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Race Movie Review

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Review for the film " Race"

Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video

Runtime: 2 Hours 16 Minutes

Certificate: U

Released: 11-03-2016

Genre: Drama, Biographical, Sports

Similar To: The Piano Lesson, His Three Daughters, Lonely Planet, Happiness Is

Critic Review
User Review

3.5 / 5.00

3.47 / 5.0

CAST & CREW

Jason Sudeikis

Carice Van Houten

Rachel Portman

Peter Levy

Stephen Hopkins

William Hurt

Stephan James

Jeremy Irons

MORE CAST & CREW

Music Director:

Rachel Portman

Director:

Stephen Hopkins

Movie Actor:

Stephan James

William Hurt

Jeremy Irons

Jason Sudeikis

Movie Actress:

Carice Van Houten

Director of Photography:

Peter Levy

Click Here For Full Cast & Crew

Race is inspired by the life of Jesse Owens, the iconic athletic idol. Let’s see how this cinematic version turns out to be.

Plot

Jessie Owens had the never-ceasing quest to become the greatest in his field, and when he gets into the 1936 Olympics (and eventually gets four gold medals!), he is threatened by Hitler, who has a dominating vision of Aryan supremacy. Hence, the movie traverses on the line of Owen’s fight (in fact Jesse Owens is very much aware of the racial discrimination) to make his dream of becoming an Olympic legend come true. Olympic Committee Head Jeremy Irons Elegant and handsome, British performing artist, J >> Read More... and Ohio State coach Sudeikis are instrumental in making Owens run in Berlin.

In his earlier days, Jesse also gets listed in the Ohio University to run on the tracks and there only he gets solace. He gets enrolled without any scholarship. Jesse Owens was clearly not given the treatment that he deserved.

Star Performances

Stephen James has given an outstanding performance. James virtually lives the life of Jesse Owens, and he understood the nuances of his character which is a blend of both positivity and skepticism. Jason Sudeikis Jason Sudeikis was born on September 18, 1975, in >> Read More... , who essays the role of Owen's mentor in college, slips into his character with ease. William Hurt William McChord Hurt belongs to Washington D.C, th >> Read More... and Jeremy Irons don’t have much screen space but their involvement itself is something admirable.

Analysis

Race can be either construed as the race in athletes or the racial prejudice that was prevailing during Owen’s times (in fact, racial prejudice is still present in this century). But the filmmaker Stephen Hopkins Stephen Hopkins is a famous producer and director >> Read More... is very astute enough in telling what she wanted to convey in a sharp yet polite manner.

What’s there?

The movie hits the bull’s eye but in a cordial manner.
The CGI shows the Nazi framework in a commendable manner.
Race has its share of emotional moments too.
The movie showcases even the humanitarian side of Owens. His love for his longtime girlfriend Ruth (who later becomes his wife) was so much that at one stage he even decided to give up running.
There is also a tinge of spiritualism in the movie.
When Jesse Owens emerges a winner one would be happy since it was a time when lucky milestones were not occasional. For the uninitiated Owens was working on menial jobs in his childhood to earn a living. He would be the happiest person to earn an extra buck. But what is the outcome of his hard work in the otherwise discriminative society? This question was etched in his mind since his childhood. So when he wins the “race”, it becomes etched in the history of great achievements.

What’s not there?

Sometimes we feel that the filmmaker has tried to tell things in a hurried manner.
Several scenes are nostalgic that we feel we feel we have seen them in earlier biographies.
The sub-stories of Brundage and Riefenstahl are so shortened that we fail to have a connect with them.

Verdict

Don’t miss this inspiring tale of grit and determination of an achiever who emerged victorious even in the face of adversity.