King Richard (2021)

When you step onto the tennis courts of fiction, the grit of a father's resolve pervades the air. The film lays bare the austere world of a coaching mastermind without relying on flashy match footage, instead choosing quiet, intimate rehearsal scenes. Joaquin Phoenix carries every scene with almost no dialogue, his presence breathing life into the silent hallways and making the journey feel almost visceral. At times the middle act drags, but the eventual payoff rewards the patient viewer. You’re in this if you crave a measured portrait of devotion and ambition.