- Date of Release: 26 April 2024
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Sports
- Language: English
Challengers
Introduction
What is a modern twisted relationship, but a thrilling tennis match, often serving the passes of complexities and intimacy, in the wake of a never ending championship(and God knows who is entitled to lift the trophy). Very early on in Challengers, it is established that the drama is set against the backdrop of the game of tennis, with two individuals passing the ‘buck'(or should I say smashing it) while the onlookers switch sides in the direction of the ball. But this is anything but a sports movie, rather a complex entanglement of relationships that have their own set of baggages to bear with streaks of infidelity and jealousy amidst a sport that warrants a game of one upmanship.
I was late to the party in watching Call Me By Your Name, an extremely sensitive coming of age story of a youth who comes to terms with his sexuality. And that was the prowess of filmmaker Luca Guadagnino who had the ability to present the complexities of youth with utmost sensitivity. But the trailer of Challengers, his new film did paint a completely different picture. It was a lot more in your face with respect to the intensity of the drama even as it seemed to tackle a complex throuple who find themselves in a strange situationship, each of them probably bringing a baggage from their past. Hence, I was quite keen of witnessing this rather unique drama that packaged itself as a sports drama. So then, does Challengers manage to impress, stick around for my complete review on the same.
Story & Screenplay
Challengers follows the story of Tashi who takes it upon herself by enrolling her husband Art(a former Grand Slam Champion) for a low pro Challengers tournament, to end his losing streak and allow him to gain confidence. But oblivious to the couple, Art comes face to face with Zweig, his former best friend and Tashi’s Ex Flame. Will sparks fly on the tennis court?? The story here presents a unique narrative involving the complexities of a situationship featuring three characters of conflicting traits, with each of them carrying pain within themselves as a form of baggage from the past. And to place this drama against the backdrop of tennis as a sport was an extremely tricky proposition but, the screenplay standing at 130 odd minutes is so well written that it almost translates as a romantic black comedy with multiple twists and turns, both on and off the court.
The drama opens bang on with a tennis match featuring two opponents who are involved in a game with the highest amount of intensity, even as the onlookers follow their gaze in the direction of the ball. This opening act is representative of the virtual game of tennis that would be played between two male characters, with the third acting as a ball, even as the viewers would eventually be invested in this ‘thrilling’ game of a modern day relationship. The writing is layered and unfolds in a non-linear manner, slowly introducing each of the characters, firstly in the current timeline before cutting the drama to a past timeline. And the narrative structure continues to oscillate between multiple timelines even as you realise the fate of each of the three characters, who lives are closely intertwined.
The proceedings are interesting particularly with the conflicting character traits of each of the three protagonists, each of whom are grey in nature which is why the odds of sympathy are never quite tilted in anyone’s favour. Initially, when you get to know the protagonists, the odds are simple – Art and Zweig are fighting for the same girl, Tashi, a tennis prodigy of her time, wherein each of the two boys wish to sleep with her(remember the iconic scene featuring the trio in meme culture?). Tashi, too is reciprocative of some harmless flirting and casual making out even as she places a bet on whom could have her phone number based on which of the two boys wins in a game of tennis. Even as Zweig has an upper hand initially, Art is often a silent spectator, tactfully waiting for his turn to win over Tashi, even while mildly trying to poison her mind. On the other hand, Zweig on an upward trend in his tennis career allows his ego to set in while refusing to take advise from Tashi, citing her as his ‘peer’. Even as Tashi finds herself injured in a career threatening injury, she grows close to Art while completely discarding Zweig from her life. But what is life without a little baggage and some complications?
The complexities of a modern day relationship is often represented through the tennis match final played between Art and Zweig, something that is played out at crucial junctures throughout the narrative. This, even as Tashi who seems to be seemingly in the background and often favouring her now husband Art, often does sway towards Zweig from time to time. The drama works brilliantly on perceptions wherein each twist in the tale reveals a different side of the relationship(s), even as the events leading up to the final match are revealed in a systematic fashion, most of it shocking in many ways. The escalating tensions are prevalent in the intense final act which featured perhaps the most satisfying 15 minutes of a climax this year for an English film! The highs and lows of a relationship were perfectly representative of the final set point where bromance finally finds a voice over infidelity. The screenplay is brilliantly penned and executed extremely well while being so unique with its treatment.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but highly engaging and allow a certain degree of indulgence. The BGM is outstanding and almost fitted in sync with the unfolding drama, a new modern day technique that immediately does its bit in indulging the audience. The score doesn’t set in at the start of any scene, in fact it is incorporated somewhere in the middle of every scene while continuing to play out during scene transitions that almost acts as a layer of connectivity between the past and the present timelines. The cinematography is excellent too, resorting to multiple frames featuring extreme wide angle shots to stationary frames focusing on each player during the tennis match, to also shifting to a first person shot and replicating the angles on the ball being smashed by both players. The editing is tight and manages to maintain the levels of tension in the drama. Director Luca Guadagnino does a brilliant job in exploring the searing issues of a modern day relationship, often with a gaze of an examination that is replicated in the game of tennis that the characters fight for. Yet, it is the conflicting traits of the characters that leads the narrative, often maintained brilliantly well in terms of execution by the direction, wherein the direction is excellent across the storyboard.
Performances
This is essentially a three character story, and the performances are excellent by the trio. Josh O’Connor as Zweig is almost as a f*ckboi to begin with, but the deeper that you get into the psyche of his character, you do understand that he does have a soft corner for his childhood buddy, even though he is swayed with his ego while distancing himself from Art. Mike Faist as Art is incredibly good in a character that seems to be naive to begin with but often engulfed with jealousy for receiving the shorter end of the stick in terms of his relationship with Tashi. Hence, he slowly simps his way to her heart but his main challenge lies in maintaining his position(representative of the winning position that he finds himself in during the finale match). Zendaya as Tashi is often a conflicted soul, wishing for the best of the two worlds of Art and Zweig while also being a bit of an opportunist herself. The emotional baggage that she has been carrying, does lead to her showcasing her vulnerable side quite often, even as she continues to be confused with her mind and heart. And she portrays her character brilliantly while flaunting her gorgeous looks with a certain sense of flamboyance. The trio share crackling chemistry between them that also exposes their vulnerable side, thereby leading to a supremely engaging drama.
Conclusion
Challengers is a twisted take on a modern day throuple representing through a tense and thrilling tennis match, in a drama that is highly recommended from my end. Available in a theatre near you and Highly Highly Recommended!
