“Mr. Gupta, there’s a new movie playing in the theatres starring Will Smith! You want to go and watch?” My friend texted me with a screenshot for a movie titled, La Methode Williams. The poster said King Richard and there was Will Smith on the poster. This was only my second time watching a movie in France, the first being James Bond: No Time To Die (Mourir Peut Attendre – Death Can Wait, you have to love the translations, God!).

That’s all I knew about the movie I would be watching in 3 hours. I like to head into a movie completely blind without having seen the trailers or reading anything about the movie. I thought the movie would be some contemporary adaptation of King Richard or maybe a period piece. I was not expecting a biopic on the WIlliams sisters and their father Richard.

The Premise

I have previously read and watched interviews of Serena Williams where she talks about her father’s unique way of coaching the two sisters. So once I knew that the movie was about a father coaching his daughters since childhood so they could reach the pinnacle of the sport, I thought of a similar movie that I had seen before. There is an Indian sports biopic involving the sport of wrestling named Dangal starring Aamir Khan which released in 2016.

A father trains two of his daughters to be champion wrestlers who go on to represent India on an international level and win medals. This movie is based on the lives of the Phogat sisters from Haryana, India and their father Mahavir Singh Phogat.

Throughout the running minutes I could see some similarities between the two films and I couldn’t help but compare the two fathers. Their conviction, their belief, their stubbornness and their journey over the years have unmistakable parallels. Both stories are based on actual life events but take place years apart in different parts of the world which made me think that maybe there is a method to all the madness and maybe great minds do think alike no matter where they come.

It did cause a slight problem for me as a viewer since the similarities caused me to compare two films which are distinct from each other in more ways than one. I wonder what I would think about the film if I had not seen Dangal. Both films have their own merits, their own areas of technical brilliance and their own place in my heart as an avid film watcher.

Tennis

I have never seen a sports movie involving Tennis, so this was a first for me. I enjoyed the scenes that showed the matches. I was excited to see the game being portrayed on the screen and see what techniques the filmmakers will use. There were many shots taken from behind one of the players as they were rallying with their opponent. The camera angle gives you the feeling as if you were watching from the sidelines.

The entire cast of women playing tennis seems to have done their homework and you don’t get the feeling that these are actors playing the game. Richard had a habit of recording the girls tennis practices so a lot of what is shown is accurate since we also get to see some actual footage in the post credits scene.

Having been around the game in my childhood and taking two years of tennis coaching at the age of 8, I have had a special appreciation for the game. I have since occasionally revisited the game and do watch some matches from time to time. It is a beautiful game, and this movie does a wonderful job of making me want to watch tennis again.

The Cast

Will Smith as Richard Williams

I have been a fan of Will Smith since Men in Black, Bad Boys and the Pursuit of Happyness. The guy is a legend and always puts forward a praiseworthy performance. My appreciation for him has only been growing since I am also reading his newly launched autobiography WILL co-authored with Mark Manson.

He hits the right beats in scenes that require him to be intense while also being spot on in light moments he shares with the other cast members. His portrayal of a single-minded believer in the plan he has made for his daughters held my attention in every frame. As a character, there is a lot to unpack with Richard Williams as there is a lot going on in the backdrop against which the movie is set.

Aujanue Ellis as Oracene “Brandy” Williams

She was a surprise for me in this movie. I didn’t recall having seen her in any of her other work so this was one hell of an introduction for me. There are a few scenes where the audience gets a clear idea that this is one tough woman who is a badass in her own right. Ellis’ portrayal of a duty-bound wife who makes her own sacrifices for the sake of her family will warm your heart.

Ellis gives a restrained performance. Her character is the quieter of the two parents where you wouldn’t focus on what she is doing while Richard takes care of the tennis. But there are instances where she steals the show with her monologues, especially in a couple of scenes where she confronts Richard and puts her foot down.

In those moments, the eyes draw you in with the raw display of emotion. The expressions tell the story of a woman who has been through a lot for her family and the daughters she loves more than her life. The dialogues have the power and the swagger that only a badass woman can have.

Going through her IMDb page as I write this, I have seen her before in the police drama The Mentalist as Madeleine Hightower. I am shocked that I didn’t recognize her as I have literally seen the show a dozen times. I guess she has a knack for playing the strong and powerful “Boss” lady. She is an absolute delight as Oracene.

Saniyya Sidney as Venus and Demi Singleton as Serena

Making another comparison with Dangal, much of the film focuses on the elder sister for obvious reasons that they would be the first one to reach the professional level. In both cases, the second sister is in the background going through her journey which is sprinkled in between the rise of the elder sister.

Both girls put forward commendable performances in their own way. Venus gets more screen time and is seen playing in most of the tennis matches. Sidney has nailed the sport and convincingly pulls off the portrayal of a young Venus on the court. Given that she is the one who has to be the trailblazer balancing expectations and opinions of the people around her, there is plenty of scope to explore a range of emotions.

Sidney aces the emotional scenes two of which particularly come to mind: The first is when the discussion around whether or not to participate in pro tournaments is about to end. The second one takes place after the final match shown in the film. I would love to go into more details as to exactly why I picked these two, but I don’t want to give any spoilers.

Coming to the younger version of the greatest of all time Serena, Demi puts on a quiet and restrained performance that is exactly what was needed. Her big moment comes when Richard approaches her as she looks onto an empty Tennis court of the US Open. Throughout the movie, her character has been watching as the centre of attention has shifted towards Venus and Demi has nailed the character of an overshadowed sibling.

The Two Coaches

I won’t go into many details about the two coaches played by Tony Goldwyn (as Paul Cohen) and Jon Bernthal (as Rick Macci). Tony has the demeanour of a coach who knows his stuff because he coaches the best of the best. There is just the right amount of attitude and arrogance needed for the role. The highlight for me was his exasperation with Richard’s constant interference with his training and techniques. This again is something I had seen in Dangal though there it was the filmmakers taking a few creative liberties.

Jon has a meatier role which has a good mix of humour and intense sequences. I enjoyed the little pompous enthusiasm of the “nice guy” coach. There are moments where he makes me doubt whether he has the girls’ best interest at heart which is great since that’s a whole plotline in the movie. I liked the way he has to tiptoe around Richard even though he practically owns the training facility. It makes the later sequences much more rewarding for the audience.

Themes and Plotlines

1. Racism: The movie is set in Compton which is the “hood”. The Williams weren’t an affluent family and Tennis is a rich people’s game. This theme is explored numerous times. The film briefly mentions the 1991 shooting of George Holiday. The way the film explores the idea of the first black woman in professional tennis has a similar vibe to that of Jackie Robinson in 1947 as shown in the 2013 movie, 42. The context is different but the idea that both Jackie and Venus represent their entire community, so they must carry themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach.
2. Parenting: There is a scene in the movie where one of the neighbours calls the cops on the Williams household. This sequence gave me an insight on how parents are working hard to keep the kids off the streets and keep them honest. This is an intense sequence which has two parts: Will Smith’s confrontation with the cops and Ellis’ confrontation with their neighbour. Both parts seem to be conveying more than what was said, immensely powerful stuff.
3. Sports Parents: I never experienced this myself or seen it happen with anyone I know but parents whose children go into competitive activities or as Will Smith puts it in the movie “those sports parents” can take it a bit too far sometimes. There comes a point in the film where there is a discussion on whether to continue on the traditional path towards professional tennis or letting kids be kids. The film balances both sides of the argument with the finesse that is needed to handle such a nuanced topic. It is a dichotomy and one can only ask at what point are we taking things too far whether it’s sports or academics.
4. When to go Pro?: The world of sports is a glamorous one. There is a lot of money to be made and there are a lot of sharks in the sea. Everyone sees an opportunity, and everyone has an angle. In the middle of everything is a prodigy who is barely a teenager. How do we as a family deal with this situation and ensure that the kid knows right from wrong?
5. Faith and Delusions of Grandeur: Numerous times in the film, Richard says that his daughters are future greats, champions, and world No. 1s. You are watching a biopic, so you know everything worked out and it’s easy to think that such belief is key for success. It made me think. All this was happening in 1991 and there are no guarantees for anything in the future. At this point, is telling your kid that they are destined to be great a good idea? It is one thing to believe that and it’s another to know that you can achieve it. What I am trying to understand is when you are on the journey towards greatness, what separates belief from delusions of grandeur?
6. It’s Not Just Your Plan: Richard refers to his plan often. But is it just one man’s planning that makes everything possible? There is a scene with Oracene that I mentioned above where she confronts Richard about his plan, his way of doing things and her role in everything that has happened up to that point. It is clear that no one succeeds alone and that no matter where you are, you have reached there because of the sacrifices of other people around you.

My Experience and Feelings

I am a big fan of Serena Williams. As a fab, I would have loved to see more of Serena in the movie but I understand what story the filmmakers are trying to tell. The movie does a good job of showing how Venus was front and centre of the drama that I almost forgot that Serena would have been training at the time too and would have had her own achievements. I was a little taken aback when in a scene both sisters are signing autographs after we just saw Venus kick ass on the court. I find that to be highly effective given how it made me feel like that came out of nowhere, but it makes complete sense.

There’s no two ways about this: Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of all time. If your opinion differs then your opinion is garbage (Just Kidding, LOL!). Throughout the run time, I was waiting for one scene where we see Serena shine through as a player. I was so excited when my expectations were fulfilled in the most unexpected of ways. I won’t go into detail here, but it is the same scene I mentioned above where Richard and Serena share a powerful moment in the US Open courts.

I found myself remarking that Richard is a bad dude in the way that it is frustrating to put up with him at times. In a way, stubbornness is a quality which makes him take the tough measures he takes to ensure his daughters learn the right lessons. Granted, he does take it a bit too far at times.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film. I don’t want to talk about a lot of the technical stuff like sound design and direction choices. I like to evaluate my experience based on how the  movie made me feel at the end of it and what I took away from it. This is a must-watch film for the sheer effort and heart it took to make this film. It is a beautiful adaptation of a story that deserves to be told.

There is a powerful message in the film for everyone looking to fulfil their dreams. The Williams sisters are a powerful example for women all over the world. This movie does a fantastic job of highlighting the kind of support structure you need to build around winners and what people who win are ready to do just in the hope that their dreams will come true one day. I am definitely rewatching this soon!