The story of Venus and Serena Williams is an inspirational story to tell, as Black people are typically not seen in the tennis world. Their journey was certainly distinctive. 

The upbringing of anyone that comes from poverty is always a story to tell. 

“King Richard” gives viewers a personal look into the upbringing of the Williams’ family with an emphasis of their father, Richard Williams (Will Smith) and daughters Serena Williams (Demi Singleton) and Venus Williams (Saniyya Sidney).  

Although Venus Williams and Serena Williams are the most well-known from the family, their peculiar father and his parenting style was definably worthy of a movie.   

The pacing of the film and Richard Williams’ character development were the greatest aspects of the film.  

At the beginning of the film, Richard Williams is a push over, and his only focus is his daughters.  

Growing up in Compton, California, his options for his daughters were limited, but he still did his best to pave a way for them. His certainty for the plan that he created working, which he said was curated before they were born, seems inoperative.  

The drive to get his daughters to get where he wants them to get is motivational, playing on cracked courts in any weather with their aged father. 

As the story progresses, we see their father’s attitude shift once he gets Venus Williams an established coach, Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn), while not having to pay him. Richard Williams competes with himself over who can feed Venus Williams the most advice on how to play.   

As a viewer, it was uncomfortable during these scenes. We watch Richard Williams go and find any and every coach he can to train his daughters to be the best, but the minute he does, he develops a know-it-all personality.   

He always had a braggart personality when it comes to his daughter, but when it’s done in this light, it paints a bad image, which could harm his daughters.  

Despite some of his actions, his passion to make his daughters the greatest is unquestionable.  

The storytelling makes this passion come off as smooth as it does. Even though we know how Venus Williams and Serena Williams turn out, the question of how their father will get them to where they are is what we want to be answered, which is why the movie is captivating.   

From being beat up by gang members in Compton, to getting his daughters to play against the best in the world at only 14-years-old, Richard Williams is astonishing.  

Smith’s performance is filled with emotion. You can tell through his eyes and the way he talks how much he believes that his daughters are going to be the best.  

Out of all five daughters, Venus Williams is the focus. Although she doesn’t talk a lot, the few times she shows emotions are believable and moving. Even though she was in Venus Williams’ shadow, you can feel the hunger from Serena Williams.   

As she stared onto the tennis court before Venus Williams’ game, you can tell that she wants to be there.   

The emotion shown on screen is another one of the main reasons why the film is so good.  

Seeing how they gave back to their community regardless of the money they were making and the attention they were getting showed the effects of both of their parents. 

Some biopics are not worthy of a movie and are better off just being told in interviews, but the Williams’ story is deserving.   

Telling the perspective of Serena Williams and Venus Williams’ father was a unique and not only an interesting approach but was also worth telling.  

Rate: 5/5 

Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at 581-2812 or at cahardy@eiu.edu.