Starring: Roman Jacob- Boylen, Chris Wolfe, Eli Jo, Bradley Shane Harrelson, Scott Oakley, Rebecca Clendaniel.
The Sim Racer is a sentimental film portraying life’s tapestry of high stakes struggles and the power of human connection.
Written by Brock Drury, it tells the story of Luke, a small-town American who in his mid-20s and after some tragedy, and a breakup, is struggling to keep a roof above his head. Passionate about cars and racing, Luke is a simulation racer as a hobby- though it is his dream to become an actual race car driver. When he receives a repossession order for his house, the stakes could not be higher, and Luke urgently must find a way to get the money to pay.
Script-wise, this is a simple film- with a steady flow, which is very particular and well achieved for a film which veers into the sport film genre. Friendship is a particular theme in The Sim Racer, as Luke mainstay is his friend Jim, an outgoing bar tender whose unwavering confidence in and fearless honesty with Luke is a mainstay of the story. Romance also plays a big part here- of the understated, ‘finally found you’ kind of relationship. I would mention that the tone of this part of the story is slightly teenage-y, there was potential to deepen the story.
The cast of The Sim Racer showcase really strong performances, with real connection to the material. In particular, Roman Jacob- Boylenportrays Luke with real depth, illuminating his vulnerabilities as much as his strengths. His character arch is one which the audience roots for- against hardship and even against violence from his racing opponent, Luke remains true to himself while keeping sight of what needs changing.
Technically, the film has its weakest points. The sound effects of the racing scenes are not always in synch with the visuals, and they cut jarringly across the broadcaster’s commentary- and at some points the dialogue is slightly too low in volume. Similarly, the editing is jarring at points. This doesn’t affect the strong narrative but can disturb attention.
All in all, The Sim Racer is a well- told, genre bending story showcasing the full cacophony of life. Fully recommended.