King Richard: Early reviews say Will Smith gives an Oscar-worthy performance

Early reactions are coming in for King Richard, the Will Smith-starring biopic where the actor portrays the father of Venus and Serena Williams, and they are mostly singling out Smith’s truly Oscar-worthy performance.

King Richard, which made its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, tells the story of Richard Williams (Smith), the father of the prolific athletes’ Venus and Serena Williams. The film chronicles his unconventional methods of training and his drive to propel them to ultimate tennis superstardom. The movie also stars Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal, Saniya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, and Dylan McDermott, and while the film itself is being lauded from its early screening, many are saying this brings Will Smith back to potential Oscar-winning glory that he last saw when he was nominated for The Pursuit of Happyness. Check out some of the early reactions below!

In addition to the social media reaction, Gregory Ellwood from “The Playlist” says, “Obviously, it’s hard for an actor as well known as Will Smith to escape his public persona on screen. It’s that inherent charisma that made him one of the biggest movie stars in the world. But unlike his turn as Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann’s Ali, this is a performance he almost completely loses himself in. The fact you simply forget Smith is playing Richard is a notable accomplishment considering the film’s 2 hours and 18 minutes run time.”

Peter Debruge from “Variety” adds, “Impressive as Smith is as the scruffy, slightly stoop-shouldered Richard — channeling the actor’s natural charisma into a kind of stubborn yet supportive focus — the movie offers him a formidable equal in Ellis as his wife. Publicly, Brandi lets Richard call the shots, but in private (where the movie’s most impactful scenes take place), she’s not afraid to remind him that the Williams family project is a group effort.”

Speaking for “The Hollywood Reporter“, Stephen Farber says, “Although Smith’s outstanding performance dominates the film, he is not the whole show. Aunjanue Ellis also shines as the girls’ sensible mother, who has the strength to defy her husband when he gets carried away on his ego trip. Hers is not as flashy a role as Smith’s, but she balances him with understated warmth and wisdom. Jon Bernthal is also excellent as Venus’ savvy coach; he brings humor and a believable mix of exasperation and resignation to his frustrating battles with Williams, which he almost invariably loses.”

Lastly, Todd McCarthy from “Deadline” adds, “Will Smith hits a winner with King Richard. Playing the driven, eccentric and controversial father of budding tennis prodigies Venus and Serena Williams in the late 1980s and 1990s, the protean actor finds a new gear as he inhabits a complicated and gutsy man who trailblazes a path for two highly talented girls in their early teens in a sport where Black aspirants were virtually unheard of, especially in the female ranks. This engaging account of an unprecedented double-whammy success story for two sisters will play very well with all manner of audiences.”

King Richard hits screens and HBO Max on November 19, 2021.