Challengers
Tennis (or any sport for that matter) has never been sexier. Under Guadagnino’s ever-attentive eye, the libido is turned up to 100, even in the most innocuous of moments – in the glistening sweat-soaked bodies of our protagonists, their exchange of passionate grunts on the court, longing gazes, a soft graze on the knee, the slight raise of a polo tee, their palpable desperation to connect. It’s in these characters’ carnal longing that Guadagnino blurs the line between sexual drive and personal ambition and Challengers thrives within this gray area to examine the selfish underbelly of human desire.
Centering around a defining match, Challengers depicts the turbulent love triangle between Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) spanning 13 years. Alternating between past and present, the shifting loyalties and motivations among the trio are exposed as the stakes of the ongoing New Rochelle Challenger are raised with every revelation and swing of the tennis racket.
In Challengers, the tennis court is used as the replacement for the bedroom. Our characters’ pent-up aggression, repressed desires, or unspoken sentiments are sprawled out with ferocity on the playing field. In between matches, their lustful chemistry or passionate rivalry is played up to extremes by the excellent leads. Justin Kuritzkes’ quick-witted dialogue adds to the invigorating dynamic between Tashi, Art, and Patrick whose relationship is exciting enough to make one declare that films are back to 1990-levels of horniness. To fully realize these characters, each actor taps into their eccentricities to become a powerhouse triad – Zendaya plays to her charismatic, seductive nature, Josh O’Connor is deviously charming, and Mike Faist is puppy-like in his submissive if sometimes endearing behavior.
Tashi (Zendaya) toying with “her two little white boys”, Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor), like chess pieces. Whether for pleasure, amusement, or a competitive advantage, only the tennis prodigy herself knows.
In Challengers, the tennis court is used as the replacement for the bedroom. Our characters’ pent-up aggression, repressed desires, or unspoken sentiments are sprawled out with ferocity on the playing field. In between matches, their lustful chemistry or passionate rivalry is played up to extremes by the excellent leads. Justin Kuritzkes’ quick-witted dialogue adds to the invigorating dynamic between Tashi, Art, and Patrick whose relationship is exciting enough to make one declare that films are back to 1990-levels of horniness. To fully realize these characters, each actor taps into their eccentricities to become a powerhouse triad – Zendaya plays to her charismatic, seductive nature, Josh O’Connor is deviously charming, and Mike Faist is puppy-like in his submissive if sometimes endearing behavior.
For as horned up as these characters are, Guadagnino’s direction is fueled by as much lust and desire with his voyeuristic direction. In front of his camera, passion, lust, and sweat have never looked more appealing. The director applies this intimacy in moments of connection and on the tennis court, deriving pleasure from wherever he can. But the bottom line with Challengers is that Guadagnino has never had more fun behind the camera as he alternates between POV shots, close-ups, and inventive set-ups like peering at the players from underneath the court. A carefree and liberating attitude has never suited the director more.
Accompanying Guadagnino’s wondrous direction are Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ pulsating club-ready beats. A career-best from the duo, Challengers’ score harkens back to The Social Network’s techno-influences and brings them in full force to an intoxicating degree. What could have been a simple conversation is elevated to a heart-pounding interaction between lovers scorned and tennis matches suddenly become riveting ordeals. Within these matches, the sound design is hard-hitting to a nearly overwhelming amount, drawing attention to every skid and racket thud, heightening the emotions simmering underneath each play. Alongside its razor-sharp editing, the experience Challengers provides is parallel to that of an athlete’s high.
Patrick (Josh O’ Connor) releasing his pent-up desire and resentment on the tennis court.
Propelled by the incendiary and complex dynamic of the trio, Challengers is a sultry and sensuous observation of human behavior. It examines the lengths ambition will take one to and tests an individual’s morality in their chase for notoriety. Justin Kuritzkes’ screenplay unfurls like a puzzle that tows the line between love and hate, romance and lust, drive and obsession. Guadgnino’s camera portrays the grand and exciting but concurrently translates the intense and deeply personal emotions behind these moments through his meticulous visuals. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser with performances solidifying each as leads in their own right, Challengers accomplishes the impossible feat of making sports riveting.
Verdict: A sensual tale of lust and ambition, Challengers earns itself a Nick Pick. (5/5)