THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
December 2, 2021 - December 8, 2021 • 13
Arts & Entertainment Film/TV page 13 | Theater page 14 | Food page 18 | Jazz page 19
Pg. 16 Your Stars
‘King Richard’—A father’s dream helps shape legends “King Richard” is about the vision and the conviction of one man—Richard Williams (Will Smith) and his determination to turn his gifted daughters, Venus and Serena, into the world’s greatest tennis players. He started building their road to success along with his wife Brandi (Aunjanue Ellis) even before their girls were born; he wrote down a 78-page manifesto, and according to the film credits at the end of the movie, most of these things have come true. Of course when their journey started most folks believed he was crazy, but hindsight possesses 20/20 vision and Richard always had that kind of spectacular vision. Will Smith is almost unrecognizable in the title role, and director Reinaldo Marcus (“Monsters and Men”) crafted a rather old-fashioned story that focused (gently) on how an African American kid grew up, running for his life because he’s running from the Klan in Shreveport, La.––but it’s in this hostile environment that his mindset formed. Fast-forward, Richard raised his five daughters in Compton, California and instilled in them a strong work ethic that is flavored with dedication. In many ways, both girls achieved the American dream.
“King Richard”
Watching Venus’ success, Serena prepares to step into that world and the most interesting thing about this story is the discovery of the family’s life, what they overcame, and how Richard’s master plan played out in practice. The screenplay by Zach Baylin is strong and I would not be surprised if there was an Oscar nomination to follow. The road to success was a challenge for Richard almost at every turn. One example is when Richard felt a certain way when a pair of sports agents showed up wanting to represent Venus using the word “incredible” to describe her ability. Richard believed that it was a “code” against their race (which it is). And re-
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By LAPACAZO SANDOVAl Special to the AmNews
member that the game of tennis is mostly played by white people. As Venus begins to rise, her father reminds her of the responsibility that she takes onto the court which would later (if, done correctly) inspire African, African American, and Afro Latinos girls around the world. And Richard was correct. Their daughters Venus and Serena Williams have become shining examples to millions of people, and this well-structured film exists to show us all that dreams can be achieved. This is an inspirational story and it’s an important one as well. This family made their mark and it wasn’t easy. The film gives us a look into how Richard
coaches his daughters on the broken Compton public tennis courts, and that nothing stopped their practice, it was rain or shine. One day a “concerned citizen” called the police on them for being too hard on their kids, and both Richard and Brandi let their words do the fighting. They explained that their kids must be tough, since “running the streets” is simply not an acceptable way of life. Richard isn’t afraid and he shows this courage to his family that he’s protecting them. In one unexpected scene, he makes the bold choice to take the gun, from his security job, to stop the man who’s been harassing his daughter. The story also doesn’t shy away from dealing with the family’s faith and how they deal with the countless prejudices working against them—systemic and personal. The actor, Smith, brings out Richard’s natural charisma and wraps it brilliantly into this man’s stubborn yet supportive focus. Actresses Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton are pitch-perfect in their respective roles as young Venus and Serena; both can handle the athletic and the dramatic layers. What I love best about “King Richard” is that this is a true story and one that can be replicated in any family if there is faith, direction, drive, and the will to never give up.
‘House of Gucci’—You cannot look away as the House crumbles By LAPACAZO SANDOVAL Special to the AmNews
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You simply can’t look away from director Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” which shows the backstabbing dressed in luxury and dripping in privilege found inside the European, old-world fashion dynasty. The marketing materials are very clear that this is “based on a scandal” and at its heart, this is a docudrama filled with a checklist of ambitious types who seem to think that they will live forever. “House of Gucci” is about a real family dynasty and a very sophisticated group that crave power and in building their business empire inside this delicate family structure character flaws are laid bare. The year is 1978, and Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) is living that Italian, middle-class life, working at her father’s trucking company in Milan but it is clear that she wants more out of her life. At a splashy party thrown at an aristocrat’s mansion, she meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), a nerdy type sporting oversized glasses, and once she hears his last name—Gucci—he suddenly becomes an interesting option. When we meet Maurizio he has no interest in
working in the family busi- “House of Gucci” ness and is pursuing law at the university where Patrizia arranges a “chance” meeting. Her “stalking” works and he finally introduces her to his father, Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons) who is powerful, elegant, formidable, and the co-owner and patriarch of the Gucci brand. Immediately he is upset that his son would marry someone whom he feels is socially beneath him. Enter Aldo’s son, Paolo (Jared Leto) But Maurizio stands by her, a trait that who is a frustrated designer and favors brings admiration in its way. And when lavender corduroy suits and possesses he marries Patrizia his father cuts him the Gucci ego. out of the family fortune. The couple When Patrizia meets Aldo at his 70th settle into their normal lives, have a birthday party, she views him as a door daughter, and interact with the other to get back into the Gucci family so she members of the Gucci clan, including charms him. He gives her a pair of ConAldo (Al Pacino), Rodolfo’s brother and corde tickets to New York and she loves the co-owner of the company. Note that the perks that go with being a member the brothers have an interesting relation- of the Gucci empire. For a short period. ship and both are living off the company Maurizio and Aldo seem content to be a that has made their family wealthy. Here part of a big, greedy family but where there we are talking about the foundation of is money, there is also tension like the war generational wealth which was started brewing over the infamous Gucci knockby their father in Tuscany, where they still off handbags that are sold on the streets of raise cows that produce Gucci’s leather. the world, for $29.95. Patrizia thinks they
damage the Gucci image. Then Aldo reveals that the Gucci company oversees them because they make money! As Patrizia lives in the life of wealth and privilege, her ferocity becomes razor-focused. Lady Gaga’s performance is a revelation as we never lose sight of the working-class girl who wants a life of wealth and privilege. She is a social climber and proud of it, and willing to do the hard work to keep it. She’s so desperate that she takes advice from a television psychic named Pina (Salma Hayek), who becomes her ally and eventually her partner-in-crime when she figures out how to cut Aldo out of the picture and seduce and abandon Paolo. Adam Driver delivers a near-perfect performance especially when he begins to wake up and begins to resent what Patrizia is doing to his family which is essentially tearing it apart. It’s an interesting dynamic and since steel sharpens steel it’s no surprise that she infuses a new ruthlessness into him where he begins to transform into—a Gucci. “House of Gucci” is a movie about shifting power. It’s so riveting watching this brand and family implode—you can’t look away.
