King Richard: A Great Tennis Biopic

Armed with a clear vision and a brazen, 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his two daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on tennis courts in Compton, Calif., Richard shapes the girls' unyielding commitment and keen intuition. Together, the Williams family defies seemingly insurmountable odds and the prevailing expectations laid before them. King Richard was at the forefront of cutting-edge advancements in tennis and styles of playing. He mentored his children along with professional coaches to make Serena and Venus the champions they are today.

Rogerebert.com describes the movie by saying though Will Smith’s characterization of Richard Williams is oversized, his best moments occur when he’s cornered into dropping his façade. He’s playing a man who refuses to acknowledge anything besides his own opinion, yet he is hauntingly effective when forced into silence.

The scenes where Will Smith shows Williams’ vulnerability have a wounded quality that lingers long after the moment has passed. Whether surveying his wounds after his umpteenth violent run-in with neighborhood riff-raff (“Daddy got beat up again!” one of his kids announces), or realizing there’s no way he can help his daughter get out of her own head on the court, Smith excels at showing the wounded man under all the bravado.

The movie is incredibly colorful, drawing on classic elements and themes of the 80s and 90s while also showing the underlying struggles and drama of the Williams family.

Unfortunately during the Oscars, Will Smith walked onstage and hit comedian Chris Rock after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, the wife of Will Smith. Moments later, he won an Oscar.

“The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards,” said AMPAS president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson of Smith’s “unacceptable and harmful behavior” in a letter to the full membership after a contentious 9 AM PT virtual meeting today concluded. “We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted,” they added at the end of the letter, with no pun undoubtedly intended.