‘Challengers’ Review: A Riveting Romance with a Competitive Edge
April 19, 2024 4:57 pm |
Tennis. A seemingly meditative sport, but hidden behind every stroke is the release of a concentrated purpose. In the context of Challengers, the sport is an outlet for jealousy, rage, and sexual frustration residing within a sadistic love triangle.
Director Luca Guadagnino brings a rapid pace to the game being played both on and off the court. The camera has a life of its own, with some truly original and clever shots: a POV from the first-person perspective of the ball; a transparent view of the court from below. The level of filmmaking Guadagnino and cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom offer is a revolutionary take on a love story that’s nothing less than a representation of tennis itself. In the same vein, Justin Kuritzkes introduces himself to the world of feature length screenwriting with a powerhouse debut, one that will surely push the needle in the direction of a future success story.
Zendaya serves a career best performance as Tashi Donaldson. Her desperation to continue a legacy she had once paved for herself but now sees through another’s eyes, is a psychological torment to watch play out as two friends turned foes strive for her affection. Mike Faist as Art Donaldson (West Side Story, The Bikeriders) and Josh O’Connor (The Crown, Emma.) as Patrick Zweig provide a sincere nature to their performances, fueled with resentment and lust. Art is a man who has become tired of his love of the game but continues to strive for success under the banner of his wife. Patrick is a man who’s lost his luck over the years and looks to forge a path again with the assistance of Tashi. Their rivalry is embedded in their nature and it all comes down to one woman, one sport and one success story amongst the trio.
The pair trigger a direct comparison with some of the greatest and most engrossing matchups of all time following the likes of John McEnroe vs Jimmy Connors or Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal. With the knowledge of all the behind the scenes happenings in Art and Patrick’s relationship, the gravity of the situation generates more of a pull than the real-life contrasts.
What transforms the entire experience into a state of hypnosis is the tremendous score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The duo have previously composed numerous David Fincher features as well as Guadagnino’s Bones and All, but outside The Social Network, this may be their best work yet. There’s a sense of urgency to their composition; the score resembles a retro 8-bit arcade feeling with a bit of club flair. The film is perfect and the score holds the audience’s attention through the chaos that is unfolding before their eyes.
Challengers is the cinematic equivalent of a match point. Exquisitely directed with poise by Guadagnino and led by phenomenal performances by Zendaya, O’Connor and Faist make this a riveting romance with a competitive edge. Easily one of the best films of the year!
Categorised in: Movie Reviews
This post was written by Connor Petrey
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