'King Richard' Review: Will Smith Leads A Terrific Cast As The Father Behind The Success Of Venus And Serena Williams

Arlington TX

27 November, 2021

9:59 AM

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By Joe Friar, Fort Worth Report November 25, 2021 While this may be Will Smith's best performance in years, "King Richard" is an ensemble piece with a great cast that tells the story of the man who raised Venus and Serena Williams, molding them to be the superstar athletes they are today. It's the feel-good film of the year, perfect for the whole family, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, dramatic interludes, and enough heartfelt moments that movie theatres should include a pack of tissues with every bag of popcorn. Smith plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton), plus three other daughters (and a few more offspring not accounted for), living in Compton with wife Oracene (Aunjanue Ellis), the two raising their girls to be successful in life. It's a remarkable story that would be hard to believe if it wasn't true especially since Richard wrote a 78-page outline detailing how he planned to make his daughters the two best tennis players in the world. It's amazing that he accomplished his goal and even more amazing that his plan was written before the girls were born. The biopic is a Cinderella story, albeit a ghetto version, according to the outspoken Mr. Williams who incorporates the Disney animated classic into a lesson on humility after he mistakes his daughters' victory celebration after a tennis tournament for bragging. When French writer Charles Perrault wrote the fairy tale in 1697 it was much more than a rags-to-riches story, as is Reinaldo Marcus Green's "King Richard." According to the author, the moral of the fairy tale was that sometimes we need someone outside the family to get involved and help, like a "fairy godmother." While Richard would take 100% credit for Venus and Serena's success (as the film points out, Oracene was the real VIP sharing coaching duties while keeping the family intact), there were a couple of magical mentors along the way. In this case, it was tennis coaches Rick Macci (Jon Bernthal) and Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn). The story begins in the 90s with Oracene working days as a nurse and Richard working nights as a security guard. The two take turns coaching Venus and Serena on the tattered courts of Compton, although the film concentrates on Richard so there are only a few minutes of Oracene calling the shots. Make no mistake, writer Zach Baylin and Ellis' first-rate performance drive the point that she played a pivotal role in the girls' success. There is a great scene where Ellis gets to shine as we watch her, fed up with the lack of respect from Richard, go off on him in the kitchen. She reveals that it was her devotion to God and the girls that kept her in the marriage, even though she showed Richard nothing but respect. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.