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Race

  • 20162016
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Stephan James in Race (2016)
Based on the story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.
Play trailer2:32
22 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Sport

Jesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan ... Read allJesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.Jesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Stephen Hopkins
  • Writers
    • Joe Shrapnel
    • Anna Waterhouse
  • Stars
    • Stephan James
    • Jason Sudeikis
    • Eli Goree
Top credits
  • Director
    • Stephen Hopkins
  • Writers
    • Joe Shrapnel
    • Anna Waterhouse
  • Stars
    • Stephan James
    • Jason Sudeikis
    • Eli Goree
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 103User reviews
    • 165Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos22

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:32
    Trailer #1
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 0:16
    Teaser Trailer
    What To Do
    Clip 1:00
    What To Do
    I See It Coach
    Clip 1:03
    I See It Coach
    You Dont Have To
    Clip 0:56
    You Dont Have To
    Politics Has No Place In Sport
    Clip 0:53
    Politics Has No Place In Sport
    Want Me To Do It Again
    Clip 1:08
    Want Me To Do It Again
    Do You Want To Win Extended
    Clip 1:03
    Do You Want To Win Extended
    Do You Want To Win
    Clip 0:33
    Do You Want To Win
    We Must Not Go To These Games
    Clip 1:13
    We Must Not Go To These Games
    Clip
    Clip 0:54
    Clip
    Race
    Featurette 1:48
    Race

    Photos170

    Stephen Hopkins, Jason Sudeikis, and Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, and Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Shanice Banton in Race (2016)
    Shanice Banton and Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Jason Sudeikis and Eli Goree in Race (2016)
    Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Jason Sudeikis in Race (2016)
    Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Jeremy Irons and Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Shanice Banton and Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Stephan James in Race (2016)
    Race (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Stephan James
    Stephan James
    • Jesse Owensas Jesse Owens
    Jason Sudeikis
    Jason Sudeikis
    • Larry Snyderas Larry Snyder
    Eli Goree
    Eli Goree
    • Dave Albrittonas Dave Albritton
    Shanice Banton
    Shanice Banton
    • Ruth Solomonas Ruth Solomon
    Carice van Houten
    Carice van Houten
    • Leni Riefenstahlas Leni Riefenstahl
    Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons
    • Avery Brundageas Avery Brundage
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Jeremiah Mahoneyas Jeremiah Mahoney
    David Kross
    David Kross
    • Carl 'Luz' Longas Carl 'Luz' Long
    Jonathan Higgins
    Jonathan Higgins
    • Dean Cromwellas Dean Cromwell
    Tony Curran
    Tony Curran
    • Lawson Robertsonas Lawson Robertson
    Amanda Crew
    Amanda Crew
    • Peggyas Peggy
    Barnaby Metschurat
    Barnaby Metschurat
    • Joseph Goebbelsas Joseph Goebbels
    Chantel Riley
    Chantel Riley
    • Quincellaas Quincella
    Vlasta Vrana
    Vlasta Vrana
    • St-Johnas St-John
    Shamier Anderson
    Shamier Anderson
    • Eulace Peacockas Eulace Peacock
    Jesse Bostick
    Jesse Bostick
    • Ken Seitzas Ken Seitz
    Moe Jeudy-Lamour
    Moe Jeudy-Lamour
    • Mel Walkeras Mel Walker
    Gaetan Normandin
    • Frank Wykoffas Frank Wykoff
    • Director
      • Stephen Hopkins
    • Writers
      • Joe Shrapnel
      • Anna Waterhouse
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the 1930s, Jesse Owens is a young man who is the first in his family to go to college. Going to Ohio State to train under its track and field coach, Larry Snyder, the young African American athlete quickly impresses with his tremendous potential that suggests Olympic material. However, as Owens struggles both with the obligations of his life and the virulent racism against him, the question of whether America would compete at all at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany is being debated vigorously. When the American envoy finds a compromise persuasive with the Third Reich to avert a boycott, Owens has his own moral struggle about going. Upon resolving that issue, Owens and his coach travel to Berlin to participate in a competition that would mark Owens as the greatest of America's Olympians even as the German film director, Leni Riefenstahl, locks horns with her country's Propaganda Minister, Josef Goebbels, to film the politically embarrassing fact for posterity. —Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
    • track and field
    • 1930s
    • olympics
    • 1936 olympics
    • athlete
    • 72 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The incredible true story of gold medal legend, Jesse Owens.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Sport
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Snyder buys Owens new shoes from shoemaker Adi Dassler, who would later found Adidas.
    • Goofs
      A sportscaster says Snyder used to be "a hell of an athlete." In 1933, anyone who used the word "hell" on the radio, outside of a religious context, would've been fired immediately.
    • Quotes

      Jesse Owens: In those ten second, there's no black or white, only fast or slow.

    • Connections
      Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Jason Sudeikis/Kelly Rohrbach/Matthew Heineman (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey
      Written by Hughie Cannon

      Arranged by Wycliffe Gordon

      Published by Chesky Productions, ASCAP

      Courtesy of Manhattan Production Music and Chesky Records

    User reviews103

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Doesn't race enough to the finish
    Do have an appreciation for biopics and have done for a long time. Regardless of how true to the facts they are (often not for the sake of drama, which is nearly always the most common criticism of them) many are well made, well acted and interesting on their own terms with good intentions. Some of my personal favourites actually are biopics. Jesse Owens was a fascinating person with a fascinating story.

    Both Owens and his story, meaning his personal life, how he came to be what he became, the obstacles he had to overcome and what it was like at the time, were/are much more interesting than shown in 'Race' and both deserved better. Am not saying that 'Race' is a bad film, actually thought that it was well intended and did have its fair share of good qualities. It just could have done far more with its subject, being too conventional and it should have been more focused.

    'Race' looks great, the period detail is beautifully and evocatively recreated and the big races (which do thrill) and the first entrance into the Olympic stadium were strikingly and cleverly shot without being too showy so it doesn't become overblown. The CGI wasn't cheap and didn't jar, didn't even think it was that obvious but maybe that's just me. Rachel Portman's music score is unmistakably beautifully orchestrated, have always found Portman's compositional style distinctive and lovely to listen to, and a mix of subdued and with the right amount of intensity.

    The film is at its best in the relationship between Owens and Luz, Luz's admiration for Owens is never less than convincing, and in the entertaining interaction between Owens and Snyder. Actually also did like everything with Avery Brundage, the film does downplay what he was really like but his scenes did intrigue me and still found Brundage interesting. It also helps that the cast is a strong one. Stephan James does a great job as Owens, very commanding throughout and with much fire and emotion, and Jason Sudeikis surprisingly excels in a departure role for him. David Kross is admirable too and Carice Van Houten has fun as Liefenstahl, the best supporting turn though comes from Jeremy Irons, even when Brundage is written in a downplayed way Irons is still quite sinister at the same time.

    Did admire 'Race's' good intentions and also that it had a goal of making Owens and his story better known to younger generations.

    While saying that the cast was solid, there was an exception to me and that was Barnaby Metschurat, his Goebbels being too much of a caricature to bring any kind of chills. 'Race' does try to cover far too much with too many subplots, even in its pretty long running time too much of the film felt under-explored and somewhat bloated. The same problems apply with the script. Pacing is an issue too, with the film taking too long to get going and then becoming too rushed towards the end.

    For all Van Houten's efforts, personally didn't see any point to the Liefenstahl scenes when there is no real reason given for why they or she were there. They just felt like padding and should have featured less. Had more of a problem though with the Owens and Ruth storyline though, that was very underwritten and badly slowed the film down. It is the portrayal of the racism where 'Race' especially plays it too safe, it was much worse at the time than what is shown and instead of the "trying hard not to offend" approach there really should have been much more intensity and sinister edge to it. Got very little out of the Waldorf scene and that is not a good sign.

    Owens himself also felt underdeveloped, there was not near enough of what he was like as a person with there being more prominence on his importance and why. As well of course too much of the other subplots which distracted too much.

    All in all, not a bad film but could have been more. 5/10
    helpful•3
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Aug 2, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 19, 2016 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • Germany
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Cuộc Đua
    • Filming locations
      • Olympiastadion, Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Forecast Pictures
      • ID+
      • Jesse Race Productions Quebec
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,206,207
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,353,922
      • Feb 21, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $25,070,261
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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