Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green
Starring Will Smith, Aunjanue Elles, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Jon Bernthal and Tony Goldwyn

I must acknowledge when my passion for tennis and love of cinema step onto the same court, a dream mixed doubles session awaits I may very well carry a little bias for.

King Richard is the story of a man who Venus and Serena Williams evidently and largely credit for the significant role he played moulding them into the tennis legends they are today. Will Smith is ace as Richard Williams, a coach to his two daughters by day and a security guard at night. He works tirelessly to steer his girls towards the direction he believes will bring them success and keep them off the streets, and away from drugs. As overworked as he is, Richard (often controversially) pushes each of his children, which includes three stepdaughters with wife Oracene (Lovecraft Country’s Aunjanue Elles), equally hard. This biopic focuses more heavily on the rise of a very young Venus Williams and Richard’s input throughout those early years.

King Richard’s depiction of its titular character emphatically demonstrates the seeding of Venus and Serena’s most robust qualities. Their grit and sheer determination to succeed, their unrelenting fight and that instilled confidence and self-belief. Consequentially, a lack of humbleness can be perceived, yet it stands to reason that such precocious talent could not be harnessed and evolved to greatness without the commitment, motivation and psychological messaging imparted here. The script does an excellent job of validating just that as well as deriving a more humorous side from the often frustrating ways of a sometimes difficult to appreciate Richard Williams. Some spectators might understandably want to see a less varnished version of the controversial tennis dad, but with Venus and Serena serving as executive producers, it comes as no surprise this portrayal of their father is what they feel it deserves to be. That is their prerogative.

When I checked out the cast prior to watching this film, I was somewhat surprised I’d never heard of the young actresses playing Venus and Serena and was curious by the seeming lack of star power (Will Smith aside) for a biopic featuring a number of prominent names in tennis. Well, I can confirm after watching King Richard that it’s a brilliantly cast film. Both Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton, who play Venus and Serena respectively, had no prior experience playing tennis before shooting began and look like absolute naturals on court and in front of the camera. There are even certain physical and facial motions the real-life Venus makes that are perfectly emulated by Saniyya Sidney. 

King Richard is a broadly and entirely engaging sports drama that is surely to be the first of a handful of biographical releases over the next decade or two chronicling some part of the record-breaking careers of the Williams’ sisters.

King Richard is showing in cinemas across Australia from January 13th.

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

Follow on Twitter – Moviedoc / LIKE on Facebook – @moviedoc13 / Follow on Instagram – moviedoc_melbourne

©