This successful film biography traces the life and career of Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The film is well acted, and the closing sequence recreating the Berlin Olympics was especially dynamic.
Stephan James is a clearly a gifted athlete and a fine young actor, as apparent in his interpretation of the role of Jesse Owens. Much of the film was presented through the lens of Owens' relationship with his Ohio State track coach Larry Snyder, convincingly played by actor Jason Sudeikis. The cast included Jeremy Irons, who was excellent in the role of the controversial Olympic administrator Avery Brundage.
Another strength of the film were the behind-the-scenes maneuverings of the Nazis in Berlin. The most interesting character interpretation was that of the filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, which was played very well by Dutch actress Carice van Houten. The unique spin taken by the screenwriters was to make Riefenstahl a very sympathetic and even impartial filmmaker, who defied Goebbels' edict to ban the filming of the final relay race, which was Owens' fourth gold medal. Some of the best scenes of the film were those of Riefenstahl at work in filming her famous documentary "Olympiad." This revisionist view of Riefenstahl may serve in thawing the longstanding prejudice about her as a pawn of the Third Reich and a director associated exclusively with Nazi propaganda.
Overall, "Race" was a well-made and well-performed historical drama and biography of one of the great athletes and heroes of the twentieth century.
Stephan James is a clearly a gifted athlete and a fine young actor, as apparent in his interpretation of the role of Jesse Owens. Much of the film was presented through the lens of Owens' relationship with his Ohio State track coach Larry Snyder, convincingly played by actor Jason Sudeikis. The cast included Jeremy Irons, who was excellent in the role of the controversial Olympic administrator Avery Brundage.
Another strength of the film were the behind-the-scenes maneuverings of the Nazis in Berlin. The most interesting character interpretation was that of the filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, which was played very well by Dutch actress Carice van Houten. The unique spin taken by the screenwriters was to make Riefenstahl a very sympathetic and even impartial filmmaker, who defied Goebbels' edict to ban the filming of the final relay race, which was Owens' fourth gold medal. Some of the best scenes of the film were those of Riefenstahl at work in filming her famous documentary "Olympiad." This revisionist view of Riefenstahl may serve in thawing the longstanding prejudice about her as a pawn of the Third Reich and a director associated exclusively with Nazi propaganda.
Overall, "Race" was a well-made and well-performed historical drama and biography of one of the great athletes and heroes of the twentieth century.