King Richard - Richard Williams played by Will Smith propels his daughters out of Compton to tennis superstardom.... by sheer will power.

Introduction -

Will Smith, dressed in tennis shorts throughout, plays the dedicated father battling snobbery, racism and closed doors in a feel good rags to riches story about family love and faith!

Name of film: King Richard

Director:Reinaldo Marcus Green

Year: 2021

Official Poster

Trailer

Review

Will Smith is quoted as remembering an interview during which the real Williams interrupts and criticises a journalist for questioning his daughter’s Venus' confidence, as inspiration for his decision to take the role: “I saw that in real time and the look on Venus’ face – the image burned in my heart because that’s how I wanted my daughter to look when I showed up. That interview really changed my approach to parenting."
Serena and Venus have gone on to become two of the greatest tennis players of all time, with Serena Williams winning 23 major singles titles, the open era record among both male and female players, while Venus Williams won seven grand slam titles in singles. They are both executive producers along with their older sister Isha Price. She played a role in the film’s production and was regularly on set during filming.
Young Venus and Serena are played with charm by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton. Aunjanue Ellis is their mother and Jon Bernthal plays their hyperactive coach Rick Macci, constantly bemused by Richard’s over the top demands.
But this really is Will Smith's movie - I believe it glosses over some of the more difficult aspects of Richard's spiky character. The film can’t really decide what to do with his tougher side. What was it actually like living with someone so driven and controlling - but the viewer is left in no doubt that his belief in his daughters was unshakeable. It could have all gone wrong, but it didn't. Richard gets beaten up, tormented and abused - picks himself up and carries on every time - I could not help but be swept along with his enthusiasm and righteous charm.
Nobody actually calls Williams “King Richard” in this film. It is very much the authorised version, and his daughters adore him. He is portrayed as stubborn but essentially sweet natured, hardly ever losing his temper and Smith’s performance has an ease to it.
The film's timeline tracks the Williams family’s tough beginnings. The sisters play on run down local courts, Richard confronts boys hitting on his underage daughters. He persuades a prestigious coach into giving his girls a chance, and then fires him and takes Venus and Serena out of the junior tournaments. The movie climaxes with Venus’s touch and go professional debut in 1994 at the age of 14, up against the world number two, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.
The film premiered at the Telluride film festival in September and has received great reviews for its storytelling and Smith’s performance. It looks like it might win him a best actor Oscar and maybe even an Oscar for best picture although it has some tough opposition here.
Serena said of the film: “Honestly, no word describes it better than ‘surreal’, just to see these incredible actresses and everyone behind it just putting this all together about our dad’s journey. Because of myself and my sister, it really is just like, wow, really, OK? Are we really something? kind of thing. It really is super surreal for me.”
A strong, uplifting enjoyable and confident picture.

My favourite scene

Will Smith sends off police officers from a home visit following a complaint. Even they cant phase him.

Number of SUBs out of 10 - **7 out of 10 **

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Thanks for reading my review, always up for comments and a chat about films and TV.