Reviews

‘King Richard’ Review

From the Fresh Prince, to the King of tennis. Will Smith delivers the performance of his career at the perfect time in his life. One of the years best, a heartfelt, hilarious and emotional journey that showcases just how remarkable the story of Serena and Venus Williams really was.

King Richard movie review & film summary (2021) | Roger Ebert

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

The American dream, everyone has one. For Richard Williams it was to raise the greatest two women’s tennis players to ever walk the Earth. In a time when tennis was portrayed as a predominately white sport, they were walking uphill to begin with. From Compton to the biggest stage, the remarkable story of this family is inspirational to say the least. Sports movies can always come across as such cliches, something that always has a “happy ending.” One thing I really liked about King Richard was how raw and authentic it was and it really doesn’t sugar coat anything. One of the best sports movies in recent memory and one of the strongest films of 2021.

This family had to fight for everything they had and Richard (Will Smith) was always front and centre. He was different, he was doing things his way. It was the definition of his way or the highway. In a time of crazy sports Dads, at the time, the media and people around Richard truly didn’t understand his madness or just how much he was sacrificing for his family. He was a mad scientist who always had a plan for his daughters and nothing would stop that plan from happening. He was hard on his kids, but in the best way possible. Hard working, good grades, humble, polite, everything you want to teach your kids. He just wanted to keep his kids off the streets and propel them into a better life. That should be the goal for any parent, provide a better life for your children then you ever had. I would say Richard and his wife Brandy (Aunjanue Ellis) achieved just that.

That’s where this movie begins, on the shoulders of Richard and Brandy Williams. Will Smith gives a memorable performance, the best of his career. What I loved most about it, it didn’t feel like Will Smith. He’s a megastar, bigger than most of the movies he is in. He’s a classic actor, he rarely changes his appearance, he’s just Will Smith in everything he does, but not here. He transforms into Richard Williams, and I was blown away. He does a few things, whether it’s his voice work, the way he walks, or the way he appears like sometimes he’s not all there. I’m just so happy he has finally given the definitive performance of his career, because it was beautiful. His counterpart Aunjanue Ellis is a strong female lead. Giving us the most impactful and emotional monologue of the film that serves a reminder that no matter how much Richard was in the forefront, he did not do this alone. Brandy is a strong and smart women, who helped mould all of her daughters into the impactful women they are today.

One thing that people need to realize, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) wanted to tell this story. They were proudly behind this project from the very get-go. Just because they are not in the forefront of the movie, doesn’t mean they aren’t a big part of it. Their father did so much for them, that they wouldn’t be who they are today without them and they wanted to showcase this to the world. Both girls who represent these world class athletes are fantastic. Just not with their acting chops but with their tennis abilities. They are going toe-to-toe with some terrific actors in this. The movie just feels so 90’s, from the cinematography, the outfits, how Richard feels about country clubs and rich white folks. It all feels so blended together and so naturally, unlike some more recent sports movies, this just feels like it’s on another level. Some truly fantastic visuals, that make it feel like a real awards contender. The thing that I was most impressed with, the actual tennis scenes. They are filmed so well, not many cuts and edits, they really let these ladies go out and play. The thing with most sports movies or shows, they don’t actually showcase the cast playing the sport the movie is about. They went out and got real tennis players to help elevate this movie and it works. Even Jon Bernthal comes in for half the movie and gives a different performance. He’s an energetic tennis coach, that has the best moustache in 2021. We are so used to him being a cold character, or a bad ass, and this was just a fun performance from a really great actor.

Emotional beats throughout help separate this from just the generic sports flick. There are two scenes in particular that, in my mind, the film needed and wouldn’t come across as successful if they don’t put them in there. You are reminded how hard it can be and will always be for black families in America and some families need to go the extra mile every single day to sometimes provide just safety and food for their kids. I loved how they didn’t shy away from where they came from and how hard they had, 5 girls in one bedroom, problems on the streets and potential dangers around every corner.

Reinaldo Marcus Green is an upcoming young and impressive director, again, this is an elevated sports drama. He brings something new and brought one hell of a cinematographer with him. I hope we can celebrate with Will Smith during awards season, because I think it’s just his time. This is a must see and honestly my favourite movie of the year.

King Richard = 91/100

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First Trailer for Will Smiths ‘Gemini Man’

You had me at two Will Smiths

The Fresh Prince is back baby! Well sort of. Everyone is getting de-aged in Hollywood these days and next up is Will Smith. Ang Lee, the Oscar winning director is finally back making movie after 7 whole years departed from Life of Pi. Known for is visual sense and great story telling, him teaming up with someone who can have tremendous box-office success, this seems like it could be a lovely mariage.

So basically this is Looper mixed with Minority Report? Both epic science fiction movies and now we have Ang Lee putting his own personal spin on each story. Sounds terrific to me. I will forever be invested in a movie that deals with time travel or a younger version of someone trying to kill their older selves or vice versa. You can’t go wrong with that combination, it’s almost undefeated at this point in time. Now we have a leading man in Will Smith, who hasn’t really had a hit in a long ass time. With Aladdin due out this summer and I’m not sure how critics and fans are going to receive that movie, he could have another flop on his hands.

But what got me going the most? The return of Clive Owen! I love that guy, his career isn’t out I imagined it would have turned out, but I’m so glad to see him back in something I’m going to watch in theatres. The always talented Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Benedict Wong, the cast is impressive to say the least. I just can’t imagine Ang Lee essentially taking 7 years off from making a movie only to come back and lay an egg, it’s just not going to happen. Gemini Man looks promising as hell.

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‘Aladdin’ Trailer – YIKES

Okay, it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever seen, but it’s close, like super duper close.

This was like a car wreck that you couldn’t look away from. My god, holy shit, aye caramba. It feels like a million years ago that I actually thought this movie wouldn’t be a total dumpster fire. This is the New York Knicks of movies. I hate everything that I just witnessed in this trailer.

There is so much wrong with this adaptation, I don’t really know where to start. A British girl to play a Persian Princess perhaps? The fact they have turned Jafar into the softest villain of all time perhaps. Man, I don’t want to over do it, but part of my childhood lost its soul while watching this heap of garbage. Yes, I’ll be there opening weekend, yes it will make a boat load of money. But it seems they don’t even try. This is Hitch, but now Will Smith is a Genie. What a terrible miscast. I am in awe of just how terrible everything looks. Do not let them suck you in with catchy songs. That magic will not work on me.

Maybe I’ll be wrong. Maybe this turns out great. But everything we have seen so far has just been awful. They just released a new poster and IT DOESNT EVEN HAVE THE BLUE GENIE ON IT. This is going to be the worst movie of the year. Like if you’re going to do Aladdin, cast the right people for the roles. Why are we white washing the female lead. Just make Hitch 2 Will.

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New ‘Aladdin’ Trailer Is Hilariously Awful

I can’t stop laughing. This is hot garbage.

I’m in shock. Legit and utter shock. This photo above is real. That’s a real thing, that’s really going to happen. How on gods green earth did Disney give the go ahead for this sort of nonsense? In a span of a minute, you heard a boat load of toilets flush because people all over the world are crapping all over this trailer, and rightfully so.

Can we start with Jafar? Why does he sound like a boys scout? He’s has least intimidating voice I’ve ever heard. Remember how awesome he sounded in the animated version? He was menacing and it was only a cartoon, I laughed when he spoke. I laughed a lot in this trailer. Everything is so off in so many ways, it’s all just hilarious.

Now for the main event.WHY DOES THE GENIE LOOK LIKE WILL SMITH? Yes, I’m all for him voicing the genie. But that’s such a Will Smith move. He doesn’t need to look like him, it’s absurd actually. Did the genie look like Robin Williams? No. What a poor choice and he looks bad. CGI might not be complete, but the marketing campaign for Aladdin is off to just a terrible start. My childhood was squashed in 60 seconds. Big time yikes Disney. See for yourselves.