King Richard: movie about Richard Williams coming out soon

V

Vamos Rafa Nadal

Guest
O.K., at the risk of having rocks thrown at me the trailer for this movie makes me want to vomit. There's lots of Oscar talk for the merely competent Will Smith, a movie star actor with imo limited acting skills, for his performance. The film looks to me to be an untrue hero-worshipping account of someone who was truly disliked by the tennis community - for good reasons - make in the time period when Serena and Venus were coming up as new future stars of tennis. The comments I have read about it have made me know that the commentators don't know anything about tennis or the true early history of the Williams sisters. The only movie about tennis that I really enjoyed was Borg-McEnroe, the Swedish film about Bjorn Borg's rise to fame and his rivalry with John McEnroe.

Are people looking forward to this tennis-related movie? Or do they feel like I do that this is a full of baloney movie that attempts to rehabilitate Richard Williams as a hero when nothing could be further from the truth?
 

pj80

Legend
O.K., at the risk of having rocks thrown at me the trailer for this movie makes me want to vomit. There's lots of Oscar talk for the merely competent Will Smith, a movie star actor with imo limited acting skills, for his performance. The film looks to me to be an untrue hero-worshipping account of someone who was truly disliked by the tennis community - for good reasons - make in the time period when Serena and Venus were coming up as new future stars of tennis. The comments I have read about it have made me know that the commentators don't know anything about tennis or the true early history of the Williams sisters. The only movie about tennis that I really enjoyed was Borg-McEnroe, the Swedish film about Bjorn Borg's rise to fame and his rivalry with John McEnroe.

Are people looking forward to this tennis-related movie? Or do they feel like I do that this is a full of baloney movie that attempts to rehabilitate Richard Williams as a hero when nothing could be further from the truth?
there should also be a "King Srdjan" somewhere down the road made...with Robert DeNiro or Al Pacino playing Srdjan
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
Imagine the endless people that laughed their asses off when he said "Yeah these 2 black girls that I had..... They will be #1 and #2 in the world. Their faces got long af in 2002 lol

They did laugh their asses off. :D I can't blame them really but they all had to eat crow, and say this man was dead serious about what he talking about, and knew what he was doing. On the other hand, you have people like the OP who are caught up in their own biases and too enclosed in their own little bubbles to appreciate that.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Imagine the endless people that laughed their asses off when he said "Yeah these 2 black girls that I had..... They will be #1 and #2 in the world. Their faces got long af in 2002 lol
A lot of people felt Serena and Venus were going to be incredible players, nobody who followed juniors tennis were laughing their asses off, many predicted they would eventually rule the WTA (Venus was seen as better when young though). Maybe because I live in southern California where the girls grew up, they were a bit famous even as little girls. Everyone could see they were both talented and tennis protegies. The only other junior I can remember that was so highly touted was Andre. Here's a brief glimpse of the Williams girls as kids, Richard had already sent them to Florida, just like Mike Agassi sent Andre to Florida to hone his game:

 

coolcamden

Hall of Fame
O.K., at the risk of having rocks thrown at me the trailer for this movie makes me want to vomit. There's lots of Oscar talk for the merely competent Will Smith, a movie star actor with imo limited acting skills, for his performance. The film looks to me to be an untrue hero-worshipping account of someone who was truly disliked by the tennis community - for good reasons - make in the time period when Serena and Venus were coming up as new future stars of tennis. The comments I have read about it have made me know that the commentators don't know anything about tennis or the true early history of the Williams sisters. The only movie about tennis that I really enjoyed was Borg-McEnroe, the Swedish film about Bjorn Borg's rise to fame and his rivalry with John McEnroe.

Are people looking forward to this tennis-related movie? Or do they feel like I do that this is a full of baloney movie that attempts to rehabilitate Richard Williams as a hero when nothing could be further from the truth?

More than you, I did threw up when I, purely by accident, caught a glimpse of this trailer. To me, it’s about capitalizing in the current cultural and political climate. The guy was known as an unbearable, insufferable dude.
 

Mr.Lob

G.O.A.T.
Since the movie is about "King" Richard, I'm curious if the movie broaches the subject of his domestic violence accusations towards his first wife, and his divorce to his second wife 40 years his junior.

In the clip above, I do like Richard's response to the journalist questioning 14 year old Venus on her confidence. That was fatherly instincts kicking in.
 
O.K., at the risk of having rocks thrown at me the trailer for this movie makes me want to vomit. There's lots of Oscar talk for the merely competent Will Smith, a movie star actor with imo limited acting skills, for his performance. The film looks to me to be an untrue hero-worshipping account of someone who was truly disliked by the tennis community - for good reasons - make in the time period when Serena and Venus were coming up as new future stars of tennis. The comments I have read about it have made me know that the commentators don't know anything about tennis or the true early history of the Williams sisters. The only movie about tennis that I really enjoyed was Borg-McEnroe, the Swedish film about Bjorn Borg's rise to fame and his rivalry with John McEnroe.

Are people looking forward to this tennis-related movie? Or do they feel like I do that this is a full of baloney movie that attempts to rehabilitate Richard Williams as a hero when nothing could be further from the truth?
. . Ask yourself this: what producer would bankroll 'box office poison'?
 

TennisDawg

Hall of Fame
I’ll probably watch it. You have to admit it is an incredible American success story. Like most sports films it will be “based on a true story”. Not necessarily a true story, something I always keep in mind. It should be entertaining anyway.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Bearing in mind that his daughters went on to win 30 Slams between them he must have been doing something right when he was coaching and mentoring them.

Whatever else people may think about him, his daughters' records stand for themselves.
 

bigserving

Hall of Fame
TTW haters are always gonna justify their obvious hate. Now, they wish to criticize a major motion picture that is months away from being released. Nothing New to see here, simply the next round. There is going to be major exposure for the game of tennis which will be very good and positive. Still, haters gonna find a way to justify their hate on that.

The reality is that Richard Williams' vision, execution, and commitment to his dream changed tennis, and professional tennis as we know it today.

Early on, RW was criticized for not having his daughters play much of a junior schedule. He was just way beyond everyone else in his thinking that, why spend the time and expense to have his daughters play against the future world number 200 and future number 500. He know that the future number one and number two players were both down the hall and could stay home and improve their games by playing with and against one another.

The women's game did not receive equal prize money, at the majors, until Venus and Serena were playing major finals against one another. The Women's final at the USO was even moved to prime time due to the increased viewership for those matches. The results of Chrissy, Martina, Billie Jean, Graf and the entire history of the women's game did not achieve that without the results of RW's daughters.

Five, ten, fifteen years ago, TTW geniuses criticized Venus and Serena for, "not playing a full schedule." Many writing that they could never consider, "part-time" players for the title of GOAT. The rest of the pro tour was just slow to catchup and realize that longevity makes a better career than playing every event and sprinting to get rich while the getting was good. Recent history is that Rafa was often "injured" during the hardcore seasons and Fed was often "injured' during the clay court season. Now, most players are pacing themselves to ensure longevity.

Both of his daughters graduated high school and continued their educations while playing pro ball. Definitely not the norm for the time including, most top players today. That set a positive example for future players.

He may be the only person in tennis history, certainly among the very few, that handed a player their first racquet and coached that player to major titles. RW did it with two players. Multiple major titles in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed.

We see this on the regular. Many past and current top professional players have thanked, and or articulated that Venus and Serena were their inspiration for beginning to play tennis. I am sure that an even larger number that play but never made it close to the tour level, feel the same way.

So thank you, King Richard!!

Sincerely, The Game of Tennis
 

goldengate14

Professional
O.K., at the risk of having rocks thrown at me the trailer for this movie makes me want to vomit. There's lots of Oscar talk for the merely competent Will Smith, a movie star actor with imo limited acting skills, for his performance. The film looks to me to be an untrue hero-worshipping account of someone who was truly disliked by the tennis community - for good reasons - make in the time period when Serena and Venus were coming up as new future stars of tennis. The comments I have read about it have made me know that the commentators don't know anything about tennis or the true early history of the Williams sisters. The only movie about tennis that I really enjoyed was Borg-McEnroe, the Swedish film about Bjorn Borg's rise to fame and his rivalry with John McEnroe.

Are people looking forward to this tennis-related movie? Or do they feel like I do that this is a full of baloney movie that attempts to rehabilitate Richard Williams as a hero when nothing could be further from the truth?
He is a hero in coaching terms. im.not sure though how big the Williams story is in he wider world.
 

goldengate14

Professional
TTW haters are always gonna justify their obvious hate. Now, they wish to criticize a major motion picture that is months away from being released. Nothing New to see here, simply the next round. There is going to be major exposure for the game of tennis which will be very good and positive. Still, haters gonna find a way to justify their hate on that.

The reality is that Richard Williams' vision, execution, and commitment to his dream changed tennis, and professional tennis as we know it today.

Early on, RW was criticized for not having his daughters play much of a junior schedule. He was just way beyond everyone else in his thinking that, why spend the time and expense to have his daughters play against the future world number 200 and future number 500. He know that the future number one and number two players were both down the hall and could stay home and improve their games by playing with and against one another.

The women's game did not receive equal prize money, at the majors, until Venus and Serena were playing major finals against one another. The Women's final at the USO was even moved to prime time due to the increased viewership for those matches. The results of Chrissy, Martina, Billie Jean, Graf and the entire history of the women's game did not achieve that without the results of RW's daughters.

Five, ten, fifteen years ago, TTW geniuses criticized Venus and Serena for, "not playing a full schedule." Many writing that they could never consider, "part-time" players for the title of GOAT. The rest of the pro tour was just slow to catchup and realize that longevity makes a better career than playing every event and sprinting to get rich while the getting was good. Recent history is that Rafa was often "injured" during the hardcore seasons and Fed was often "injured' during the clay court season. Now, most players are pacing themselves to ensure longevity.

Both of his daughters graduated high school and continued their educations while playing pro ball. Definitely not the norm for the time including, most top players today. That set a positive example for future players.

He may be the only person in tennis history, certainly among the very few, that handed a player their first racquet and coached that player to major titles. RW did it with two players. Multiple major titles in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed.

We see this on the regular. Many past and current top professional players have thanked, and or articulated that Venus and Serena were their inspiration for beginning to play tennis. I am sure that an even larger number that play but never made it close to the tour level, feel the same way.

So thank you, King Richard!!

Sincerely, The Game of Tennis
The GOAT is Graf which is a slight problem for the movie possibly. As fkr equal prize money hat was going to happen anyway and thankfully it did. Now we need a rotation of the mens and womwes final at events on the saturday and sunday
 

TennisDawg

Hall of Fame
The GOAT is Graf which is a slight problem for the movie possibly. As fkr equal prize money hat was going to happen anyway and thankfully it did. Now we need a rotation of the mens and womwes final at events on the saturday and sunday
Well then maybe someone will do a movie on Graf. It’s a movie. It’s entertainment. Do you really think a movie about Graf will have a large audience, though?
 
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Visionary

Hall of Fame
O.K., at the risk of having rocks thrown at me the trailer for this movie makes me want to vomit. There's lots of Oscar talk for the merely competent Will Smith, a movie star actor with imo limited acting skills, for his performance. The film looks to me to be an untrue hero-worshipping account of someone who was truly disliked by the tennis community - for good reasons - make in the time period when Serena and Venus were coming up as new future stars of tennis. The comments I have read about it have made me know that the commentators don't know anything about tennis or the true early history of the Williams sisters. The only movie about tennis that I really enjoyed was Borg-McEnroe, the Swedish film about Bjorn Borg's rise to fame and his rivalry with John McEnroe.

Are people looking forward to this tennis-related movie? Or do they feel like I do that this is a full of baloney movie that attempts to rehabilitate Richard Williams as a hero when nothing could be further from the truth?
I generally like movies as I believe they mostly are artistic. Whether they depict the truth in the biographical sense or interesting artwork depends on a few circumstances such as agreements with the real heroes or perhaps the directors' skills. So, do you think that Williams have been puking anywhere? What do you think is the percentage of the ones who are throwing up, or feel sick like you from the movie?

The Borg-McEnroe film was great and so were, to me, the Battle of Sexes and Match Point. I appreciate the effort people have made to bring us the moments of the sport. I'd love to see more suspense thrillers or films based on biographies from tennis and I'd enjoy it no matter what. Should the story be unbearable, I'd use my common sense, a bag of pop corn and coke to see it through.

Everything considered, I can't wait to watch the Williams movie with the fairly talented actor Will Smith in as the movie is about someone extraordinary and the sport that I spend so much time every day on. The sceptical tennis souls ought to consider the fact that there may be loads of much crappier movies that this one out there and that this is one of very few ones that brings us (the tennis lovers) closer to the sport.
 

Visionary

Hall of Fame
Well then maybe someone will do a movie on Graf. It’s a movie. It’s entertainment. Do you really think a movie about Graf will have a large audience, though?
Steffi's fame and hitch (Andree) would be awesome. Provided that the choices of actors are right and the director does not accept any meth from the Agassi gang, when filming, that movie would attract plenty of viewers.
 

mwym

Professional
There is a cost to pay for everything. But stupidity causing ideology which then wins power to decide anything for others - even which movies are made - is the most expensive.

If in doubt watch some pre 1990 Soviet or PRC 'movies'.

We humans do not know how to contain our stupidity. Maybe AI will know.
 
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chatt_town

Hall of Fame
Imagine the endless people that laughed their asses off when he said "Yeah these 2 black girls that I had..... They will be #1 and #2 in the world. Their faces got long af in 2002 lol

I saw the movie last night. What he accomplished was nothing short of amazing. I honestly didn't know he pulled his kids out of Juniors and while it was a huge gamble...I think it's the best thing he could've done. I saw a lot of what he was talking about in the movie when my son played Juniors. Once my son showed he wasn't interested...I stopped him from playing or at least stopped traveling to junior tournaments. He was naturally good at it but I didn't have it in me to force it on him like I saw a lot of those parents were clearly doing.

You look at today how you have sooooo many 25 year olds that won't even pick up a raquet because of what they were put through. He was smart enough to see what his daughters were going to go through and shielded them from it and still got them into the pros. He gets the utmost respect from me for having the balls to do what he did. Paul Cohen(sp) and Rick Maci also get a lot of respect me from me as well. They could've easily laughed like the rest of them and turned their backs. They get just as much respect from me as Richard does. What they did was also amazing.
 
N

Nuclear

Guest
I saw the movie last night. What he accomplished was nothing short of amazing. I honestly didn't know he pulled his kids out of Juniors and while it was a huge gamble...I think it's the best thing he could've done. I saw a lot of what he was talking about in the movie when my son played Juniors. Once my son showed he wasn't interested...I stopped him from playing or at least stopped traveling to junior tournaments. He was naturally good at it but I didn't have it in me to force it on him like I saw a lot of those parents were clearly doing.

You look at today how you have sooooo many 25 year olds that won't even pick up a raquet because of what they were put through. He was smart enough to see what his daughters were going to go through and shielded them from it and still got them into the pros. He gets the utmost respect from me for having the balls to do what he did. Paul Cohen(sp) and Rick Maci also get a lot of respect me from me as well. They could've easily laughed like the rest of them and turned their backs. They get just as much respect from me as Richard does. What they did was also amazing.
well, looks like I'm gonna have to watch this movie
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
I saw the movie last night. What he accomplished was nothing short of amazing. I honestly didn't know he pulled his kids out of Juniors and while it was a huge gamble...I think it's the best thing he could've done. I saw a lot of what he was talking about in the movie when my son played Juniors. Once my son showed he wasn't interested...I stopped him from playing or at least stopped traveling to junior tournaments. He was naturally good at it but I didn't have it in me to force it on him like I saw a lot of those parents were clearly doing.

You look at today how you have sooooo many 25 year olds that won't even pick up a raquet because of what they were put through. He was smart enough to see what his daughters were going to go through and shielded them from it and still got them into the pros. He gets the utmost respect from me for having the balls to do what he did. Paul Cohen(sp) and Rick Maci also get a lot of respect me from me as well. They could've easily laughed like the rest of them and turned their backs. They get just as much respect from me as Richard does. What they did was also amazing.
well, looks like I'm gonna have to watch this movie

Even as a hardcore Venus fan, I never would have thought it would be that good :D
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
I avoid anything with Will Smith.

Yea, I do the same with R. Kelly now. He and Jada starting to rattle my nerves. Wouldn't think a married couple that old(same age as myself) would be out putting all their business on the internet...wth. I get it for these 20 year olds that might not have enough sense to know better...but wth is it with them. Still a good movie though. Men of Honor is my favorite of all time but this one can be top 10 for me...not because of the acting persay but just because of seeing what Richard went through to get his kids where they were able to take off and fly.
 
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