Movie Review: King Richard Empowers You To Power Up
King Richard was one of the most uplifting films I have seen in 2021, Will Smith plays Venus and Serena’s dad, Richard Williams, and he is immersive as a man that, to his family, was a loving giant but, to the world, a harsh, mean vulture. For Will and Co, this film was about lifting the veil on the who the real “vultures” are; those that see athletic prodigies as money-making machines or the fathers that see them as children with bright futures.
Richard Williams KNEW his girls could become legends, but, to him, and his wife Oracene (Aunjunae Ellis), there is no point to achieving greatness if you are not a good person. I LOVED THAT CONCEPT, and I ended up loving the Williams family. In an era of wellness, Richard felt ahead of his time, and, probably, would be more appreciated now. For him, you have to be happy, have fun, and love yourself enough to defend your confidence in the face of those that will question it for the sake of “humbling” you. For Richard, and the predominantly white-male world of tennis, the lines between humbling and humiliating young, black girls felt blurred, but when you are raising geniuses, you cannot stop them from their dream. Yet, how do you protect them from it?
To be honest, I know what it is to be raised in an area where people wish they could leave. Raising a family in Compton, in 1990s poverty and violence, can feel like you are raising diamonds to stay in their rough. Will Smith gives his bet performance yet because he shows the inner turmoil of a man crossed between letting his kids be kids and maneuvering them through an adult world that, at least, will take them out of their violent one. As Serena and Venus are stunning, and ABSOLUTELY solidify their futures in Hollywood, and The give these icons and embedded nobility that makes their innocence feel like grace. They were so good in their roles that, for a minute, I said to myself, “I really hope Venus and Serena become stars,” as if I did not know they did.
With an exceptional and Richard Green’s loving direction, this film is close to 150 minutes, but goes by like water. I could watch this family succeed on a loop, and on November 19, on both HBO Max and theaters, you can. King Richard is truly what empowerment is all about. If you make people question their life and meaning, at least, have the decency to do so with healing intent. As a black family, there is no doubt the Williams were questioned and diminished, but Richard used the world’s desire to dismiss his children’s dreams to make them further inspired to achieve them. Why? Because dreams only help you escape if you have fun.
