Powerhouse Performances, Tension, and Tennis in Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers’
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Director Luca Guadagnino has a way with close-ups and tension, be it suspenseful or sexual. He’s a filmmaker who knows how to use close-ups to reveal hidden emotions in complex characters. That skill is an enormous strength in his latest film, Challengers, the story of three tennis pros whose lives are entangled in complicated and intriguing ways.
Zendaya is former tennis prodigy Tashi Duncan who was on her way to becoming one of the greats until her career was derailed by an injury. Now she devotes her time to resuscitating her husband Art’s (Mike Faist) tennis game and getting him back on top as a champion. But things take a turn when Art’s former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend Patrick (Josh O’Connor) comes back into the picture.
This movie rests squarely on the shoulders of our three leads, who all have incredible chemistry with each other. Zendaya, in particular, is the powerhouse of the film, giving us the widest range and bringing her trademark unstoppable charm. Much like Art and Patrick in the story, the audience is immediately drawn to her.
The dynamic between the three creates a powerful tension—competitive at first, but then sexual and emotional as the narrative plays out in non-linear moments. Often we see the aftermath of an event or decision, which leaves us on the edge of our seat to see how it all played out.
There’s passion, love, betrayal, lust, scheming, supporting, and so much more to this twisted web. The way our allegiance as an audience shifts between characters in each scene is truly gripping and will surely give the film a lot of rewatch value.
