Challengers (Guadagnino, 2024)
The world moves fast and films arrive to instantly become part of the conversation and then disappear from our consciousness just as quickly.
Challengers is one of these. It spawned hundreds of memes back in April and now it’s yesterday’s news.
But definitely still worth a look.
Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is a thoroughly entertaining romp set in the world of professional tennis.
Zendaya, proving that she is a movie star of the first rank, plays a former prodigy who has to retire through injury before she even gets to turn pro. When we meet her she is wife and coach of a champion whose career is going downhill (Mike Faist from West Side Story). In an attempt to get some easy wins under his comeback belt, they head to a tiny tournament where he has to face off against his former doubles partner – and her former boyfriend – Josh O’Connor. He, too, needs to win this tournament before his fading career expires.
This menage is told with some furious intercutting between timelines, usually explained with captions but also by keeping track of hairstyles.
The film is surprisingly astute about the intersection of ambition, talent and lust and whether there’s a combination of the three that can ever add up to love.
Also in that April newsletter: Ava DuVernay’s powerful Origin, comic horror Abigail and the documentary about Noël Coward, Mad About the Boy.
Where to watch Challengers
Aotearoa, Australia, Canada, Ireland & UK: Streaming on Prime Video
USA: Streaming on Prime Video, MGM+ and Fubo
