[Rating: Rock Fist Way Up]
I have in the past five years watched so many tennis movies that it is slowly becoming a nice sport I could be interested in watching. The pounding of the ball back and forth and the confusion as to what is actually going on, still drives me to the edge of my seat! Somebody teach me already! Plus, throwing in some very good looking people also helps me care about this sport. Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino is the the surface a love triangle with hearts flying like those yellow tennis balls and secrets and lies being served (pun intended) with every match.
In the present we are introduced to Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) in the midst of a heated tennis tournament. Back and forth they go with onlookers afoot, including Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), Art’s wife and coach. Flashing backwards, we now meet Patrick and Art as two high school tennis prodigies competing for a junior title in the US Open. They meet and flirt with Tashi, asking her back to their room to see what the night could bring. She learns they have done a lot together as best friends, near brothers in their own right. She wants to see them play some good tennis and will only then, give the winner of their match her number, securing dating rights for this love triangle.
Flashforward again, we see Tashi and Art playing tennis at Stanford, while Tashi dates Patrick who is trying to go pro himself. All while this happens, an unfortunate incident upsets and unbalances the lives of these three tennis stars, and sends them into a game of who will end up with who and how much pressure can one put on the other?
In the present, we see the tired life of Art and Tashi. He wants to retire on top and she wants him to continue, since this is really the only thing she has ever known to love and appreciate in life – tennis. This chance encounter with former friend Patrick could be a chance to show that Art still has it in him.
I don’t want to give so much away for a film like Challengers, because it is less of a film than an experience. Watching the three on camera interact with one another is some of the best acting so far this year! O’Connor and Faist are the highlights for me. I want to be their friend, I want to see the best from them and away from a girl who is there to tear them apart. As Tashi, there is more than meets the eye to Zendaya.
The fast paced editing of this never got tiresome for me. It goes back and forth quite often, but title cards to show where the story is very much helped. If there was a secret fourth and fifth character in this, it’s the brilliant score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross that comes and goes with such dynamic force.
Guagagnino films are hits and misses for me. But, dammit if the dynamic relationship between these star crossed lovers didn’t hit me. I could feel their anger and pressure at the game. I could smell the sweat. I could feel the absolute banger of an ending that left me gobsmacked. Challengers will hit you in all the right places. Game, set, match!
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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