An Epic “Love” Triangle: Challengers Review
Who knew tennis could be so sexy.
Let me set the scene: resident Newsie Mike Faist as “Art” on the left side of the court, blonde and beautiful as ever, casting his iron racket up to make the first serve. On the right side of the court is everyone’s favorite Royal Josh O’Connor playing the washed out “Patrick”, eyeing both the ball and his opponent with admiration and lust. And how could we forget, in the dead middle of the tennis court— Disney Channel star-turned-tennis prodigy Zendaya, manhandling both of her players like a masterful puppeteer as Tashi. If you hadn’t guessed it already, Luca Guadagnino has once again proven that film-making has no limits with his latest installment, “Challengers”.
Faist absolutely killed his role. A fan favorite, Art comes off as a lovable, kind character that’s impossible not to root for. With Zendaya, we expected nothing less than perfection with her portrayal of Tashi, and I think she definitely got to have more creative freedom with this role— it showcased her versatility as an actress beautifully. And finally, in my opinion the best performance of the film, the mind-boggling Josh O’Connor. It amazes me how he can represent so many multi-faceted emotions through a single scene, all while effortlessly showing off his American accent that is, quite frankly, better than mine.
Luca is a powerhouse of a director. Whether it be putting the audience in the POV of a tennis ball, to making the perspective the bottom of the court, to cutting scenes like that rapid pace of a tennis match, the Call Me By Your Name director continues to push the bounds of film for the better and in a direction many notable directors should be taking note of.
Challengers was intense, erotic, lustful, and, most importantly to the film’s success, extremely entertaining. Regardless of whether you like the film or not, I guarantee at least one or two jaw-drops from you before exiting the theater. I highly recommended this movie for anyone who’s A) a film buff looking for an exciting, unique live story or B) has a group of friends obsessed with any of the main cast. If you’re looking for a wholesome sports biopic, I’d look elsewhere. Trust me.
Also, we are so back! Apologies for the hiatus, but just be prepared for what’s to come— you aren’t ready!! 🎥
