Synopsis
Based on the story of Jesse Owens, the athlete 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.
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Cast
- Stephan JamesJesse Owens
- Jason SudeikisLarry Snyder
- Carice van HoutenLeni Riefenstahl
- Jeremy IronsAvery Brundage
- Amanda CrewPeggy
- William HurtJeremiah Mahoney
- David KrossCarl "Luz" Long
- Eli GoreeDave Albritton
- Giacomo GianniottiSam Stoller
- Jonathan ArisArthur Lill
Recommendations
- 75
The Seattle Times
What the picture lacks is a certain spark. It’s a workmanlike effort that diligently covers a lot of bases...but never achieves a transcendence that befits a figure like Owens. - 75
Entertainment Weekly
Credit Race for showcasing its hero’s human flaws, but the movie unfortunately lets him get away with them a little too easily (his grand makeup gesture to Ruth comes off more creepy than romantic). - 70
TheWrap
The Jesse Owens to cheer on here is, sure, the fastest man in the world, but also the canny would-be celebrity who knew exactly how to bet on himself in a world that had little use for his dignity and intellect. If that’s not an inspirational story, I don’t know what is. - 67
Austin Chronicle
As Owens, relative newcomer Stephan James delivers a stirring performance, and as his coach, comedian Jason Sudeikis turns in a solid and smirk-free performance. - 63
Washington Post
The film is handsomely mounted and provides a window into the tough choices Owens faced, yet its dramatic licenses oversell its message. - 60
The Hollywood Reporter
Owens’ triumph is long overdue for big-screen treatment, and director Stephen Hopkins delivers stirring moments amid the tension-free stretches, particularly once the action moves to Berlin. - 60
Variety
Stephen Hopkins’ film offers a safe, middlebrow slice of history that beats a snoozy lecture any day. Making a few admirable attempts to complicate what could have been a standard-issue inspirational sports narrative, Race is better than it has to be, but not by too much. - 58
The A.V. Club
The rest of Race has other moments of engagement in a slickly produced and watchable package. But ultimately, it offers history told as a series of passing anecdotes.
