King Richard (2021)

November 23, 2021 11:41 AM

A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.

Will Smith’s Performance Makes King Richard Worth Seeing [Vulture]
‘King Richard’ is an Intimate Look at the Man Behind the Williams Phenoms [Black Girl Nerds]
Will Smith aces it as the Williams sisters’ tennis-coaching dad [Guardian]
‘We were going to be number one’: how Richard Williams molded two tennis legends [Guardian]

posted by ellieBOA (5 comments total)

Streaming on HBO Max as well as in cinemas.
posted by ellieBOA at 11:42 AM on November 23, 2021

It feels like for this movie to be good, it would have to be complicated and fraught (the material is certainly there), but I don't want to watch anything complicated and fraught about the Williamses, I just want them to enjoy their success.
posted by praemunire at 11:56 AM on November 23, 2021 [3 favorites]

I found it moving, emotional, and good.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:56 PM on November 23, 2021

Also Serena and Venus (plus half sister Isha) executive produced.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:26 PM on November 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

Late to the party on this one. I'm a big fan of the Williams sisters, Serena in particular for her absolute domination of the sport, and know they were involved with this film so I'm glad it did well. The movie was well done, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that their dad was actually kind of awful, and made decisions about their lives and careers for years without consulting them or their mother. Sure, he loved them, and it turned out great, but he comes across like a well-intentioned tyrant.
posted by emd3737 at 7:20 PM on March 30, 2022