Challengers Review – Hypnotic, Explosive Performances Elevate Common Story

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Category: Haute This Issue
Published on Tuesday, 23 April 2024 12:22
Written by Janet Walker

Challengers, from MGM and Amazon Studios, brings to the screen a common heartbreak story that pushes the boundaries in this game of life, love, and tennis, elevated by explosive, symphonic, and intense performances that burst with authenticity.

The film begins in the hotel room of former tennis prodigy, Tashi Duncan-Donaldson, played by Zendaya, and her husband, Art Donaldson, played by Mike Faist, who, if the sports pundits have it right, is poised to have the best year of his career. With her as his coach, and her drive, and determination, he is expected to win the grand slam of tennis, which means all the major tournaments. We see they have a daughter, Lily, played by A.J. Lister, and are reviewing the upcoming Aston Martin promotional campaign. Tennis has been good to them.

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We return to the past when a young Art and Patrick Zweig, played by Josh O'Connor, are playing in the U.S. Open Junior Doubles Championship game, and the pair, who have attended the same tennis academy as each are expecting to play professionally. They win, and it is obvious they are good friends.

That afternoon, tennis phenom Tashi Duncan enters the court and in a commanding performance, of skill and art she decimates her opponent. Later that night, the three are attending a sponsor party. Art and Patrick are awestruck and impressed. As fortune would have it, she seems approachable and the three end up talking on the beach. They invite her back to their hotel room; she laughs it off. When she arrives, later, the stories become more intimate and revealing and she, we see, is determined to force everyone to cross boundaries for her.

Reminiscent of the cadence from the symphony "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel, the film moves in metronome style, moving back and forth from the present to the past, building memories of moments across time, that have brought this trio to this place and this time.

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We follow Tashi to Stanford, where she and Art are both attending. She is continuing to devour her opponents. We also see she has made a choice and is dating Patrick. As Art is silently holding out for the time when Tashi comes to her senses and realizes Patrick was just a momentary lapse in her better judgment, he settles into the friend role.

On this day, Patrick arrives and Tashi, now older, but still very much in command of everyone and everything around her, is unable to control this moment and a rage begins to build. So, as she is preparing for an easy win, her spirit is lost in the possibility of losing control. Patrick refuses to come to the match as Tashi commands the court she slips and suffers a career-ending injury. The ever-faithful friend becomes protector.

Over the years, the world of tennis continues to bring Tashi and Art together, he has a coach, and she unable to play, coaches. During one tournament they end up having dinner, she explains his game could use some improvement, and he asks her to join his team.

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Challengers crackles and sizzles with tension, electricity and intensity. The trio, Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor are a volcanic force as each scene captivates with genuineness. The love triangle and similarly the war between them is presented with abandon.

Director Luca Guadagnino doesn't temper the film and remains true to the life and lifestyle including locker room scenes, that some may find surprising as male full frontal is rarely presented.

Challengers smashes through the screen with a fierce passion. It is a must see.

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Country: U.S.

Language: English.

Release Date: April 26, 2024.

Runtime: 131 minutes.

Director: Luca Guadagnino.

Produced by: Amy Pascal, Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya, Rachel O'Connor.

Executive Producer: Bernard Bellew.

Screenplay: Justin Kuritzkes.

Cast: Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist, Darnell Appling, Bryan Doo, Shane T Harris, Nada Despotovich, Joan McShane, Chris Fowler, Mary Joe Fernandez, A.J. Lister, Connor Aulson, Doria Bramante, Christine Dye, James Sylva, Kenneth A. Osherow, Kevin Collins, Burgess Byrd, Jason Tong, Naheem Garcia, Hailey Gates.

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