcast: “It’s an informed, speculative pick. And it is not Chris Nolan. I think the fact that he’s tied up for the next year and a half on The Odyssey, I just don’t think Amazon wants to wait that long. I think Jeff Bezos says, ‘Give me my Bond movie now,’ and they just cannot wait. The fact that they went directly to these producers suggests […] they want to move pretty fast on this. I think it’s going to be Alfonso Cuarón. I’ll tell you why. He has a long relationship with David Heyman. They go back to Gravity. They go back 21, 22 years to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. They’ve worked together a long time. They’re friendly. I have heard that there are some talks, that there is a take, and that they are serious. Now, it’s not like he’s negotiating or anything like that, but my prediction is that Alfonso Cuarón will direct the next James Bond.”

Interestingly, the director revealed last year that he turned down a 007 movie under the Broccolis in the Daniel Craig era.

According to Variety, Cuarón said: “Ages ago I was offered a Bond film. And I said, ‘Yeah, cool. Maybe Bond. I am going to do one.’ And then when the process started and I was going to shoot all the dialogue and stuff, there was a [separate] team doing all the action scenes. It kind of felt very weird. I was troubled about the idea of doing it. I had dinner with Joel Coen, and I said, ‘Joel, what do you think of Bond?’ And he said, ‘Oh cool, I enjoy Bond.’ I said, ‘Would you do a Bond film?’” According to Cuarón, Coen replied: “It probably falls into the category of a film I want to watch but not do. There I learned the lesson that some films I prefer to watch and not do.”

However, time has passed, and given that creative freedom is now available at Amazon MGM, perhaps he’ll dive in for a reinvention. Considering how highly praised his Harry Potter film and Children of Men are, with their colder, darker vibes reminiscent of a Nolan movie, he could be an excellent alternative to the Oppenheimer director.



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Amid Cancer Battle, Hina Khan Skips Wearing Wig, Sports Her Real Hair

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New Delhi:

Hina Khan’s battle with cancer has been nothing short of inspiring. From documenting the discolouration of her nails to bravely shaving her head, the actress has openly shared her journey of fighting stage 3 breast cancer with her fans and followers.

After seven months of shaving her head, Hina Khan made her first public appearance in her real hair on Saturday. While attending the OTTplay Awards 2025 in Mumbai, she confidently sported a stylish bob look that radiated grace and resilience. 

For the event, Hina dazzled in a black and gold shimmery dress and effortlessly blended strength with elegance.

A fan page shared Hina Khan‘s video on Instagram. Take a look:

In August last year, Hina Khan, who first cut her hair short, decided to shave her head as watching her hair fall out was “stressful and painful” for her. She shared a video on Instagram, where she sat on a chair while a person shaved her head with a trimmer.

Hina Khan said, “She said, “You can win this only if you embrace it, accept it, and I choose to accept my battle scars because I believe if you embrace yourself, you are a step closer to your healing and I really want to heal and focus on that aspect of my life. I don’t want to go through that process where every time I put my hand in my hair, a bunch of hair falls. It is very stressful and depressing. I don’t want to go through that.”

The side note read, “It’s time to BUZZ it off. Here’s another attempt to Normalise the hardest phase of this journey, aesthetically speaking. Remember ladies.. our strength is our Patience and calm. If we put our minds to it nothing is unattainable. Mind over Matter.”

Hina Khan shared her cancer diagnosis in June 2024 with an Instagram post. 

On the work front, the actress was last seen in the Punjabi film Shinda Shinda No Papa alongside Gippy Grewal.






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Sikandar Trailer: Politics, Power And Punchlines

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New Delhi:

Love him, hate him, but you simply can’t ignore him—especially when he makes a grand comeback. Salman Khan is back in action with Sikandar, and if the trailer is anything to go by, he’s bringing the full-blown “Bhai” energy with him. 

Directed by AR Murugadoss and featuring Rashmika Mandanna, the trailer promises an explosive mix of action, drama and power-packed dialogues—the kind that makes fans whistle in theatres.

Clocking in at three minutes and 37 seconds, the trailer introduces viewers to Sanjay Rajkot (Salman Khan) — a man wanted in 49 cases over the last five years. 

But before you assume he’s just another big-screen baddie, the narrative quickly shifts, revealing a man whose actions stem from a greater cause. 

“A hundred mistakes made with a good heart can be forgiven, but there is no apology for even a single mistake committed intentionally,” he declares — a dialogue that sets the tone for his morally complex character.

As the story unfolds, Sanjay finds himself in Mumbai, facing new challenges. 

But true to the film’s title, Sikandar (meaning “conqueror”), he takes control of his muqaddar (fate) and fights his way to the top. The film, a political action thriller, carries a strong undercurrent of power struggles and justice. 

One line in particular—“Bahut neta jail gaye hain, abhineta bhi (Many leaders have gone to jail, even actors). Nobody is above the law. ” — strikes a chord, especially given its real-life implications. Another moment that stands out is when he boldly states, “I have enough popularity that, if not as PM or CM, I could at least become an MLA or MP.”

While Salman Khan leads as Sanjay Rajkot, the film also stars Rashmika Mandanna as Saisri and Sathyaraj as Minister Pradhan. 

Written by Murugadoss, Sikandar marks Salman’s return as a lead after 16 months, following Tiger 3 (2023), which didn’t quite meet box office expectations. 

Though he made cameo appearances in Singham Again and Baby John (2024), this film marks his true comeback.




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