Challengers

 “I’m taking such good care of my little white boys.”

Pulsing, seductive and dangerous, Challengers is a romantic sports saga that ramps up the drama as it vicariously volleys between emotions, with daring direction and passionate performances that sweat through the camera, terrific visceral tennis tournaments and a love triangle so intense it will leave audiences breathless.

Discussion Points:

Zendaya. Josh O’Connor. Mike Faist. Luca Guadagnino. Justin Kuritzkes. All knock it absolutely out of the park. Direction that is dripping with style and sweat. Performances that spark with electricity. A story so gripping and operatic and tense that at moments I had to let out large sighs to decompress. Edited in a non-linear fashion volleying between past and present, you never lose track but instead garner further glimpses into just how much is on the line in this climactic challenger tennis match. Pitting old friends turned romantic rivals against each other, there’s more than just tennis happening. So much said in glances. So much conveyed in smirks. The repartee and charisma is scintillating. Love and lust on full display. Faist embodying tenderness, love, care and affection. O’Connor is animalistic, lustful, controlling and passionate. Zendaya is poised, powerful, playful and dangerous. Like a hot summers day the film cracks and sizzles with heat. And pardon the pun, but the film makes a racket. It’s a loud film with every ball cracking as its hit, every sneaker squeaking as it scraps, every beat of Reznor & Ross’ techno score thumping as it pulses. As cinematic as it is intimate, examining drive, obsession, maturity, relationships, career and control. Captivating and carnal. Who knew tennis romances could be this cinematic!