Challengers (USA, 2024)
It’s not every day you come across a film with the vibrant energy of Challengers, diving into an intense mix of ambition, rivalry, and desire in the high-stakes world of professional tennis. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, known for his talent with complex relationships, the film zooms in on the tangled friendship and rivalry between two top players, Art and Patrick, who are both in love with tennis—and the same girl, Tashi Duncan (and perhaps even each other). Tennis becomes the perfect backdrop for their dynamics, with scenes staged like matches, making each conversation feel like part of the game. It’s a movie that grabs you and doesn’t let go.
A big part of this pull comes from Guadagnino’s direction, which elevates a good but not great script. Starting with the tennis scenes that are shot with thrilling POV angles that capture the ball’s trajectory and other creative perspectives that bring the matches to life. The film showcases nearly every way to film a tennis match. Even outside the game, there’s rarely a moment without a directorial touch, whether it’s the way conversations unfold like a tennis rally or how the audience’s heads turn back and forth during the match. Guadagnino also once again proves to be a master of intimate scenes; even without nudity, there is a bedroom sequence stands out as one of the year’s most intense. Complementing the direction, the film’s editing is fantastic, smoothly transitioning through time and keeping the pace engaging. The EDM-like score gives the matches a dance club vibe, enhancing the overall intensity.
The script isn’t as strong as the technical aspects, but it effectively establishes the characters. Josh O’Connor is the MVP, navigating different time periods and bringing charisma to a character that is unlikable on paper (the 3 of them are). Zendaya delivers strong facial expressions, though her portrayal as a mother in the older scenes is not as convincing. She does a good job acting the role, not so much living it. Mike Faist, while less interesting as the third wheel, convincingly plays the try-hard role.
However, the script has its flaws. It often feels like a play, jumping between character interactions, and it lacks enough scenes featuring all three together, except for Tashi’s engaging visit to the boys’ room. The best-written moments are in the first half, while later on, the script shies away from fully exploring the consequences of the characters’ actions. It skips over a potentially interesting tennis match in the middle, only hints at the boys’ feelings for each other, and neglects Art and Tashi’s daughter entirely. By the end, several ideas remain unresolved, and character arcs feel frustratingly incomplete. Some plot elements, like an affair in Atlanta, feel repetitive and contribute little to the overall narrative. Ultimately, the film lacks a conclusive ending; it offers a visually appealing final shot but avoids any real consequences for the characters, resembling a tennis match that just ends without showcasing the most thrilling moments when the score is tied.
As it stands, Challengers is an extremely entertaining experience with fantastic tennis scenes and memorable moments, even if it doesn’t tie everything together as well as it could. Guadagnino remains one of the best directors working today, capturing intensity like no one else.