Race (2016 film)

{{about|the biographical film|the documentary about Jesse Owens|Jesse Owens (American Experience)|the 2008 Bollywood film|Race (2008 film)}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Race

| image = Race 2016 film poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Stephen Hopkins

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Karsten Brünig
Luc Dayan
Kate Garwood
Stephen Hopkins
Jean-Charles Levy
Nicolas Manuel
Louis-Philippe Rochon
Dominique Séguin

}}

| writer = {{Plainlist|

Joe Shrapnel
Anna Waterhouse

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Rachel Portman

| cinematography = Peter Levy

| editing = John Smith

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Forecast Pictures{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/race-film-review-861062|title='Race': Film Review|first=Sheri|last=Linden|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=27 August 2018|date=18 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/race-stephan-james-jesse-owens-1201617074/|title=Watch: Stephan James Channels Olympian Jesse Owens in 'Race' Trailer|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=13 October 2015|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=27 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/william-hurt-jesse-owens-biopic-race-1201318601/|title=William Hurt Joins Jesse Owens Biopic 'Race'|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=1 October 2014|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=27 August 2018}}
Solofilms
Trinica
Trinity Race{{cite web |quote=A Focus Features release and presentation in association with the Jesse Owens Foundation and the Luminary Group of a Solofilms/Trinica/Trinity Race production. |work=Variety |publisher=Penske Business Media |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/race-review-jesse-owens-1201709478/ |first=Andrew |last=Barker |title=Film Review: 'Race' |access-date=18 February 2017 |date=18 February 2016}}
Totally Commercial Films
Mister Smith Entertainment

}}

| distributor = {{Plainlist|

Entertainment One Films (Canada)
LFR Films (France)
SquareOne Entertainment (Germany)

}}

| released = {{Film date|2016|2|11|Toronto|2016|02|19|Canada|2016|7|27|France|2016|07|28|Germany}}{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3499096|title=Race |publisher=IMDb |access-date=24 July 2023}}

| runtime = 135 minutes{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/race-film-3 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20161014142715/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/race-film-3 | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 14, 2016 | title=RACE (PG) | publisher=British Board of Film Classification | date=20 April 2016 | access-date=20 April 2016}}

| country = {{Plainlist|

Canada
France
Germany{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/570c258705bb0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116102304/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/570c258705bb0|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2016|title=Race (2016)|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=15 November 2016}}

}}

| language = English
German

| budget = $5 million{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Race-(2015)#tab=summary|title=Race (2016)|work=The Numbers |publisher=Nash Information Services |access-date=15 November 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://powergrid.thewrap.com/project/race-2016 |title=Race |work=The Wrap|access-date=16 July 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006012401/http://powergrid.thewrap.com/project/race-2016 |archive-date=6 October 2017}}

| gross = $25.1 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=race2016.htm|title=Race |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=4 July 2017}}

}}

Race is a 2016 biographical sports drama film about African-American athlete Jesse Owens, who won a record-breaking four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=Focus Features First To Start Line On Crowded Field Of Jesse Owens Biopics|url=https://deadline.com/2014/07/focus-features-first-to-start-line-on-crowded-field-of-jesse-owens-biopics-805072/|access-date=28 July 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=16 July 2014}} Directed by Stephen Hopkins and written by Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse, the film stars Stephan James as Owens, and co-stars Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, William Hurt and Carice van Houten. It is a co-production of Canada, Germany and France.

Principal photography began on 24 July 2014, in Montreal, Canada. Forecast Pictures, Solofilms and Trinity Race produced the film, supported by the Owens family, the Jesse Owens Foundation, the Jesse Owens Trust and the Luminary Group. The film was a commercial success and received mixed to positive reviews, winning four Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Actor for James.

Plot

In 1933, Jesse Owens attends Ohio State University; the first in his family to attend college. He faces racial discrimination from some white athletes. Coach Larry Snyder, a former Olympic-level athlete, believes Owens has enormous potential but needs work on his form and technique. When Snyder suggests he is good enough to compete at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Owens is interested, but hesitant because of racial propaganda in Nazi Germany. The U.S. Olympic Committee is already considering boycotting the Olympics over Germany's discriminatory policies, agreeing to participate only when Nazi official Joseph Goebbels gives assurances that athletes of any race will be allowed compete, as well as promising to rein in their propaganda.

As Owens struggles to support his girlfriend Ruth and young daughter, he takes a job at a service station, upsetting Snyder when his job conflicts with his commitment to training. When Snyder learns Owens has a family to support, he gets him a no-show job, allowing him to focus on running. Owens goes on to break several records, including some of Snyder's and begins a relationship with a flashy woman whose attention he attracts with his newfound fame. When Ruth threatens him with a lawsuit, Owens becomes distracted and loses a race to runner Eulace Peacock. Owens decides to return to Ruth to reconcile, convincing her to marry him. As the Olympics draw closer, the NAACP asks him not to go to Berlin for political reasons. Owens is conflicted, but Peacock, now injured, urges him to compete to defy Nazi racial ideology.

In Berlin, Owens sets a new record and wins his first gold medal in the 100-meter dash. When he is brought by International Olympic Committee member Avery Brundage to receive congratulations from Adolf Hitler, he is told that Hitler has left the stadium early to avoid traffic. Brundage tells Goebbels that Hitler must congratulate all winners, which Goebbels rebuffs.

Owens qualifies for the long jump after the German record holder Luz Long unexpectedly gives him guidance. Owens sets yet another record and wins the gold medal; Luz publicly shakes his hand and joins him for a victory lap, later privately expressing concern about the current state of Germany. Owens wins his fourth and final gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay, filling in for two Jewish American athletes cut by Brundage who is convinced by Goebbels to do so to avoid a scandal over a business arrangement Brundage entered with the Nazis before the games. Film director Leni Riefenstahl records Owens' victories despite Goebbels' orders; she asks Owens to repeat his medal-winning long jump to get a few more shots for her next film, Olympia.

Back in America, Owens and Snyder attend a banquet in honor of Owens, but the doorman regretfully tells Owens he must enter through the service entrance. Owens does so despite Snyder's protests, recognized by various awed observers. The elevator operator, a young white male, asks for Owens' autograph before taking him and Ruth up to the banquet.

Cast

{{castlist|

}}

Production

=Development=

John Boyega was initially set to star as Owens; however, he eventually dropped out to star in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Jesse Owens Biopic Finds Its Leading Man|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/jesse-owens-john-boyega-biopic-1201069326/|access-date=28 July 2014|publisher=Penske Business Media |work=Variety|date=24 January 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Zimmerman|first1=Amy|title=John Boyega, the Hero of 'Star Wars: Episode VII,' Has the Force|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/30/john-boyega-the-hero-of-star-wars-episode-vii-has-the-force.html|access-date=28 July 2014|work=The Daily Beast|publisher=The Daily Beast Company|date=30 April 2014}} and was subsequently replaced by Stephan James.{{cite news|last1=Sneider|first1=Jeff|title='Star Wars' Hero John Boyega to Be Replaced by 'Selma' Actor in Jesse Owens Biopic|url=https://www.thewrap.com/star-wars-hero-john-boyega-to-be-replaced-by-degrassi-actor-in-jesse-owens-biopic-exclusive/|access-date=28 July 2014|work=TheWrap|date=28 May 2014}} German and Canadian distribution was handled by Squareone Entertainment and Entertainment One{{cite news|last1=Barraclough|first1=Leo|title=Jesse Owens Biopic Gets Boost From Family|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/jesse-owens-race-biopic-1201091872/|access-date=28 July 2014|publisher=Penske Business Media |work=Variety|date=7 February 2014}} with Focus Features handling the distribution in the United States.{{cite news|last1=Sneider|first1=Jeff|title=Focus Features in Negotiations to Board Jesse Owens Biopic 'Race'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/focus-features-negotiations-board-jesse-owens-biopic-race/|access-date=28 July 2014|work=TheWrap|date=7 May 2014}}

=Filming=

File:Olympiastadion Berlin Sep-2015.jpg in Berlin.]]

Principal photography started on 24 July 2014, in Montreal, and on location at Olympic Stadium in Berlin.{{cite news|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons Join Jesse Owens Drama 'Race'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jason-sudeikis-jeremy-irons-join-719042|access-date=28 July 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=16 July 2014}}

Release

On October 1, 2014, Focus Features originally set a release date of April 8, 2016.{{cite news|title=Jesse Owens Biopic 'Race' Release Date Set For April 2016; William Hurt Joins Cast|url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/jesse-owens-movie-race-release-date-william-hurt-cast-844245/|access-date=2 October 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=1 October 2014|author=The Deadline Team}} However, in August 2015, the release date was pushed up to February 19, 2016.{{cite news|last1=Sneider|first1=Jeff|title=Focus Features Moves Up Jesse Owens Drama 'Race' to February 2016|url=https://www.thewrap.com/focus-features-moves-up-jesse-owens-drama-race-to-february-2016/|access-date=25 November 2015|work=TheWrap|date=27 August 2015}}

On February 15, an advanced screening was shown at Mershon Auditorium at Ohio State University, Owens' alma mater. Jesse Owens' two daughters and Stephan James were in attendance and addressed the crowd. The President of Ohio State, Michael V. Drake, also addressed the crowd and spoke briefly about Owens' global impact and life at Ohio State.{{cite web |url=https://news.osu.edu/news/2016/02/09/media-advisory-ohio-state-to-celebrate-jesse-owens-legacy-with-red-carpet-screening/ |work=University Communications |title=Media Advisory: The Ohio State University to celebrate Jesse Owens' legacy with a red-carpet preview screening of new movie "Race" |publisher=Ohio State University |date=9 February 2016 |access-date=9 October 2016 |archive-date=December 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215234345/https://news.osu.edu/news/2016/02/09/media-advisory-ohio-state-to-celebrate-jesse-owens-legacy-with-red-carpet-screening/ |url-status=dead }} It was released by Entertainment One in Canada, Focus Features in the United States on 19 February 2016, Eagle Pictures in Italy on 31 March 2016, and SquareOne Entertainment in Germany on 5 May 2016.

Reception

=Box office=

Race grossed $19.2 million in North America and $5.9 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $25.1 million.

In the United States and Canada, pre-release tracking suggested the film would gross $4–7 million from 2,369 theaters in its opening weekend, trailing fellow newcomer Risen ($7–12 million projection) but similar to The Witch ($5–7 million projection).{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/deadpool-race-risen-witch-box-office-preview-1201704419/ |date=17 February 2016 |title='Deadpool' Still Cool In Weekend 2 With Superhero Set To Pass $200M – Box Office Preview |website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=27 August 2018|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro}} It ended up grossing $7.4 million in its opening weekend, finishing in sixth at the box office.

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, as of November 2021, the film has an approval rating of 63% based on 162 reviews and an average rating of 6.10/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Race is nowhere near as thrillingly fleet or agile as its subject, but the story—and a winning central performance from Stephan James—are enough to carry it over the finish line."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/race_2016/ |title=Race (2016) |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango |access-date=November 14, 2021}} As of August 2020, Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 56 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/race |title=Race Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=15 August 2020}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite tweet|user=CinemaScore|number=700962907824193536|access-date=27 August 2018|title=#TheGrades for tonights' films are in! Do you think audiences got them right?! #CinemaScore #Race #Risen #TheWitch|date=20 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/deadpool-risen-the-witch-race-weekend-box-office-1201705730/ |title='Deadpool' Strong With Second Weekend Of $55M; 'Risen' Takes $11.8M, 'Witch' At $8.7M |website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=27 August 2018|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=21 February 2016}}

=Accolades=

Race received eight nominations, including Best Motion Picture, at the 5th Canadian Screen Awards.{{cite news |newspaper=The Star |publisher=Toronto Star Newspapers |first=Peter |last=Howell |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2017/01/17/orphan-black-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-lead-canadian-screen-awards-nominations.html |title=Orphan Black and It's Only the End of the World lead Canadian Screen Awards nominations |date=17 January 2017 |access-date=18 February 2017}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col"\| Award ! scope="col"\| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"\| Category ! scope="col"\| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"\| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| {{Abbr\|Ref(s)\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row" rowspan=8\| Canadian Screen Awards \|rowspan=8\|12 March 2017 \| Best Motion Picture \| Louis-Philippe Rochon, Dominique Séguin, Jean-Charles Lévy, Luc Dayan \| {{nom}} \|rowspan=8\|{{Cite web\|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3186086/2017-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-revealed/ \|title=2017 Canadian Screen Awards nominees revealed \|last=Furdyk \|first=Brent \|work=Global News \|publisher=Corus Entertainment \|date=17 January 2017 \|access-date=2 March 2017}}{{Cite web\|url=https://www.lesoleil.com/arts/cinema/juste-la-fin-du-monde-remporte-six-prix-aux-ecrans-canadiens-c2652d9bf30ef28af8037d67cd39796f \|title=Juste la fin du monde remporte six prix aux Écrans canadiens \|author=The Canadian Press \|author-link=The Canadian Press \|date=12 March 2017 \|access-date=12 March 2017 \|work=Le Soleil}}
Best Actor \| Stephan James \| {{won}}
Best Art Direction / Production Design \| David Brisbin, Isabelle Guay, Jean-Pierre Paquet \| {{nom}}
Best Overall Sound \| Claude La Haye, Luc Boudrias, Pierre-Jules Audet \| {{won}}
Best Sound Editing \| Pierre-Jules Audet, Jérôme Décarie, Michelle Cloutier, Stan Sakell, Jean-François Sauvé, Mathieu Beaudin, François Senneville, Luc Raymond, Jean-Philippe Saint-Laurent \| {{won}}
Best Costume Design \| Mario Davignon \| {{nom}}
Best Make-Up \| Natalie Trépanier, Réjean Goderre \| {{nom}}
Best Visual Effects \| Martin Lipmann, Cynthia Mourou, Benoît Touchette, Jonathan Piché-Delorme, Frédéric Breault \| {{won}}
scope="row"\| Golden Trailer Awards \|rowspan=1\| 4 May 2016 \| Best Independent TV Spot \| Focus Features \| {{nom}} \|rowspan=1\|{{Cite web\|url=https://collider.com/golden-trailer-awards-nominations-deadpool-batman-v-superman/ \|access-date=21 April 2020 \|date=8 April 2016 \|last=Romano \|first=Nick \|title='Deadpool,' 'Batman v Superman,' 'Mad Max' Lead Golden Trailer Award Nominations \|website=Collider}}
scope="row"\| Image Awards \|rowspan=1\|11 February 2017 \| Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture \| Stephan James \| {{nom}} \|rowspan=1\|{{Cite magazine\|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/12/13/naacp-image-awards-nominees-2017/ \|title=NAACP Image Awards nominations announced \|last=Kinane \|first=Ruth \|date=13 December 2016 \|access-date=12 March 2017 \|magazine=Entertainment Weekly \|publisher=Time}}
scope="row"\| Leo Awards \|rowspan=1\| 2017 \| Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Motion Picture \| Eli Goree \| {{won}} \|rowspan=1\|{{Cite web\|url=http://www.leoawards.com/nominees_and_winners/pdf/2017.pdf \|access-date=21 April 2020 \|title=2017 Leo Award Nominees & Winners \|publisher=Leo Awards}}
scope="row" rowspan=5\| Prix Iris \|rowspan=5\|4 June 2017 \| Best Art Direction \| David Brisbin, Isabelle Guay, Jean-Pierre Paquet \| {{nom}} \|rowspan=5\|{{Cite news\|url=http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/ceremonies/gala-quebec-cinema/201704/05/01-5085631-gala-quebec-cinema-juste-la-fin-du-monde-et-two-lovers-and-a-bear-en-tete.php \|title=Gala Québec cinéma: Juste la fin du monde et Two Lovers and a Bear en tête \|last=Boutros \|first=Magdaline \|date=5 April 2017 \|access-date=1 May 2017 \|work=La Presse}}
Best Sound \| Pierre-Jules Audet, Luc Boudrias, Claude La Haye \| {{nom}}
Best Visual Effects \| Martin Lipmann, Cynthia Mourou, Benoît Touchette \| {{nom}}
Best Costumes \| Mario Davignon \| {{nom}}
Best Hairdressing \| Réjean Goderre \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Date of ceremony

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Recipient(s)

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" rowspan=8| Canadian Screen Awards

|rowspan=8|12 March 2017

| Best Motion Picture

| Louis-Philippe Rochon, Dominique Séguin, Jean-Charles Lévy, Luc Dayan

| {{nom}}

|rowspan=8|{{Cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3186086/2017-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-revealed/ |title=2017 Canadian Screen Awards nominees revealed |last=Furdyk |first=Brent |work=Global News |publisher=Corus Entertainment |date=17 January 2017 |access-date=2 March 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lesoleil.com/arts/cinema/juste-la-fin-du-monde-remporte-six-prix-aux-ecrans-canadiens-c2652d9bf30ef28af8037d67cd39796f |title=Juste la fin du monde remporte six prix aux Écrans canadiens |author=The Canadian Press |author-link=The Canadian Press |date=12 March 2017 |access-date=12 March 2017 |work=Le Soleil}}

Best Actor

| Stephan James

| {{won}}

Best Art Direction / Production Design

| David Brisbin, Isabelle Guay, Jean-Pierre Paquet

| {{nom}}

Best Overall Sound

| Claude La Haye, Luc Boudrias, Pierre-Jules Audet

| {{won}}

Best Sound Editing

| Pierre-Jules Audet, Jérôme Décarie, Michelle Cloutier, Stan Sakell, Jean-François Sauvé, Mathieu Beaudin, François Senneville, Luc Raymond, Jean-Philippe Saint-Laurent

| {{won}}

Best Costume Design

| Mario Davignon

| {{nom}}

Best Make-Up

| Natalie Trépanier, Réjean Goderre

| {{nom}}

Best Visual Effects

| Martin Lipmann, Cynthia Mourou, Benoît Touchette, Jonathan Piché-Delorme, Frédéric Breault

| {{won}}

scope="row"| Golden Trailer Awards

|rowspan=1| 4 May 2016

| Best Independent TV Spot

| Focus Features

| {{nom}}

|rowspan=1|{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/golden-trailer-awards-nominations-deadpool-batman-v-superman/ |access-date=21 April 2020 |date=8 April 2016 |last=Romano |first=Nick |title='Deadpool,' 'Batman v Superman,' 'Mad Max' Lead Golden Trailer Award Nominations |website=Collider}}

scope="row"| Image Awards

|rowspan=1|11 February 2017

| Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

| Stephan James

| {{nom}}

|rowspan=1|{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/12/13/naacp-image-awards-nominees-2017/ |title=NAACP Image Awards nominations announced |last=Kinane |first=Ruth |date=13 December 2016 |access-date=12 March 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Time}}

scope="row"| Leo Awards

|rowspan=1| 2017

| Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Motion Picture

| Eli Goree

| {{won}}

|rowspan=1|{{Cite web|url=http://www.leoawards.com/nominees_and_winners/pdf/2017.pdf |access-date=21 April 2020 |title=2017 Leo Award Nominees & Winners |publisher=Leo Awards}}

scope="row" rowspan=5| Prix Iris

|rowspan=5|4 June 2017

| Best Art Direction

| David Brisbin, Isabelle Guay, Jean-Pierre Paquet

| {{nom}}

|rowspan=5|{{Cite news|url=http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/ceremonies/gala-quebec-cinema/201704/05/01-5085631-gala-quebec-cinema-juste-la-fin-du-monde-et-two-lovers-and-a-bear-en-tete.php |title=Gala Québec cinéma: Juste la fin du monde et Two Lovers and a Bear en tête |last=Boutros |first=Magdaline |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=1 May 2017 |work=La Presse}}

Best Sound

| Pierre-Jules Audet, Luc Boudrias, Claude La Haye

| {{nom}}

Best Visual Effects

| Martin Lipmann, Cynthia Mourou, Benoît Touchette

| {{nom}}

Best Costumes

| Mario Davignon

| {{nom}}

Best Hairdressing

| Réjean Goderre

| {{nom}}