RACE

RACE: This film with the double-meaning title is the story of Jesse Owens who won four Gold Medals in the 1936 Olympics held in Hitler's Germany. And what a fascination film it is with some stellar performances by Stephan James as Owens and Jason Sudeikis as his coach, Larry Snyder.   In supporting roles we have the always wonderful Jeremy Irons as an Olympic official and Carice van Houten as Leni Riefenstahl, Hitler's documentary film maker. William Hurt is on board as well. Although this is primarily a story about the games, it goes much deeper into the prejudices of the day and what is took for Owens to achieve his iconic status,   Some may want more depth of character, but I found it totally fulfilling as good old fashioned movie-making.  And even though we know the outcome will be gold, the last scene on the way to a dinner in his honor will haunt you and give you pause.   It is well worth seeing.