As someone who really loved this movie, I totally enjoyed your review. I also agree with your critiques, but I actually liked that all 3 characters were sort of reprehensible and even pathetic in their own way. My favorite remark: “I couldn’t help but wonder if we should have more directors who don’t actually like a particular sport directing movies about it all the time, because the tennis scenes in Challengers are utterly exhilarating.” I know right? The tennis matches were so visually exciting that it’s incredible that the director doesn’t care for the sport. So far, this is one of my favorite movies of the year.
Oh yeah, don’t get me wrong - I still enjoyed it very much. I think it was more that I wanted a bit more character development for Art and Patrick. I’m fine with characters being assholes, but I want them to be assholes I can get invested in. I wanted them to pull at that thread of Art being a dad and how that weighed on him wanting to call it quits. Seemed like there could have been some interesting stuff there.
I love your review and appreciate your commentary. I hated this film though. Everything about it felt like it was taking itself too seriously at the wrong times and not seriously enough at the right times. The score also had an inflated sense of purpose and I thought maybe it was an error with our movie theater that the sound got the music was loud and jarring (distracting), out of sync with the story and interrupting at the oddest times. Patrick was by far the most compelling character not Tashi or Art who commanded the most screen time. I love tennis 🎾 btw and played for years before transitioning to pickleball
Great summary, Beth. I can definitely see why it’s divisive. I wasn’t in love with it, but found it stupidly entertaining. I think that if I hadn’t found it to be so absurd, I’d have hated it too. It’s interesting to read your thoughts because I never felt like it was serious at all - but that’s why I love the comment section and discussing each others thoughts! 😊
Also, I’d love to play pickleball. It’s not very big here in Scotland though. I was amazed at how popular it was in NYC when I was there last month. Courts everywhere!
First of all, thanks for the shout out, James! We have pretty similar taste in movies, so it's really nice to see your take on things that stand out. I'm a fan of your writing, so thank you for including Brunello Bombshell in the Balls On Film universe. :)
CHALLENGERS is proving to be a really divisive movie even months after its release, and I hear the critiques, but I think I side with Joe on this one. Sometimes it takes an honest distaste of something to find the drama in it, and Guadanigno has done that in spades here. Is it campy? Oh yeah. Melodramatic? Probably. It is Guadanigno after all. But the screenplay feels tense and pointed in even the smallest of moments, letting three incredible actors have room to find the rally in a scene. And don't get me started on that score, probably Reznor and Ross' best ever.
I did write a wine and movie pairing about CHALLENGERS which explains a little more about my feelings on the movie, but after reading your critiques (and this incredibly smart comments section), I think I need to do a rewatch stat. I saw CALL ME BY YOUR NAME for the first time recently and was seriously underwhelmed, but CHALLENGERS is still my favorite movie of the year.
Agreed! Healthy discourse is good for all. I’m interested in doing a rewatch of this soon to see if it’s as enthralling as my first watch on opening weekend.
Hmmm I can see that. I think Art more than Patrick felt a bit monodimensional. I agree that his role as a father felt like an afterthought. They kind of feel like props or chess pieces for Tashi to play with. Maybe this was intentional? I’m a tennis buff if you can’t tell lol so I might rewatch it soon and pay more attention to the things you singled out.
Yep. The daughter is treated as an afterthought my Tashi for the most part anyway, so maybe it makes sense that the family dynamic isn’t explored much. I guess I just really wanted someone to root for, and Art felt like the obvious choice with a bit more character development.
That’s fair. Although I didn’t feel like I had someone to root for either, Patrick was my choice. Hehe I guess I liked his scrappiness and free spiritedness
As someone who really loved this movie, I totally enjoyed your review. I also agree with your critiques, but I actually liked that all 3 characters were sort of reprehensible and even pathetic in their own way. My favorite remark: “I couldn’t help but wonder if we should have more directors who don’t actually like a particular sport directing movies about it all the time, because the tennis scenes in Challengers are utterly exhilarating.” I know right? The tennis matches were so visually exciting that it’s incredible that the director doesn’t care for the sport. So far, this is one of my favorite movies of the year.
Oh yeah, don’t get me wrong - I still enjoyed it very much. I think it was more that I wanted a bit more character development for Art and Patrick. I’m fine with characters being assholes, but I want them to be assholes I can get invested in. I wanted them to pull at that thread of Art being a dad and how that weighed on him wanting to call it quits. Seemed like there could have been some interesting stuff there.
I love your review and appreciate your commentary. I hated this film though. Everything about it felt like it was taking itself too seriously at the wrong times and not seriously enough at the right times. The score also had an inflated sense of purpose and I thought maybe it was an error with our movie theater that the sound got the music was loud and jarring (distracting), out of sync with the story and interrupting at the oddest times. Patrick was by far the most compelling character not Tashi or Art who commanded the most screen time. I love tennis 🎾 btw and played for years before transitioning to pickleball
Great summary, Beth. I can definitely see why it’s divisive. I wasn’t in love with it, but found it stupidly entertaining. I think that if I hadn’t found it to be so absurd, I’d have hated it too. It’s interesting to read your thoughts because I never felt like it was serious at all - but that’s why I love the comment section and discussing each others thoughts! 😊
Likewise. I was probably the only person in my theater laughing out loud at most scenes. It was all so absurdly melodramatic.
Also, I’d love to play pickleball. It’s not very big here in Scotland though. I was amazed at how popular it was in NYC when I was there last month. Courts everywhere!
It’s fun! I fractured my right foot in the Spring which has made it a non starter and I miss it
Ouch! Playing pickleball for did it happen another way?
Unfortunately no. Just fell
You should review Escape to Victory soon!
Your wish is my command!
Man, this was the horniest film I’ve ever seen. The part where Josh O’Connor looks over the camera and drips sweat all over the lens is hilarious.
First of all, thanks for the shout out, James! We have pretty similar taste in movies, so it's really nice to see your take on things that stand out. I'm a fan of your writing, so thank you for including Brunello Bombshell in the Balls On Film universe. :)
CHALLENGERS is proving to be a really divisive movie even months after its release, and I hear the critiques, but I think I side with Joe on this one. Sometimes it takes an honest distaste of something to find the drama in it, and Guadanigno has done that in spades here. Is it campy? Oh yeah. Melodramatic? Probably. It is Guadanigno after all. But the screenplay feels tense and pointed in even the smallest of moments, letting three incredible actors have room to find the rally in a scene. And don't get me started on that score, probably Reznor and Ross' best ever.
I did write a wine and movie pairing about CHALLENGERS which explains a little more about my feelings on the movie, but after reading your critiques (and this incredibly smart comments section), I think I need to do a rewatch stat. I saw CALL ME BY YOUR NAME for the first time recently and was seriously underwhelmed, but CHALLENGERS is still my favorite movie of the year.
https://open.substack.com/pub/brunellobombshell/p/wine-and-movie-pairing-crisp-riesling?r=15kx4a&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks for the link, Maria. I’ll be sure to share this next week! I love the ‘Some Young Punks’ wines.
I actually kind of love how divisive the movie is. It makes for great discussion.
Agreed! Healthy discourse is good for all. I’m interested in doing a rewatch of this soon to see if it’s as enthralling as my first watch on opening weekend.
Hmmm I can see that. I think Art more than Patrick felt a bit monodimensional. I agree that his role as a father felt like an afterthought. They kind of feel like props or chess pieces for Tashi to play with. Maybe this was intentional? I’m a tennis buff if you can’t tell lol so I might rewatch it soon and pay more attention to the things you singled out.
Yep. The daughter is treated as an afterthought my Tashi for the most part anyway, so maybe it makes sense that the family dynamic isn’t explored much. I guess I just really wanted someone to root for, and Art felt like the obvious choice with a bit more character development.
That’s fair. Although I didn’t feel like I had someone to root for either, Patrick was my choice. Hehe I guess I liked his scrappiness and free spiritedness