‘Challengers’ is a steamy, cinematic win
Sometimes, three’s a crowd. Sometimes, not. Especially when a very desirable female tennis star enjoys making two male tennis players compete for her affection. “Whoever wins, gets my number,” is the credo.
As a teenager, Tashi Duncan (Zendaya, “Dune”), was once the queen of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) juniors. She won tournaments, was on the verge of big endorsements, and was a media darling. Back then, from a distance, her two biggest admirers were American Tennis Professional (ATP) junior players Art Donaldson (Mike Faist, “West Side Story”) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor, “The Crown”). Those two schemed to meet, seduce, and endear themselves to Tashi. What they hadn’t fathomed was that she would smack their emotions around like tennis balls.
The screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes curiously eschews a linear narrative. Instead, it starts with the older trio in 2019 when roles have switched. Art is a world champ, Tashi is his wife and demanding coach who presses him to beat his opponents (“Decimate that little bitch!”). Patrick, who beat Art unmercifully on court in their younger years, is now washed-up. He’s back competing on the challenger circuit, where tennis players dwell until they earn enough points to get into the main regular tournaments and slams (Australian, French, Wimbledon and U.S.). It’s a crucial time for Art, who’s won the three grand slams but not the impending U.S. Open. Now, his game is rocky and so is his relationship with Tashi.
Kuritzkes makes the young woman the emotional powerbroker. She snaps her fingers, and both men come running. These days, she bosses and nurtures Art, while Pat is her boy-toy. It’s an intriguing dynamic. Add in that it’s a Black woman dominating the two white guys, and the modern verve in the characters and relationships, and we have a very refreshing film. In fact, watching the romance, jealousy, envy, yearning, and lust play out over 2 hours and 11 minutes (editor Marco Costa, “Bones and All”) is a spectator sport. Tracking the different time periods, mood swings, betrayals, and twists and turns is enough to make your head swivel left to right and right to left—like fans watching at a tennis match.
Director Luca Guadagnino garnered acclaim for his Oscar-nominated gay, May-December romance “Call Me by Your Name.” His subsequent films “Suspiria,” and “Bones and All” didn’t make a dent, but “Challengers” proves that it was the projects, not his direction. He makes sense out of the jigsaw puzzle script and viewers will never feel lost due to his astute guidance. He masterfully leads the young actors through titillating bedroom scenes, which are frisky and erotic, never dirty. But the film does have an ‘R’ rating, so you might think twice before inviting your great granny or kid to sit next to you at the movie theater.
Guadagnino magically gets the lead cast to hit and serve the ball like pros. Their flat forehands, topspin backhands, and serves look like the real thing. Great fakery for a tennis movie, and better than that in 2017’s “Battle of the Sexes.” The sleight of hand is so good that hardcore tennis players won’t cringe, except when the actors don’t bend their knees enough and grip the racquet handle too high and not at the base. Guadagnino also gives the three main actors room to play and develop their characters. Their authenticity is helped by the realistic dialogue and conversations that sound like excellent writing, improvisation, or things you’d overhear tennis players say.
Faist, as Art the man/boy who’s in constant need of reassurance, gets to the heart of his timid character: A cuckhold. O’Connor (“God’s Own Country,” “Peaky Blinders”), a very versatile U.K. actor, drops his British accent and is thoroughly believable as the aggressive, cunning seducer. Zendaya’s beguiling Tashi herds her two admirers like sheep. She’s tall, lean, and has a typical tennis champ’s body akin to that of a Venus Williams or Maria Sharapova. Her cocky, Serena Williams tennis walk, sports star mannerisms, and quick-stepping footwork mimic the real thing. She’s flirtatious, reckless, and caring all at the same time.
Music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Oscar winners for “The Social Network” and “Soul”) pumps up the volume with EDM and house music. J.W. Anderson’s costumes fit the courts and casual lifestyle. Cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (“Call Me by Your Name”) is nimble in exterior shots during tennis matches and sensual in steamy hotel bedroom scenes.
“Challengers” is a top of the league sports-drama-romance movie. Fans of the genre will enjoy watching the high-energy tennis and the boy-girl-boy love triangle. It’s hard to figure out who will win in the end; that’s the mark of a very competitive match.
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