Review of Race (2016) by Gordon H — 21 Aug 2016

Jesse Owens Upstages Hitler to Become One of the Greatest Olympians of All Time!

Originally Written August 18, 2016--.

Young Jesse Owens (Stephan James) becomes a track and field sensation while attending the Ohio State University in the early 1930s. With guidance from coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Owens gains national recognition for breaking numerous records. After heated debates, the United States decides not to boycott the Olympics in Nazi Germany. Overcoming racism at home and abroad, Owens seizes the opportunity to show Berlin and the world that he's the fastest man alive.

Anchored by strong performances from James and Sudeikis, this is a very powerful film despite having a lot of historical drama and characters. In 1936, Adolf Hitler wanted to show the world that Aryan supremacy and Nazi Germany could stage a successful Olympics. Ironically enough, it would be the last Olympics for twelve years due to his invasion of Europe and World War II. What's interesting here isn't just how Jesse Owens upstaged Hitler and won four gold medals, but how Hitler's hand-picked Olympic historicist and German film director Leni Riefenstahl (Carice van Houten) locks horns with her country's Propaganda Minister, Josef Goebbels (Barnaby Metscharat), to film the politically embarrassing proceedings for posterity. Five stars.