Andrew
Film Review
Tinashe Kusema
VENUS and Serena Williams are almost certain to go down in history as two of the most dominant women’s tennis players in history, what with their combined total of 30 singles and 14 doubles Grand Slam titles.
In fact, the younger of the two Williams’ sisters, Serena, could very well be the Greatest of All Time or G.O.A.T, as the expression goes.
I have been a huge fan of both athletes for many years.
I remember with nostalgia their finals match-ups at the start of the millennium, where they met in four consecutive finals between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open.
However, my interest in women’s tennis has since waned.
Venus Williams is no longer the player she was because of her age and mostly due to the Sjögren’s syndrome she was diagnosed with in 2011.
My residual interest in women’s tennis is now specifically reserved for Serena Williams’ quest for that elusive 24th Grand Slam, a title that will see her tie with Margret Court at the top of women’s tennis.
My heart breaks every time she loses, and I cannot even feign interest in whatever Grand Slam she is not part of.
Such is the shadow that Serena has cast on not only my love for the sport, but the women’s game, her sister and her family as a whole.
So imagine my surprise when I watched “King Richard” — the biopic based on the Williams’ sisters’ upbringing — and found that she is reduced to a background character.
The film — starring Will Smith as the titular character — is a paean of sorts or tribute, for lack of a better word, meant to shine a light on the work and effort put in by Richard Williams into raising his girls to become the tennis greats we know them to be today.
It also touches on Venus Williams’ brief stint on the junior circuit and more specifically her professional debut in 1994.
In that tournament, The Bank of the West Classic, a then 14-year-old Venus beat Shaun Stafford and gave a good account of herself against Arantxa Sánchez Vicario to announce the arrival of the Williams’ sisters.
But that is just a sub-plot.
It is a Richard Williams movie, and here Will Smith shines like the star he is.
The American totally immerses himself into the role, going full method on the character.
I had to go online to watch a couple of Richard Williams’ interviews, which made me appreciate Smith’s performance even more.
Striking the right chord was crucial here, as the real senior Williams has a reputation of being a loose cannon.
Smith ticks all the boxes.
The supporting acts and sub-plots all do a good job, with special mention going to Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton and Aunjanue Ellis for their performances as Venus, Serena and their mother Brandi.
However, that is not where the film’s greatest strength lies.
That honour belongs to the Richard Williams story it tells, with Smith cast as the biggest star of the show.
Venus and Serena act as the hook that lures people to the film and story.
The truth of the matter is that these women, their careers and achievements are too big for a feature film.
They deserve a proper documentary, one in which some of the omissions and weaknesses of this film can be explored.
Said omissions include giving a voice to their mother and their sisters, and, most importantly, shining a light on some of the more iconic and important moments of their careers.
These can include their title wins, brief rivalry, the death of their older sister Yetunde Hawanya Tara Price and a closer look into their personal lives and fashion.
That story is a must one day, probably after they retire, but for now the ”King Richard” story will suffice.
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