20 Best Movie Performances Of 2021

So larger-than-life is Will Smith's performance as Richard Williams in King Richard that it'd be easy for the supporting cast to basically be left flailing in the dust.

Yet the whole ensemble brings their A-game, none more so than Aunjanue Ellis, who plays Richard's then-wife Brandy.

While a film called King Richard could've demoted Brandy to the typical role of a supportive and/or "nagging" spouse, the script thankfully gives Ellis much greater latitude to deliver a fully nuanced performance.

Throughout the film, Brandy is the ballast, the voice of reason to Richard's excessive ego and pride, keeping him in line when he threatens to spin out of control and risk their kids' futures as tennis stars.

While Smith has understandably earned the lion's share of attention for the film, Ellis is thankfully whipping up quite the surge of awards support herself, such that a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination seems locked in at this point.