If there was one word to use to describe the feeling of watching “Challengers” by Luca Guadagnino, it would definitely be “wow.”
Just from the trailers alone, the movie had already been promoting itself as an intense, chaotic and crazy ride. Even the cast list for the film has audiences filling up seats in theaters.
Expectations of the film were to be wild, sexy, and filled with tension with director Luca Guadagnino. His previous films, “Call Me By Your Name” and “Bones and All”, set the examples of what the audience were expecting for his film. It was no surprise that “Challengers” hit it out of the park and exceeded the expectations that were set.
“Challengers” follows the story of tennis player turned coach Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) as she coaches her husband Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) in a “Challengers” tournament to get him out of his recent losing funk.
As he reaches the end of the tournament and final match, he ends up face to face with his former teammate and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) in the final match of the tournament.
Throughout the film, the audience is shown scenes of the final match between the two tennis stars, Art and Patrick, with Tashi in the crowd watching the whole match go down.
In between the film, audiences are shown scenes of when the trio first meets, their college careers and back to the final match. These scenes establish the timeline of events throughout the three main characters’ lives.
Love, angst and tenison are just a collection of emotions that build up between these relationships and the audience sees this throughout the amazing performances from the cast. The three cast members give their all to these characters, displaying every type of emotion possible.
Viewers begin to feel attached to these characters and feel the emotions they are going through. Each actor has their standout moments in the film, but the one who stood out most was Faist.
Faist’s performance as Art Donaldson is definitely one of the best performances of the year.
His range of emotion connects to the audience in a way that feels raw and touching. As the audience watches the events of the movie occur, Faist’s character is the one that feels the most damaged.
Audiences could argue that each of the characters have their problems and they explore them in their own ways, but the way Art expresses his emotions and problems throughout the film captures the attention of the audience.
Art is passionate about his love for the game of tennis but also his love for Tashi and his teammate Patrick. So when he begins to experience the manipulation of the two people in his life, he starts to feel lost and tired.
Self doubt fills his brain as he notices the shift in his wife and their relationship. Art and Patrick were attached at the hip and now they don’t even speak. That spark Art had is gone, and it’s starting to show in his performance in tennis.
Faist beautifully displays that fading spark on the big screen and captivates the audience to understand his point of view during these situations.
Stunning performances aside, every movie is bound to have its flaws.
As pivotal scenes happen, sudden, loud, club-like music will blast and overpower the scene. The music is powerful, but tends to distract the viewer from the conversation at hand.
The audience can’t really make out what words have been said in the scene because of the loud music.
Removing the flaws, this film was just stunning overall and a crazy ride. The entire storyline, acting and the score will have a moviegoer on the edge of the seat begging for more.
Go see this movie and join the “Challengers” discussion because this movie will be talked about for years to come and will be sweeping the award season next year
