King Richard Movie Review: Pursuit of Excellence

When we hear stories about how a young prodigious athlete is making inroads into their preferred choice of sport, we are often in awe of their accomplishments. We are astounded by their doggedness, their aspirations, and of course, their talent. But if we really look at the career trajectory of such prodigies or ‘once-in-a-generation’ athletes, there is the unmistakable shadow of a parent figure that looms large alongside them. Not just in athletics, but in any other field where there is a celebrity status up for the taking, the young talents are always shouldered by their family setup. It then brings to the fore a question that is not often asked… Whose dream was it to succeed? Whose ambition was it to be the best in the business? Is it the children who want to reach the pinnacle of their respective fields or is it the parents who want it for their children, and in many ways, for them too?

This is a line of thought that is often ascribed to the unreal story of the Williams Sisters and their maverick father, Richard Williams. In director Reinaldo Marcus Green’s effective and unabashedly hagiographic film, King Richard, we are shown glimpses of what it took to put Venus and Serena Williams right on top of the world of Tennis. The best part about King Richard is how the story of Venus and Serena is shown through the eyes of Richard (a brilliant Will Smith). It could have been about Venus struggling to overcome an overbearing parent and overwhelming odds to become the first African-American woman on top of the WTA rankings in the Open Era. It could have been about Serena making her way out of the shadows of her illustrious sister and charting her way into becoming the GOAT of the sport. It could even be about their other three siblings who were part of this journey along with them even while making their mark on their own. It could have been about Oracene (a wonderful Aunjanue Ellis), who battled insecurities in her own life but grudged past it all to provide the future that her girls deserved. But it makes sense that Richard is put at the centre of things because that was the kind of man he was. Would there have been a Williams Sisters if not for the doggedness of Richard Williams and his foolproof 78-page brochure?

Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green

Cast: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton

While Richard's persistence is showcased on screen, we are hardly shown the pushback he faced within the family. It doesn't really sit right that barring a meltdown or two from Oracene, we don't really see how the sisters reacted to the parenting style of Richard. He pushes them to train hard, study harder, learn life lessons, stay humble and stay off drugs. Richard is very clear as to what kind of people his daughters should grow up to be. We don't really see how the children reacted to such strict guidelines. The only reason we overlook this aspect of King Richard is the uniformly effective performances of the actors who ensure we are completely invested in a journey that has already been well documented. Will Smith embodies the physicality and appearance of Richard to give us one of his most memorable performances that is definitely worthy of that Oscar nomination. Take, for instance, the scene where Richard is beaten down by a bunch of gang members in Compton. He wants to retaliate but there is the 'plan' that makes him forget the humiliation and concentrate on the bigger picture. The steely gaze quickly turns into a pensive look of desperation. In a confrontation scene with Oracene about his parenting style, we see how Will effortlessly traverses between a supremely confident egoistical patriarch to a deeply wounded soul who is just a hug away from a breakdown. Although Aunjanue's Oracene is relegated to the sidelines on more than one occasion, she delivers big in her training montages with Serena and the way she holds her ground on topics concerning their children. But the film truly belongs to Saniyya Sydney's Venus and Demi Singleton's Serena. Both these actors showcase the vulnerability, the impishness, the bravado, the happiness, the struggle, the pain, and especially, the disappointment. The best scene in King Richard is definitely the Child Services being called to the Williams' home, and the entire family rallying with each other to let everyone know that the journey might have been arduous but it was definitely voluntary after a point.

The film follows the usual template of an underdog film, and hits the usual highs and expected lows. We see how the family battled racism and systemic oppression. We see how the family managed to stay together despite seemingly insurmountable odds that came their way. We see how the family wishes to be the beacon of hope to generations of women, and hence, want to be perfect, every single day of their lives. We see how even when Venus and Serena are at the centre of everything, we see why the other children allowed them to be because they were serving a greater cause. And that is the beauty of this family and its story. We might not know everything that transpired within the four walls of the Williams household, but in the overall scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. Just like how the success of the Williams Sisters is more than just about the success of one family, King Richard is more than just the story of Richard, Venus, Serena, Oracene, Tunde, Isha, and Lyndrea. It is the story of how one success is enough to inspire a generation, and on that note, King Richard stands tall and delivers a flurry of aces despite a few unforced errors.