Editor’s Notes: Race is currently open in wide theatrical release.
The largest struggle biopics experience is, more than anything else, choosing where to begin. And in turn, the largest mistake they make is often the choice to follow their subjects from childhood onward. Generally, we as an audience don’t need an origin story from these films, especially when it has no relevance to the achievements that make their subjects special. Last year, Pawn Sacrifice decided to include one, but Experimenter, Steve Jobs, and Love & Mercy didn’t. So, it’s safe to say that this trend is being uniformly bucked.
The film is practically built to tell Jesse’s entire life story, as chronicling his youthful encounters with segregation would lay the groundwork for future struggles experienced in Berlin.
Enter Race, the new biopic about Olympian Jesse Owens and his efforts to win gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where he comes face-to-face with the oppression he’s seen his whole life. The film is practically built to tell Jesse’s entire life story, as chronicling his youthful encounters with segregation would lay the groundwork for future struggles experienced in Berlin. Yet, it doesn’t do that, going along with the majority and focusing exclusively on his metamorphosis into an Olympic sensation. One can’t help but think, however, that Race might have benefitted from doing the opposite. Following such an icon through their childhood is only a mistake when it has nothing to do with later, more prominent life events, but here it’s a perfect parallel. If nothing else, it would make the 2+ hour runtime feel a bit tighter. Sadly, none of that is given a second thought, despite this being one of the only biopics in recent memory to fit that cinematic treatment like a glove.
Cinematographer Peter Levy, Hopkins’ longtime collaborator, is a big reason why that’s the case, giving some life to scenes which may have initially been stale.
Okay, so it makes the rash misstep of kicking Jesse’s life story to the curb, but that’s okay if more worthwhile, intriguing things are offered. And, Race does offer that, but not at all times. There’s a very interesting dynamic at play here, as Jesse’s desire to win is being fueled by the responsibility he bears, that of winning before the eye of the Nazis. Stephan James embodies the fear and determination Jesse feels to great effect, showing considerable talent in his first major leading role. Jason Sudeikis, playing Jesse’s coach, brings some of his natural likability to a role that requires him to be both stern and passionate, confirming that more comedians should be doing more dramatic roles. His and Stephan’s performances share endearing qualities that make us empathize with them even when an action of theirs might be questionable. They’re both great, really, and the way Berlin’s oppression is compared with America’s, then contrasted with the ideologies of the Olympics themselves, really grabs interest when it’s on display.
When it’s not on display, however, what’s left feels empty, like all genre conventions have only been bucked for the sake of more familiarity. The one thing a biopic shouldn’t be is formulaic, because if it doesn’t stir you, its significance won’t extend past that of a history lesson. Artistic merit doesn’t disappear, it simply becomes bogged down by the nasty deterrent that is disinterest. As a whole, Race avoids this, but individually scattered scenes don’t, and they’re scattered enough that their plodding dullness is a noticeable problem. Still, director Stephen Hopkins impresses quite a bit, as his past, most prolific efforts have been such hits as Predator 2, Lost in Space, and The Reaping. Though it may not be perfect, Race is far more rewarding than any of those. Cinematographer Peter Levy, Hopkins’ longtime collaborator, is a big reason why that’s the case, giving some life to scenes which may have initially been stale.
Certainly flawed, but certainly not a waste of time either, Race is a well-intentioned film that may be at times tiresome, but becomes more enjoyable upon reflection.
Certainly flawed, but certainly not a waste of time either, Race is a well-intentioned film that may be at times tiresome, but becomes more enjoyable upon reflection.
