Words by Bailey Agbai
For Will Smith, the Oscars remain an elusive prize – but with King Richard, he may finally have a chance at winning it.
Few actors and celebrities are more popular than Will Smith. In Hollywood, he’s one of the select few with the Midas Touch, he brings a charm and likeable ease to any and everything he does. Sure, he’s had some duds – no one quite knows what After Life was about, nor can the man himself explain the logic behind Wild Wild West – but the Men in Black actor has always been a bankable entertainer. He’s been a genie, a Fresh Prince, and a bad boy – yet, in his 35-year long career, Smith hasn’t won an Oscar. With King Richard, that may well change.
The film itself follows the legendary tale of Richard Williams, father and coach to Venus and Serena. It examines his unorthodox methods, his fierce determination and the battles fought – and won – to guide his daughters to greatness. It’s bound to be an inspirational tale of the driving force behind two of tennis’ biggest names. To add to the buzz surrounding the movie, an original song by Beyoncé is featured. How’s that, for star power.
In truth, Smith is a bit of a biopic genius. In The Pursuit of Happyness, his performance was stunning, earning him rave reviews and accolades. In Ali, he could hardly have been any better, telling the story of boxing’s greatest ever star in a way that captured the attention of audiences across the world. Even Prince Charles, we’re told, found the picture moving. With those, he was sure to win at the Oscars, we all thought. But as luck would have it, he didn’t.
So, is King Richard the perfect vessel for Smith to ride to Oscar victory? In short, yes, it could be. The film could see Smith claim victory in both the Best Actor and Best Picture categories thanks to his producing credits on the film. Besides his contributions to the film, King Richard could also receive a nod for Best Original Screenplay, thanks to the work of Zach Bayin, as well as a Best Supporting Actress nod for Aunjanue Ellis’ portrayal of Brandi Williams, mother to Venus and Serena.
Whilst his acting talents remain unquestioned, Smith’s recent films haven’t really worked. At least not when the Oscars are concerned. With King Richard, he has a chance at redemption, to reclaim his spot amongst Hollywood’s best (Denzel Washington, Meryl Strep, Viola Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc). Acting, you see, is a funny ol’ business. As much as some may pretend otherwise, the Oscars are important, they give recognition to the acting talents of geniuses, they cement the legacy of acting greats, and give audiences an indication of a film’s potential success.
Smith knows this. It’s why he campaigned hard (and rightly so) for more diversity at the awards – and why he will be hoping to finally claim victory with King Richard. Smith aside, the story of Williams is one that’s been long overdue on the big screen. He’s a giant of not just tennis, but sport. Today, Serena and Venus are legends of the game, with young women – including British star Emma Raducanu – following their example. Tennis owes a huge debt to Williams – and if Smith can tell that story in its authentic glory, he may well find that he’s third time lucky and prove, once again, why he’s one of, if not the most, seminal actor of our time.
Speaking of actors, here’s why you really need to see Shang-chi