Challengers (2024) User Reviews

Worth seeing in theaters

[yttjdyvm · 8/10 · 2 May 2024]

Run time could've been a little shorter. There are a couple scenes that could have been shortened without compromising the plot or vibe of the movie.

Movie had lots of cool cinematography shots. The score really elevated the whole movie, in my opinion. I liked how the storyline had a good combination of present day and past tense. Made the climax that much more exciting.

I'm not normally a big sports movie person but this one, while definitely a movie about tennis, is more a movie about the characters and their love, passion and what is it that drives us at our core to be competitive.

Acting was very good. Zendaya was great.

Would see again.

Tennis as metaphor and very well done. Captivating love triangle.

[malmevik77 · 9/10 · 27 April 2024]

Challengers

Fire and Ice. Best friends since they were 12, Patrick and Art are rising stars in tennis during the senior year of high school. At the US Open, they meet Tashi (the amazing Zendaya who really can do anything) and are both captivated. It is quickly noticed by Tashi that Art and Patrick seem to be more than best friends.

Challengers takes us back and forth through time, bouncing rapidly just like a tennis ball crossing the court. When the two men both pursue Tashi, it is very clear that Tashi is the tennis ball during the intense relationship between the two men. She mentions early on that tennis is more than just a game, and boy does this film work those themes hard.

The previews left out the fact that LGBTQ+ themes are explored, but with subtlety. The sexual tension between Art and Patrick is so thick, I was left wondering where their relationship was headed. Both men wanted Tashi, but only Art succeeded in marrying her.

The tennis metaphor, and the literal matches, fill the movie with excitement and tension that never gets old or tired. Be prepared to pay close attention because of the rapid fire changes between the three leads. I know Zendaya gets top billing, but I still say that she's the tennis ball; being served between Patrick and Art.

Also, I have to point out that my favorite soundtrack artists lately, Trent Reznor and Atticus Finch (yes Nine Inch Nails) did the music. They are popping up a lot lately in films, and they never disappoint.

This movie was more of an erotic thriller than I thought it would be, because the previews barely touched on the real film. This is a movie worth talking about with friends, so please feel free to engage me. There is a lot left open for interpretation, and a couple of plot holes that weren't filled. One big example is Patrick shows signs of bruising near a vein in his arm. That's an obvious sign of drug abuse, but it's never mentioned other than it being noticed.

Highly recommended film. I'm biased because I love tennis, but I'm a sucker when a literal theme is used as metaphor as well. Go see it. And seriously, hit me up afterwards, I'd love to hear other viewpoints, especially about the Fire and Ice.

A riot from start to finish

[agreenfox · 9/10 · 30 April 2024]

Challengers feels like an extremely modern film. It's very playful, and dare I say, sporty in the execution of humor. Everything feels like a little game in this movie. We're not supposed to think the fact that these guys are competing for the same girl is scandalous or the actual conflict of the movie. The conflict of the movie is very much centered on the way they both approach the game of tennis and how Zendaya's character is pretty much the one in control. The boys let her do her thing as she uses intelligence and sexuality to motivate them both. The soundtrack adds to the lightheartedness of the film, and there's no actual big traumatizing moment. It's nice to have such a light, breezy film about tennis that has a great sense of humor and also a ton of depth when it comes to themes like financial security, what happens inside country clubs, and where to go when your uber driver abandons you lmao.

Unique

[PedroPires90 · 8/10 · 22 April 2024]

What I love about Guadagnino is that he never tries to replicate others or do something that can be very forgettable. Even if it's not always easy to see the similarities between Call Me By Your Name, Suspiria, Bones & All and Challengers, one thing is certain: they all have a very distinctive approach and are unique cinematic products.

The score of this film is incredible, it's like a whole trip and it evens contributes to make us anxious like we are watching a tense thriller. It is a very sexy film even if sometimes it feels a bit trapped to the Hollywood safe sense of disruption.

The trio is amazing and I was the entire time mesmerised by Zendaya, who lives the more complex and nuanced of the three characters. The tennis scenes are very cool and I love many of the artistic choices, especially the creative editing process, not only in terms of the structure but some fantastic montages.

Only works for fans of Zendaya

[morkoff · 28 April 2024]

Forget Match Point, even Paul Bettany's Wimbledon is better. If you are not a fan of Zendaya, I would never reccomend this "movie" to anyone. It lacks absolutely everything but occasional beautiful scenery.

I remember Zendaya since Shake It Up and although she is a smart and lovely woman with indeniable star quality, her acting has never been convincing. She always positions herself perfectly for the shot, has the needed movement or expression, but it is always with more connection for the camera than with the character (even in Euphoria). I also never found her use of her voice adequate, it is usually one note. It sort of works here because Tashi is a character as flat as a pancake.

The two other leads are no better and it is an already very far fetched idea that they would attract the attention of anyone, let alone of someone like the Tashi character.

And if this was a movie to attract tennis fans... well it won't. None of the tree leads looks like they have ever played sport. Any sport, any kind, not professionally, just any at all. In school, in the backstreet with friends. The director is either very incapable of his job or hasn't either. They hired Brad Gilbert to consult and help. Ok, but he helps with the wrong aspects. In the end of the day a general viewer would not care if the serve technique is correct, or if the movement and speed is accurate. But he would care about the absolute lack of any engagement with the game. No passion, no desire, no will, no care. Even Ivan Lendl has visibly shown more connection to the game and he was infamous for cool attitude. Or Andre Agassi or Nick Kyrgios who have stated many times they hated tennis. These actors look and act like they are trying not to trip, not to make a wrong move and not like playing for anything (not just the tenmis aspects of the movie). And from this there is no loud enough music to make you care about their game or desires.

The music is terrible allthrough, loud and without having any connection with the supposed story. The overly in your face "metaphors" are just tiring at this point. Filmmakers might wanna try some new and fresh approach to get the point across. And the overuse of slow motion... it just makes the movie even less.

In a time where we care about sparing resources, resources for movies like this shouldn't even be be considered to be spent.

Dull and a Joke

[ricneo-35782 · 10/10 · 26 April 2024]

I was looking so forward to Challengers .,But instead it's a dull story told many times over the years. 2 bisexual guys pining over a Hot Female (Zendaya) in a role that diminishes her talents . Many people are assuming they're walking into a film about Threesome couple . It's actually more fluid than that . Note : Challengers will face uphill battle Box Office in the Red States . The Movie is geared toward Liberal LBGT areas like NYC , San Francisco, LA and Miami . The only highlight is Josh O'Connor who gives an Excellent performance. And it's also not believable the Zendaya would find Fiest remotely interesting. It's a Clown show . Save $$$ See on Amazon later .

The use of metaphor is spot on.

[olcare · 8/10 · 8 May 2024]

I really enjoy high-quality sports movies, but this film uses tennis as a metaphor for a love triangle involving three abnormal individuals in a very accurate way.

Let me just say why this film is good. Firstly, it's technically very good. I'll detail the scene I'll say is the best, but overall, the use of cameras, where they stand, and the masterpiece climax in the final scene, make the direction top-notch.

The casting fits the script perfectly. Sometimes, it's the actors who determine the tension of a film, and in this film, our trio of leads creates a fantastic tension, very successfully.

Thirdly, the use of sports as a tool. In normal sports films, the main focus is on the sport and the plane it creates, but Challengers goes beyond that and metaphorizes tennis very successfully. And tennis could truly be the most individual among individual sports, so it's a very apt choice. The metaphor of the tennis ball being Tashi, especially, enchanted me. The back and forth between Art and Pat, and finally Art winning because of the Grandslam, is not an easy metaphor.

Fourthly, and the part I loved, the climax scene is amazing. Taking such a risk in shooting in such a different technique and jolting the audience in the theater with that scene is really well done. Putting the camera in place of the ball, drawing a bomb on the camera, shooting from different angles, all accompanied by a simple music that tells the tempo very well, is really the right move.

Fifthly, the film's sexiness is very well placed. The love scenes are not exaggerated and really well placed. Maybe the red-lighted scene at the end is a bit swagger, but all the characters look very sexy. Congratulations to Zendaya, Mike Faist, and John O'Conner, good job.

The point I didn't like is that the simple concept of family wasn't filled out enough, in my opinion. When Art and Tashi's child is mentioned, there should have been a flashback to that period and the importance of that in their lives should have been explained. Yes, the film is super-paced and great, but I feel it lacks something, and with a 5-6 minute scene added, the film could have been a 10/10 for me. Also, the focus on Pat's wound. Since we focused on it, we could have had 1 or 2 scenes of Pat's suffering as well.

And finally, I want to address people's comments. I think the ratings are exactly what the film deserves, the positives are very dominant, but there are minimal shortcomings, so the ratings are just right. Some people have said (especially in my country), "oh, we were very uncomfortable, it's exaggerated," etc. Dude, the whole point of the film is to try to explain a sick situation; all three characters have big personal problems; one worships people, the other worships sports (and of course, meaningless ambition and success), and the other behaves loosely and cowardly. Sorry, but it's silly to accept this situation as normal and make comments; excuse my bluntness, but watch the movie and try to understand it.

The film is very enjoyable and flows excessively, not a second boring, watch it in the cinema.

Additionally, some of the argument scenes in the film and the overall structure also resemble a tennis match, I forgot to explain (metaphor) that in my review, but I think this is also a major factor in the film's success. (For example, the argument scene between Tashi and Patrick in their rooms fits perfectly. This fight just like a tennis match.)

Everything in this world is about tennis except for tennis, tennis is about sex.

[hibaakr · 9/10 · 3 May 2024]

The movie is about obsession and power.

When the three characters meet in the hotel room the power dynamics are established, the boys are obsessed with Tashi and she uses sex to control them.

While the boys are obsessed witch her, she is obsessed with tennis and all she wants is to watch a good game, her injury stops her dream so now she is only able to indulge her obsession through one of them.

Art is easier to control and totally in love with her.

This is just masking of Tashis own obsession with tennis, when she tells the boys that she will be with the one who wins just because she wants to watch good tennis.

The movie ends with a twist, the boys revive their strong relationship and it does not matter who wins.

As she said, tennis match is a relationship.

Challengers was a challenge to sit through for 131 minutes

[ztpbrmhw · 6/10 · 29 April 2024]

First of all, this movie has an 80s-style vibe that we have seen many times before that could have well been told in a conventional 90-100 minute movie. This movie truly was not "important" enough to tell it over 131 minutes. Add to that there were pointless extended shots that you were begging to end. At about 100 minutes in, audience members were looking at their cellphones either to check the time or they were getting restless.

Second, there were excessive timeline jumps. It is often a useful story-telling device, but here it was excessive and distracting - so much so that when they did another timeline jump there was a consensus "groan." Making matters worse, is that there were time jumps as long as 13 years. However, Zendaya --- bless her heart --- as much as they tried to "age" her and "de-age" her through hair and make-up, she never looked, to me, older than about 17 years old regardless of the time era.

Third, while I credit Zendaya for tackling such a meaty role, and as much as I otherwise adore her, she just simply seemed to young to be so "weathered" and "jaded" and "cynical" and "ruthless" and "calculating" as she was. Further, I really don't remember her smiling once throughout the movie. And as I have read in other reviews, she seemed to have a resting "scowl" throughout the movie - ironically very much similar to the scowl she had throughout both Dune 1 and 2.

And lastly, by the end of the movie, none of the three characters were likeable, and, perhaps, oddly, sadly, Zendaya was, to me, the least likeable. And from a film character study point of view, the viewer is never given a reason or backstory for this.

With all these distractions in mind, I was so eager for the movie to end that I lost all investment whatsoever in who won or lost in the story's big moment.

Back and forth, in a trance... 10/10

[jsnyda · 10/10 · 23 April 2024]

This movie absolutely FLOORED me. The direction, the script, the music, the "acting" (I put quotations there because it felt like real life, the acting was perfect). The way the camera moves was CONSTANTLY fresh. One stop-motion-esque scene in particular --- but PLEASE, just go experience it for yourself. It's better than anything this year and will be bound to become an all time classic. There's nothing even remotely similar to this movie. The all-time most impressive thing about this movie is how at the start of the movie there is little attachment to the characters and then it reveals more and more layers until literally you are at the edge of your seat all the way up to the finish line. Layers and layers until, yes, a true CLIMAX. I don't write reviews, but this movie just grabbed me and excited me about film again. I'm home, sitting on my bed, and my heart is still pounding strong. This makes me want to create something. This is ART. 10/10.

A tepid tennis love triangle

[riverrising · 6/10 · 23 April 2024]

I saw this movie today at an early access showing. The movie had received an excellent critical rating so far and I try to go see every movie A24 puts out. Unfortunately in seeing the film I left feeling a little disappointed. This film showcases great performances from its leads and above average cinematography. However I thought the script was nothing special. The dialogue in the movie gets pretty cringy whenever it tries to be heartfelt particularly the beach scene which gave me second hand embarrassment. If you are going to this movie in hopes for something provocative or sexy I would save your money. I frankly think the advertising for this film plays up this element of the story because they realize the product is middling at best. Although on a final note I would say if you are a big fan of tennis or Zendaya it's worth a watch, particularly for the latter who is proving once again she will be a Hollywood mainstay for decades to come.

A Better than Expected Guadagnino Film

[akoaytao1234 · 8/10 · 13 May 2024]

Challengers is a non-linear sports film about how three people once met way back AND met again in a Challenger Series before the US Open Tennis Competition AND how their life intertwine between the years.

Hated the first third of this film. The ADHD Luhrmann edit and annoyingly overlong setup that they were actually a threesome. That third could have been halved to be honest. It did drag a bit. This could have been a shorter glimpse of the past to be honest. I also felt that stylistically, it was sort of a weird outlier to the overall film. I think Luca decided to switch it up mid-shoot AND it shows. It such a left field compared to most of the film.

But it picks up when it realized that it is about jealousy, bitterness and desperation. The last two thirds definitely is great film. Everything was starting to fall to its place AND the setups smoothly falls to pieces (though definitely easy to catch). I think it really drives well the intention of each character (much better than the initial scenes). The director also found footing on the style he wants to take with the film, though I have a major concern with the ending. A weird demonization of Tashi towards the end leaves a weird taste in my mouth. Its particularly weirder given the widely homoerotic tone of the film. Its too forthright with the 'homie'-sexuality that I think the way the it push that Tashi's machination is extremely selfish and self-serving can border to icky. In comparison, the boys are characterized as changed, loyal and is doing it for her. I think it can be interpreted as that she is awful AND is shown to be the only person being deceitful during both of her relationship with the man. Wished they handled it in a better way that gave her at least a redeeming quality. I think that was the downer of the film.

Otherwise, the soundtrack is really good but weirdly mixed. This might be a case of a bad cinema but there where moments that the soundtrack is suddenly so loud that you could barely hear the dialogue. I do not know if that is a stylistic choice BUT its just bizarrely rises and loses steam mid scenes AND I found it infuriating at times.

Acting-wise, Josh O'Connor. He was running in circles against Zendaya and Faist in this film. He knows how to be mischievous and mysterious. I even think that had he took Faist role, he can improve the role even. He was so good, given that he is dorky in real life. You could see someone who can inhibit character. Large kudos to that. Zendaya is a somewhat distant second. Again, not the biggest fan of Tashi's characterization BUT this is her most 'adult' role in terms of both sexuality AND just showing personality. Wished she pursue this kind of role that show her as a more complicated person that exist in a realistic world. Faist was fine BUT his acting really leaves much to be desired.

I will definitely watch again if given a chance. Personally, Guadagnino's most realized effort yet.

Watch "Match Point" instead

[leestoych · 6/10 · 20 April 2024]

This is a tough one. I liked the concept and the overall story. However i feel like it missed the mark on occasions.

The acting was decent. Felt like each character was built upon chemistry and realism. It kept me entertained for the most part.

The times jumps at the beginning worked and created suspense. Leaving the viewer unsure of what the history our 3 characters share however, the time jumps became a bit too rapid and i personally found it harder to keep up with where we are in the story. I feel like they could've left out a few scenes to make the story flow smoother.

The soundtrack was interesting. Not sure if it suited the mood of the film. But my biggest gripe is the ridiculously slowed down ending. Not sure what the director was thinking with that one.

The conclusion felt like it was going on for 1 hour and i felt it a little cheesy with the last scene of the film.

Overall I see a lot of influence from the film "Match Point" starring Scarlet Johansson. In my opinion that film was far more successful in what "challengers" was attempting.

Overall, bit hit and miss. Some decent moments but nothing to get you excited about or talk about after.

Not at all what expected

[olga-us · 3/10 · 27 April 2024]

I think all three leading characters were very well cast and delivered great performances, and the soundtrack is fantastic. But what came out is still a complete mess, feels raw and very cheap.

Dialogs are barely audible behind too loud soundtrack. The story is non-existent, and far too patchy, jumping back and forth in time. The characters are not very well developed, and their motivation poorly justified.

And what was all that product placement? Aston Martin, Uniqlo, Chanel, Augutinus Bader, to name a few. We really pay for the cinema ticket to have it all pushed down our throats?

The actors who worked on it and us, viewers, deserve better.

Exhilarating. Energetic. Excellent.

[parksiet · 10/10 · 4 May 2024]

Exhilarating. Energetic. Excellent.

Luca Guadagnino's Challengers is a riveting, pulse-pounding, thrilling sports romance-drama that blew my mind. I loved, loved, LOVED Challengers - didn't know what to expect, and walked out of the theater totally buzzing. It's smart and sophisticated while still poppy and propulsive. This is cinema that will carve new neural pathways and an essential reminder that film is the director's medium. Luca Guadagnino gifts us the most erotic, expressionistic mid-budget studio drama in years.

Challengers is electric. Every single second of this film is charged with a carnal passion for romance and sport. The chemistry between Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor is utterly intoxicating, as is watching them navigate their pursuit of success in tennis as it becomes inseparable from their personal relationships. I must stress that all three are phenomenal in the film. Zendaya's work, however, is especially staggering. I will 100% be rewatching and overanalyzing everything in the film, but especially the brilliant subtleties in Zendaya's performance, ones that contribute to Tashi's poise and confidence, and how she formulates her strategy to finding the perfect match.

There is so much style in every frame. The cinematography is exquisite and really creative, especially in the final tennis match. It has some of the best camerawork I have seen in a very long time. Much like the plot, it's playful and clever and keeps you on your toes. That final ten minutes is flawless filmmaking. The energy of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' techno score brings the house down with its heart-pounding and electric pulse of energy (The Reznor/Ross score is riveting and purposefully over-the-top on occasion, as it plays an integral role in (brilliantly) evoking specific emotions - it meshes so beautifully with the way these tennis scenes are so brilliantly edited), and that sound design, man it was awesome. And the editing - the story volleys back and forth in time, but the brilliant editing keeps the drama high. Some sequences had me full-on levitating.

Challengers is sexy as hell with some Uncut Gems level stress and tension! The building and use of tension in the movie is masterful. The climax is powerful and leaves you wanting more but also gives you enough to know exactly what happens next. This movie is an ace. Absolutely insane filmmaking - Guadagnino is truly a master of his craft! The performances from the three leads are magnetic, the dual timeline storytelling is consistently engaging, and the tennis scenes are incredibly tense. The central trio here is astonishing with a complicated, messy, dramatic relationship that defies easy analysis - it is a love triangle on acid. AND it's an original film! Challengers is in the conversation for movie of the year. Game. Set. Match.

A Challenge that is more than tennis

[davidfilippelli · 9/10 · 24 April 2024]

The first time a heard that the next Guadagnino's film was about sport, i knew that the game was just a part of what it would have been. This movie with his serious, painful, tense but also funny moments represented a real friendship and the will of fight for it, even without saying it directly.

The character of Tashi Duncan, the prodigy fallen into disgrace, literally was willing to do anything to reach hers dream of glory, and the incident made her vulnerable and lustful. She tried to move on but seeing other people less talented than her do what she was meant to do destroyed her and the desire of glory prevailed over love.

In the very last moment we can say that something has been finally fixed in everyone and the great Luca Guadagnino let us imagine the rest.

A very hot movie

[grigoraaakis-889-295918 · 9/10 · 2 May 2024]

"Challengers" is a film that you watch with all your senses and that's how it works perfectly. It's a movie clearly about lust and drive, and passion and it all portrays that in the form of an obsession with tennis. The boys, both the male protagonists are obsessed with Tashi and Tashi is actually obsessed with one thing and that is tennis. Luca Guadagnino commands the camera fantastically in this and creates a universe in which tennis is a perfect allegory for a relationship. It's beautiful, it's raw, it's full of passion and it's actually very hot! "Challengers" is a very horny movie and that says a lot given that there's no sex in "Challengers". Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist have an electrifying chemistry and Zendaya simply shines throughout as the absolute obsession. What a perfect little movie. The last act is pure cinema! The final scene masterpiece!

Better than advertised

[cliftonofun · 8/10 · 4 May 2024]

Based on word of mouth alone, I basically expected this movie to be a sweaty sexy love triangle. Granted, three people kissing while playing tennis didn't seem like enoughy to fill 130 minutes, but that is what I expected anyway. And as a result my expectations were low.

Well, I got more than I bargained for. First off, the movie just flew by for me - I couldn't take my eyes off all three of the stars, and both the synth soundtrack and kinetic camera work pulled me in immediately and never let me go. Second, instead of the usual underdog story, the sports setting offered the backdrop for an interesting reflection on what success looks like, how we each make sense of it, and whether we really want it as bad as we think. So yes, there was sweat, sex, and tennis (and a heavy dose of campiness that seemed quite intentional). But there was more than that too. While the movie followed a familiar formula, it also subverted it enough to keep me interested and entertained throughout.

Not A Grand Slam

[dajerkens · 6/10 · 28 April 2024]

I had very high expectations for this movie to come out and planned weeks in advance to see it. Perhaps that was unfair to factor in for my rating, but overall it missed the mark.

I had trouble following the timelines of certain scenes and felt confused throughout. Also, the movie basically has only three characters that have any role of significance which I felt was odd. Perhaps the umpire would be considered the fourth character that you see and he has a very small part.

I thought Zendaya was brilliant, but I didn't particularly like her character or the two competitors. There was nobody that you wanted to root for. For a tennis movie, rather go for Wimbledon than this one unfortunately.

I told ya'

[moritzherz · 8/10 · 12 May 2024]

Challengers is the tennis-drama we never had. It gives you everything from tense matches over a complicated love-story, to a great frienship. This movie might just be one of year's best.

When I saw the first trailer while sitting in Dune: Part Two, the tennis-romance mix was quite interesting to me. As the fellow IMDb users greenlighted it, I decided to watch Challengers.

Immediately from the start I was hooked. Luca Guadagnino chose shots of the main characters faces, showing the pearls of sweat running down their faces. This reminded me of an other great italian director, Sergio Leone, who mastered this kind of camera work in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

It turned out, that this would just be the beginning of an excellent camera work. Whenever the ball changes side the shots and cuts are so perfectly chosen you get the feeling of being a part of the match. This culminates into the last scenes in which they put you in ego-perspective of the players and, this is my highlight, the ball itself. All this leads to awesome matches better than the real ones.

But this would just be half as good if there wouldn't be the great score of thos film. The challengers theme appears fhroughout the whole movie and always delivers. If you hear it, you know its serious.

But the tennis is just the background, you could say. The romance between Art, Patrick and Zendaya's character is so greatly written. They both love her and she kind a loves both of them too, so you can figure out the problem. The friendship of Patrick and Art suffers from that, but eventually finds a happy ending.

This ending scene, I love it. It is a unique way to end the movie and it lets you behind with a bit room of interpretation. They could have shown how it goes on, bit they do not need to, because the viewer can think it further.

All in all this movie is full of energy. Regardless of being it the great tennis-matches or the romantic scenes. There is so much power in Challengers.

This is your perfect summer-movie, don't miss it!

You have a better shot with a gun in your mouth.....

[FlashCallahan · 6/10 · 24 April 2024]

Tashi, a tennis player turned coach, has transformed her husband from a mediocre player into a world-famous grand slam champion.

To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she makes him play a challenger event, which is close to the lowest level of tournament on the pro tour.

Tensions soon run high when he finds himself standing across the net from the once-promising, now burnt-out Patrick, his former best friend and Tashi's former boyfriend......

The biggest problem with this film is that it has been a very long time coming. Trailers for this were around almost a year ago, and every time I saw the trailer, I was thinking to myself 'oh not this again'. But a trailer does not make a movie.

It has so much potential, It has a genius premise, and the ending of the film is pretty fantastic, but it's way too long, and a lot of the symbolism and mythos of the film is lost in the soap opera script and slow second act.

My opinion, I believe that Tashi does not exist, she is some sort of subliminal image for the two leads, to help them reveal their true feelings. They are in love, and always have been. She really only ever interacts with the two men, and her daughter and mother are her past and future self, respectively. I realised this toward the end of the film, when Tashi just materialises in the hotel corridor. She simply isn't real.

And thats the genius of the film, and it's downfall, as it could have been something so much more than the melodrama that it is. And herein lies the problems. The subliminal symbolism is just so in your face, that it almost spells it out to you that the two men are in love.

For example, the scene where the two are eating churros is just 101 phallic symbolism, and the makers may have well just dressed the guys in effeminate clothing and left it at that.

The makers treat the viewers like they are stupid, and it's insulting. We don't need to be spoon fed the narrative, we like to have opinions, and like to come to our own conclusions. I may be totally wrong, but it's what I got from the film, and in my honest opinion, I think that is the arc of the film.

On the plus side, the tennis scenes are pretty well choreographed, and the majority of the score by Reznor is pretty enthralling, but now and again it gets a little too much, just like the film. And the camera loves to linger on Zendaya, sometimes so much, it's actually cringeworthy.

So it's not an Ace film for me, in fact, it's not even 15-love.

It's pretty boring.

Adrenaline rush till the end

[makeupbyizzy · 9/10 · 4 May 2024]

This movie was phenomenal. It is 100% going to be seen as a cult classic. The score and soundtrack of this movie adds so much to it, and the chemistry between Zendaya, Mike and Josh is incredible. I didn't understand what people meant by, "this movie makes you want to play tennis", until I saw it. It truly shows how beautiful and captivating the sport is.

My only two complaints would be I felt a lot of things were left open ended, I didn't like how in the end we don't know who won the final set, and a small detail in the beginning showed Patrick (Josh O'Connor) scratching him forearm, sort of alluding to him being a drug addict, and finally Tashi (Zendaya) says to Art (Mike Faist), "I would kill to get over my injury like you did", but they never show or tell us what type of injury Art's character was subject to. However, they may be leaving it open for a second movie perhaps. I also didn't particularly like the jumping back and forth between time periods and wish the movie had done it in a more fluid, story telling way.

Other than that, you can feel the tension through the screen. It is truly a movie that gives you an adrenaline rush, for example I saw it at 10 o'clock at night and left that movie theatre feeling like I could run a marathon.

Three souless character mirror today's culture.

[adaringdo-1 · 7/10 · 29 April 2024]

This wasn't what I would call a bad movie: the acting was fine, the events sometimes quirky, and occasionally boring. I can't remember the character's names because they are not memorable. Sexuality circling gayness, shallow lives and manipulative scenes transpire, but no story growth is presented. Multiple flashbacks are somewhat confusing, but acceptable to show the three people are the same at each age.

Mostly, each person manipulates the other without love (but touches on friendship) as if life is a shallow childhood game. They have no actual struggle except drifting in a river of self pity terminating in two men symbolically reverting to their teenage sexual fantasy of boy-bonding.

The last ten minutes was intense with fake drama, but it was compelling: a what-will-happen next that was a magical moment of smoke and mirrors that gays will love, but an adult audience will find pointless -- as it does not allow the characters to grow -- only regress to childhood wishes.

I was disturbed that the couple had a child and the movie pointlessly dismissed her as irrelevant because the parents were children too. This movie is a representation of the shallowness of humanity and where we as a society are heading if this immoral vision become commonplace.

Challenged by Poor Script and Characters

[SouthernViews · 1/10 · 27 April 2024]

Challengers will be a very divisive movie. Just scan the User Reviews. I think if you are a fan of either Zendaya or director Guadagnino, you will find no fault in this movie. Those reviews are all the 8-10 ones you see here.

Personally, I found the movie incredibly slow-paced, driven by a poorly constructed story with characters I cared nothing about. The first 15 minutes dragged, but when they did the flashback to when Tashi, Art, and Patrick first met, I thought there might be some potential. There was an attempt at character-building. But then the movie continued to jump back and forth in time to explain how we ended up where the movie began, with no effort to delve deep into any characters.

The script felt like a first draft. There was potential for an excellent story about how Tashi used and played Art and Patrick against one another to advance her life and career. But there are no key events to truly drive the plot. We just jump around in time to show their failed relationships.

I also found the acting dreadful, especially Zendaya. None of the leads can emote anything, possibly due to the poor script or directing. Most lines are delivered flat and monotone. The movie also lacks humor and joy, other than the first flash back scene.

Many scenes are also drawn out way too long, with throbbing techno music and slow motion. I constantly found myself looking at my watch or hoping there was a remote control so I could skip ahead 10 seconds. They could have easily removed 20 minutes from the final edit with no impact to the story. The last 10 minutes were truly awful.

The whole homoeroticism aspect also falls flat. Art and Patrick can shove churros in each other's mouths as much as they want, but there is nothing else about their relationship to think either is completely heterosexual. It's like the director had to throw this in to be edgy. Ditto with the locker room and sauna scene.

I also found the tennis action disappointing. I give the director credit for attempting something different by showing the action as if the player had a Go-Pro on their head or if the ball were the camera. But none of it works. There is no excitement or tension in any of the points played. And all of the full-frame shots of the actors swinging a racket obviously use a CGI ball.

And don't get me started on the ending. Everyone in the theater burst out laughing. And they were laughing AT the ending, not WITH the ending. I didn't hear a single compliment from people leaving the theater.

So, in summary, if you love Zendaya or Guadagnino you may enjoy this movie. Otherwise, wait for it to hit streaming. And have that remote ready.

too little of them acting

[ciffou · 2 May 2024]

I felt that three of them were good but Guadagino chose to focus on (a) the product placement (god.. could they be more obvious?) (b) the annoying soundtrack accompanying the endless scenes in slow motion of people staring at each other, and (c) cool camera angles. Don't get me wrong. I understand film is another language in itself but I think the acting is far from the priority of the filmmaker. In the few moments where we get to see them interact with each other there is chemistry. I don't understand why he (or Amazon) chose not to focus more on that. I was so over that annoying soundtrack of gay 90s club. Did he choose to cut the story like that because he knew there was not much story to tell to begin with?