Great analysis. One thing that bothered me about the film was the portrayal of Richard Williams, at least at the beginning of the film, was that of a child’s understanding of their father. Inscrutable, maybe, but always and infallibly correct and moral and virtuous throughout. I think the character gained in moral complexity throughout the film, but never seemed like a ‘real’ character to me. To an extent, I guess that’s just how biopics go, but you’re telling me he was never tired, or frustrated? Never yelled. Had no vices, lived like a saint, and was completely 100% focused on his children throughout his life? When his wife mentions she’s put up with his affairs, that seemed like a real detail, but the film doesn’t seem in any way interested in exploring that part of his personality.
I think there's some ugliness in the film-- his bullying and controlling qualities, his tense relationship with his wife-- but you're right that it doesn't seem to go far enough. The fact that his plan actually worked seems to forgive a lot here; you can see a scenario in which his daughters are wrung out by his tactics or misled by his strategy for how to get them through (or around) the junior circuit. But Venus and Serena are two of the best to ever do it, and they're wonderful people, too. Sports tend to be a results-oriented field. I guess that applies to this particular sports movie as well.
I really enjoyed this film, and my girlfriend had an even more positive reaction to it. We both thought Will Smith was excellent. Still, I can't help but want a film that portrays what is probably a much more common story -- the sports or stage parent who has a plan and pushes and pushes but ruins lives instead of creating superstars. Maybe I'm just pessimistic, but I think there was a lot of luck to what Richard Williams accomplished. Nothing was inevitable, and the wrong roll of the dice here or there could have had tragic consequences.
I'm a big Whiplash apologist, but I don't see it in that light at all. Whiplash is a film about the clash between two driven personalities, both of whom are where they are out of choice. The actual parent, Paul Reiser, doesn't really understand the obsession. If the Miles Teller character had been pushed into drumming by anyone else, the comparison might work. To me the big difference is in who has the agency.
Great analysis. One thing that bothered me about the film was the portrayal of Richard Williams, at least at the beginning of the film, was that of a child’s understanding of their father. Inscrutable, maybe, but always and infallibly correct and moral and virtuous throughout. I think the character gained in moral complexity throughout the film, but never seemed like a ‘real’ character to me. To an extent, I guess that’s just how biopics go, but you’re telling me he was never tired, or frustrated? Never yelled. Had no vices, lived like a saint, and was completely 100% focused on his children throughout his life? When his wife mentions she’s put up with his affairs, that seemed like a real detail, but the film doesn’t seem in any way interested in exploring that part of his personality.
I think there's some ugliness in the film-- his bullying and controlling qualities, his tense relationship with his wife-- but you're right that it doesn't seem to go far enough. The fact that his plan actually worked seems to forgive a lot here; you can see a scenario in which his daughters are wrung out by his tactics or misled by his strategy for how to get them through (or around) the junior circuit. But Venus and Serena are two of the best to ever do it, and they're wonderful people, too. Sports tend to be a results-oriented field. I guess that applies to this particular sports movie as well.
I really enjoyed this film, and my girlfriend had an even more positive reaction to it. We both thought Will Smith was excellent. Still, I can't help but want a film that portrays what is probably a much more common story -- the sports or stage parent who has a plan and pushes and pushes but ruins lives instead of creating superstars. Maybe I'm just pessimistic, but I think there was a lot of luck to what Richard Williams accomplished. Nothing was inevitable, and the wrong roll of the dice here or there could have had tragic consequences.
I feel like Whiplash kind of splits the middle between what you're asking for and what these kind of biopics always highlight.
I'm a big Whiplash apologist, but I don't see it in that light at all. Whiplash is a film about the clash between two driven personalities, both of whom are where they are out of choice. The actual parent, Paul Reiser, doesn't really understand the obsession. If the Miles Teller character had been pushed into drumming by anyone else, the comparison might work. To me the big difference is in who has the agency.