What does it take to make a champion? What about two champions? King Richard is as good as advertised (and then some) and Will Smith shines as the father of Venus and Serena Williams, trying to will them to greatness.
Making it from Compton to Wimbledon was next to impossible, but Richard Williams didn’t let that stop him from setting his daughters on that path. Through sheer determination and sticktoitiveness, oftentimes unreasonably, he was still there to guide his daughters every step of the way on the path he had laid out for them.
This should be the role that finally lands Will Smith his long-awaited Oscar. He was nominated in 2002 and 2007 but also ran into very stiff competition. That’s not to say this year’s group doesn’t have some great performances, but Smith ran into legendary ones the last two times he was up for Best Actor. In Richard, he gets a character that walks a very line and that leaves room for the audience to have more complex feelings towards him. The audience’s relationship with Smith as a performer helps define the warmer tones of Richard’s parenting style. He’s so endearing that it’s easy to like Richard and even side with his perspective in some moments where he’s being unreasonable. There is a lot of nuance to the performance and you can often see Smith grappling with his methods as he attempts to keep his kids off the streets. On the surface, he rarely waivers from the plan but, in his quiet moments, Smith’s inner conflict is always present. Playing a very controlling father doesn’t leave much room for the children to extract the depth of the character and that’s where Aunjanue Ellis comes in.
As good as Smith is, she is right there with him and has a very good shot at taking home Best Supporting Actress. As I mentioned, due to the nature of the family dynamic, there is very little pushback from the kids. However, playing Richard’s wife, Oracene, she is able to extract the man behind the curtain. There is one scene in particular where their relationship becomes an exposed nerve as they volley personal history at one another as they fight over their daughters’ futures. The truly great supporting roles elevate the film and the lead roles and Smith and Ellis are at their best when they share the screen.
Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton star as the young Williams sisters (Venus and Serena respectively) and I expect to see a lot more out of both of them. The film flows with Sidney being more in the lead between the two but they both play big roles in the film’s success. One of the most pivotal scenes comes as Smith and Sidney confront the decision to turn pro. Both of the girls represented their real-life counterparts with pride and respect and it would have been interesting to see them play the characters a little further down the road. However, the film isn’t titled’ Venus and Serena.
With all the attention the film has received, 6 Oscar nominations in total, Jon Bernthal’s fantastic turn as Rick Macci went under the radar. The energy he brings to the picture is undeniable, mustache and all. At the point where his character is introduced, the story was at a bit of a low point and his arrival signaled an important positive note. It was especially nice to see him excel in a role that wasn’t as intense or brooding as we usually see from him.
I never thought the first Williams sisters’ biopic would cast them as supporting players, but I can also understand wanting to tell the story through the lens of Richard. It’s the first produced screenplay from Zach Baylin and the depth of the characters who aren’t Venus and Serena is surely a big reason why this film got made. This is the third film by Reinaldo Marcus Green and a significant jump to be nominated for Best Picture. It was wise of the filmmakers to keep a lighthearted sense of humor present throughout the storytelling and green did a great job of allowing the actors to find their voices while steering the ship through its ups and downs.
Will Smith had my full confidence heading into this role, but I was impressed by how complete the film was as a whole. It finds its best notes pretty early on and spends its runtime refining them rather than overreaching.
Recommendation: See it for the stellar performances and for the inspiring true story of resilience and belief.
Thanks for reading! I still believe word of mouth is the best way to help, so if you enjoy what I’m doing, please tell somebody. And if you have a comment, I’d love to hear it! Liking, subscribing, and sharing go a long way too. As usual, be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!