Race is a biopic about Olympic track and field athlete Jesse Owens (Stephan James), an African American who competes for gold in Berlin in 1936. About a name mostly unfamiliar, it sheds light on the feats of a great man who is barely recognized. Stephan James plays him with a kind sincerity coming from understanding of the character’s struggles at the times; he represents both his nation and his community, and he chooses to succeed despite the stress.

However, there are so many things to cover – black Americans are not usually the focal point of the conflicts in Nazi Germany. The movie stays sympathetic to Jews while also highlighting the greatness of another oppressed man, but it really only scratches the surface. There’s a ton to elaborate on when making a movie with so many meanings, and that is where this movie fails. I do think it is an exciting and inspirational story, but it didn’t take the chance to set itself apart.

Like 2009’s Inglourious Basterds, the villain of the movie is not poster boy Hitler, but instead Goebbels, the minister of propaganda. Though, disappointingly, he’s only what looks like a 17 year old with a buzz cut. A sad version of Goebbels, but his muteness and cold expressions make sure you don’t dwell on Nazis (like I am) and their universal despicability, but rather on the great Jesse Owens.

Fraulein Riefenstahl, however, talented film director of the 1938 documentary Olympia (about the very same Olympics Jesse Owens is competing in!!!) gets a very sympathetic portrayal. While some presently may ignore her feats because of her involvement with the Nationalist Socialist Worker’s Party of Germany, Race captures her as visionary and like any woman of that time, vulnerable despite her clear competence.

Race has a lot to balance between its subject matters, and its inability to dive into anything really substantial trips it up. It is, however, a feature that attempts to showcase a remarkable story, and while it only follows behind its own potential, traces of what could have been still show up throughout.