Now that the Olympic Games are underway, it's a good time to delve into the history of some of the great athletes of the past — in this case, U.S. track-and-field legend Jesse Owens, who astonished the world by winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

"Race" is a movie that documents how Owens (Stephan James, "Selma co-star) rises to Olympic stardom, even as he struggled with discrimination at Ohio State University where he trained under coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis). The double entendre of a title provides much food for thought, with racism founded on superiority complexes of those needing to "prove" themselves better than others.

"Race" is earnest and sincere but it lacks the complexity that made "42" (the story about African-American baseball superstar Jackie Robinson) cinematically compelling. Clocking in at two hours and 14 minutes, it often feels bogged down by director Stephen Hopkins' straight-laced interpretation of Owens, and his seemingly overwhelming desire to ensure the facts are right. According to the production notes, Hopkins and his film crew consulted closely with Owens' daughters in re-creating the athlete and the man behind the achievements — a partnership that perhaps (or inevitably) cramped their style.