King Richard

2022 - 3 - 27

Post cover — Image courtesy of "National Post"

Will Smith wins first Oscar for tenacious father in 'King Richard' (National Post)

LOS ANGELES — Will Smith won his first Academy Award on Sunday, capturing the best actor honor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the determined father ...

Richard Williams has been in ill health for years and did not take part. Will Smith wins first Oscar for tenacious father in 'King Richard' Back to video Will Smith wins first Oscar for tenacious father in 'King Richard'

King Richard: How to watch the Oscar-nominated movie in Australia (Sporting News AU)

The film focuses on Richard Williams, the eccentric father of the sisters, who is played by American actor Will Smith. Released in late 2021, King Richard was ...

A lot of Black men aren't seen in that light. And a lot of people think that my dad was a different character. We want to get this story right," the younger Williams sister was quoted by Forbes late last year.

Real 'King Richard' Reacts to 'The Slap' After Will Smith Invoked His ... (TooFab)

After Smith won Oscar gold for portraying Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena, the coach weighs in on the controversial moment that overshadowed ...

Perhaps referencing his own words about love in his acceptance speech, Smith also wrote, "There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness." "Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family," Smith opened his speech. "Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally." While not saying it directly, he appeared to equate his passionate defense of wife Jada Pinkett Smith to the type of protection and love Williams was known for. After the joke, which Smith was initially seen laughing over as Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes, Smith walked up to the stage and smacked Rock hard across the face. Richard Williams knows a lot about fierce love and defending and protecting his family.

Will Smith wins first Oscar for role as 'King Richard' and his ... (CBSSports.com)

Smith joined a couple of other actors to have won Academy Awards for performances in sports movies. Wallace Beery (Best Actor --The Champ, 1931), Ann Revere ( ...

"Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family," Smith said. Will Smith apologized for the incident during his acceptance speech. Smith joined a couple of other actors to have won Academy Awards for performances in sports movies.

King Richard Isn’t a Figure Anyone Should Emulate (unknown)

Will Smith became the focal point of the 2022 Oscars, and his invocation of King Williams as his inspiration was a poor choice.

In bringing up the parallel in his acceptance speech, Smith may have not been excusing his actions so much as explaining them, and the subtle nuance in that distinction is important. Though there were undoubtedly admirable traits about Williams as a father, even the film itself acknowledges that his often rash and bullheaded behavior was not excusable just because his challenges reaped success. Williams' behavior is not something the film necessarily condones, and a key scene toward the finale featuring his wife reprimanding him for his actions makes that clear. King Richard is based on the real-life story of tennis coach Richard Williams raising his daughters Venus and Serena to become some of the greatest athletes in the world. That cost, in the context of King Richard, is that the titular character is uncompromising and self-assured to the point of barreling through anyone who stands in his way. Actor Will Smith made Oscars history at the 94th Academy Awards, but it wasn't for his win for King Richard. Though the actor was the favorite to win Best Actor in the lead-up to the night, his physical altercation with comedian Chris Rock became the focal point of the ceremony.

Venus and Serena Williams take Oscars stage, introduce Beyonce's 'King Richard' performance from Compton tennis court (unknown)

The 2022 Academy Awards started off with a bang when the Williams sisters took the stage to tee up Beyonce performing from their hometown tennis courts.

It was perfectly fitting that Beyonce would perform on the Lueders Park courts that were officially rebranded as the Venus and Serena Williams Court of Champions in 2016. Then, the camera panned to the court, where Beyonce was accompanied by dozens of dancers and musicians, including her and Jay-Z's daughter Blue Ivy. In the Will Smith-starring film about the Williams sisters' upbringing, Beyonce's song that she co-wrote with Dixson (real name Darius Scott), plays under the end credits.