"Challengers" -- Movie Review

 

Recently, I attended an advance screening of “Challengers”, starring Zendaya and directed by Luca Guadagnino. 

Synopsis

When an aging tennis player seeks a comeback, can he defeat an old ally despite the fact that one of them is being coached by a woman who has had a relationship with both of them?

Story

At the age of 31, Patrick (Josh O'Connor) realizes he’s nearing the end of his time as a professional tennis player; he’s down on his luck and has been a disappointment to himself both personally and professionally.  He has just barely qualified for the current tennis match; since he’s a low seed, a win would mean one last chance at career advancement and a loss might mean he’ll finally have to face the prospect of retirement.  To make matters worse, he’ll have to face Art (Mike Faist), someone he’s known since they were both teenagers.  Despite the fact that they were considered up-and-coming athletes, their careers took very different paths as Art has been more successful in his field. 

Tashi (Zendaya) was once considered to be the next superstar female tennis player when she was a teenager; traveling in similar circles, she got to know both Patrick and Art and became intimate friends with both of them.  However, her career got derailed before it could barely begin when she suffered a severe knee injury that curtailed her ability to play tennis at a professional level.  Eventually, these "Three Amigos" went their own way – she went on to have a relationship with Patrick while Art’s focus was on his chosen profession.  When Tashi’s relationship with Patrick ended, she agreed to become Art’s coach and before too long, their personal and professional life became intertwined.

Despite bitter feelings for Patrick, Tashi remains sexually attracted to him.  Knowing her complex feelings, he keeps trying to get her back in his life, even though he’s fully aware of her being Art’s partner -- both in tennis and life.  Ultimately, Tashi and Patrick wind up having a tryst the night before the two men are scheduled to have their big match.  Art, of course, is unaware of this; unsure of whether he can defeat Patrick, Tashi asks Patrick to throw the match so Art can continue his career.  Patrick is unsure if he can do this because it would mean an end to his own career.  But when the two finally meet, can Art beat Patrick on his own merits or will Patrick give in to Tashi’s request? 

Review

One of the more amazing aspects of Luca Guadagnino’s latest is his shot choices.  Many times, you are left wondering how he managed to get certain shots; this technical curiosity may take you out of the story momentarily, but depending on how invested you are in the story (as opposed to the filmmaking technique), it may not matter terribly much.  The soundtrack by Trent Reznor can also be either enhancing or annoying to the film; there are moments when the music background adds tension within the moment, but there are other times when you feel as though you are in a nightclub listening to EDM and you are the only one there who is not on Ecstasy. 

The main problem with “Challengers” is the fact that it’s difficult to root for any of the characters.  They are either weak, scoundrels or narcissistic.  Trying to find something socially or personally redeeming about any of them might turn out to be something of a challenge, to put it mildly.  Why anyone might be emotionally invested in the outcome of any of the participants in this manipulative love triangle is certainly confounding.  If you are comfortable with that and are only interested in the more salacious angles of the movie, then it might be worth a watch.  On the other hand, if you are looking for something of greater substance – either in the story or the characters – then “Challengers” might be a hard pass. 

Following the screening, there was an interview with the film’s screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes.  Although his primary focus was as a playwright, he wanted to write a story about tennis; he made it a screenplay instead of a stage play because he saw the story as very visual.  Kuritzkes said that it’s more about what’s not being said than what is being said and the way people look at each other.  Although not a big tennis or sports fan, he happened to watch the U.S. Open in 2018 where Serena Williams was accused of receiving coaching from the sidelines.  This ultimately proved to be his primary inspiration for the script.