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iloveannaliese · 2 days

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Film Review: Challengers (2024) (⭑⭑⭑⭑1/2)

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

An electrifying, passionate and heart-racing film, Challengers is the ultimate winner -takes- all story.

The story follows Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), who is a former tennis star, help coach her husband Art (Mike Faist), who is equally a good tennis player, for the ATP challenger tour. However, things get heated when Art has to play against Patrick (Josh O'Connor), his former best- friend and Tashi's Ex-lover.

The characters in the film are so individual, yet work so well together. Take Tashi Duncan, the ringleader. She knows how to win, and from being a former tennis prodigy, she knows how to manipulate situations to her advantage. From early on, she understands how obsessed Art and Patrick are with her. She plays both of them off, just like a game of tennis. Tashi being the ball and going from one guy to the other.

Art is the ultimate needy guy, but that doesn't make him unlikeable, in fact it's the complete opposite. As you're watching him on screen, you grow almost protective over him and are secretly rooting for him throughout. He loves Tashi and states this in the movie. He would do anything to keep her happy, but is also completely in awe of her just like when he was a teenager. He needs Tashi's approval, or at least he feels it.

Patrick is the complete polar opposite of Art. He's competitive, headstrong and confrontational. He wastes no time in letting Tashi know what he wants from her and is the only character in this film that doesn't appear to be scared of her. He even tells Tashi that he views her as a peer, not a member of her fan club. Safe to say that when Patrick is on the screen, it's never boring.

Now the relationship between Art and Patrick is complex. With Patrick being the most cocky out of the two, he finds any way to humiliate Art, which over time, chips away at Art's confidence. However, when you watch the film, it's evident that both characters need each other. After all, they both have a passionate love for tennis (they play together in tournaments). They both understand each other, all while being incredibly competitive. Competitiveness is what fuels these characters in all aspects of the movie.

Visually, the film is a warm saturation heaven. The set is bright and so is the costuming. The use of strong colours in this film, reflect the strong characters. And on screen, it's captivating. In my opinion, the styling of the movie has a very Italian look.

What really makes the film though, is the phenomenal soundtrack. The addictive club bangers keep your eyes glued to the screen. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross created the best movie score of 2024. It's punchy, seductive and spellbinding, that even once you leave the cinema you have the tunes stuck in your head. That coupled with the fast camera shots during the tennis scenes, it's cinema at it's finest.

The acting is superior. Zendaya's facial expressions keep you hooked. Especially in scenes with Josh O'Connor. She displays deep emotion on her face, fluidly, never stiffly. Or even at the beginning at the film when the camera makes a direct bee-line for her from the sidelines. Chills literal chills. Zendaya's acting is unique and mesmerising.

Overall, I'm left with a rush after watching. This film even manages to spark my competitive wild side. I think the dynamic of the love triangle is refreshing and interesting. To watch two guys fawn over the same girl hasn't really been done to this level before in Hollywood but it just works. Challengers is everything I would want a good film to be. And I'm going to say it now... Cinema is back!

Challengers is out now only in theatres.

Written by iloveannaliese ©