The 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs has gone down in history for a number of reasons: not only did it turn the tide for the role of women in sport (particularly tennis), it became the United States' most watched tennis match of all-time - a record it reportedly still holds today. Now, almost 45 years after King's lucrative, boundary-busting victory, Emma Stone and Steve Carell star in film adaptation of that record-breaking meeting between the women's number one and the self-appointed male chauvinist.
When a forthcoming tournament reveals the female winner takes just one-eighth of the men's prize despite equal ticket sales, Billie Jean King (Stone) leads a boycott and begins her own tennis tour with a group of talented female tennis players. Meanwhile, the ageing Bobby Riggs (Carell) taunts them by claiming their inferiority and challenges any woman who will take him on in a winner-takes-all match. When King finally accepts the offer, both her professional and personal life are at stake.
Battle of the Sexes is a crowd-pleasing, shamelessly 'Hollywood' adaptation of the 'Battle of the Sexes'; it's a fluffy piece of popcorn cinema that definitely has its merit, even though it struggles to live up to its potential. In a similar vein to the Oscar-nominated Hidden Figures - if not quite as satisfying or remarkable - it looks back on groundbreaking events of our past but extracts timely themes of inequality and injustice, unfortunately still relevant in society today.
Simon Beaufoy's screenplay may make broad artistic strokes and re-adjust King's journey for maximum emotion, but he develops the themes carefully and considerately, sensitively exploring King's sexuality but never making it the sole focus of the film. He makes the 1973 exhibition the film's joyous culmination, documenting both Riggs and King's journey in the lead up to the event - but it only really steps into gear during the film's second half, lacking much of a spark outside the central performances in that first stretch.
And those two performance are truly wonderful, with Emma Stone the film's absolute calling card. Channeling King's no-nonesense attitude fabulously, complete with her sharp wit and dry sense of humour, Stone is the film's crowning achievement and elevates an almost middle-of-the-road biopic to great heights. Both fierce and subtle, her turn may not take her all the way this Oscar season like her performance in La La Land did, but her name certainly deserves to be milling around until the very end of that race.
Steve Carell is fantastic as Mr. Bobby Riggs: he plays the self-proclaimed male chauvinist pig with glee, obnoxiously taunting with cries of superiority without becoming wholly detestable. Like it or not, his character works the room well and Carrell is the perfect fit for the role. Of the supporting cast, a game Sarah Silverman impresses and constantly threatens to steal the film as the founder of World Tennis; and Bill Pullman is appropriately infuriating as Jack Kramer, reminiscent of his role in Torchwood: Miracle Day, wilfully making you squirm with each foul comment. It's packed with a number of fine performances (including Elisabeth Shue, Andrea Riseborough and Alan Cumming) but outside Stone and Carell, Silverman and Pullman are the real standouts.
Dual directors Johnathan Dayton and Valerie Faris do a solid job dramatising the true-life event, with the titular match particularly impressive in scope and energy. While there's a slight disconnect between the two halves - as if the film was literally cut down the middle and each director assembled their own movie - it's generally well-held together with a strong visual and a number of gorgeous shots running through it. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren works wonders in conveying the era: you really do feel transported back to the 70s and living through the build-up to the match, rather than simply watching a movie made to look like the early 70s. It's well-costumed and decorated with strong set pieces, capturing the spirit and weight of the situation and atmosphere fantastically.
Battle of the Sexes is well-scored by Nicholas Britell, who enhances the emotion superbly; it excels in the tender moments between King and Marilyn Barnett, conveying their love in a sensual, touching way. Lavender Oil and First Kiss are the score's particularly strong moments, emphasising the genuine emotion and their connection and chemistry well. Furthermore, Britell's soundtrack elevates the match sequences terrifically, sprinkling an intensity, energy and excitement throughout these final scenes, making the culmination of the Battle of the Sexes all the more satisfying.
Battle of the Sexes isn't quite the total victory I hoped for - like Bille Jean King herself in the concluding match, it struggles to get going to begin with and, while impressive, can't quite muster the brilliance many hoped. But as it heads into the second half, it find the energy and excitement to elevate it to crowd-pleasing, fist-pumping heights. Emma Stone and Steve Carell are sensational in the leading roles and explore the screenplay's set of timely themes effectively, helmed by two confident directors who manage to overcome the occasionally lacklustre pacing that holds the first half back somewhat. An impressive, crowd-pleasing biopic that, while not quite as show-stopping as hoped, is nonetheless inspiring and potent relief in these dark and challenging times.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Summary: Battle of the Sexes is by no means a grand slam but it's timely, gorgeous, emotionally engaging and well-acted, with a fantastic double serving of Emma Stone and Steve Carell in career-high performances.
When a forthcoming tournament reveals the female winner takes just one-eighth of the men's prize despite equal ticket sales, Billie Jean King (Stone) leads a boycott and begins her own tennis tour with a group of talented female tennis players. Meanwhile, the ageing Bobby Riggs (Carell) taunts them by claiming their inferiority and challenges any woman who will take him on in a winner-takes-all match. When King finally accepts the offer, both her professional and personal life are at stake.
Battle of the Sexes is a crowd-pleasing, shamelessly 'Hollywood' adaptation of the 'Battle of the Sexes'; it's a fluffy piece of popcorn cinema that definitely has its merit, even though it struggles to live up to its potential. In a similar vein to the Oscar-nominated Hidden Figures - if not quite as satisfying or remarkable - it looks back on groundbreaking events of our past but extracts timely themes of inequality and injustice, unfortunately still relevant in society today.
Simon Beaufoy's screenplay may make broad artistic strokes and re-adjust King's journey for maximum emotion, but he develops the themes carefully and considerately, sensitively exploring King's sexuality but never making it the sole focus of the film. He makes the 1973 exhibition the film's joyous culmination, documenting both Riggs and King's journey in the lead up to the event - but it only really steps into gear during the film's second half, lacking much of a spark outside the central performances in that first stretch.
And those two performance are truly wonderful, with Emma Stone the film's absolute calling card. Channeling King's no-nonesense attitude fabulously, complete with her sharp wit and dry sense of humour, Stone is the film's crowning achievement and elevates an almost middle-of-the-road biopic to great heights. Both fierce and subtle, her turn may not take her all the way this Oscar season like her performance in La La Land did, but her name certainly deserves to be milling around until the very end of that race.
Steve Carell is fantastic as Mr. Bobby Riggs: he plays the self-proclaimed male chauvinist pig with glee, obnoxiously taunting with cries of superiority without becoming wholly detestable. Like it or not, his character works the room well and Carrell is the perfect fit for the role. Of the supporting cast, a game Sarah Silverman impresses and constantly threatens to steal the film as the founder of World Tennis; and Bill Pullman is appropriately infuriating as Jack Kramer, reminiscent of his role in Torchwood: Miracle Day, wilfully making you squirm with each foul comment. It's packed with a number of fine performances (including Elisabeth Shue, Andrea Riseborough and Alan Cumming) but outside Stone and Carell, Silverman and Pullman are the real standouts.
Dual directors Johnathan Dayton and Valerie Faris do a solid job dramatising the true-life event, with the titular match particularly impressive in scope and energy. While there's a slight disconnect between the two halves - as if the film was literally cut down the middle and each director assembled their own movie - it's generally well-held together with a strong visual and a number of gorgeous shots running through it. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren works wonders in conveying the era: you really do feel transported back to the 70s and living through the build-up to the match, rather than simply watching a movie made to look like the early 70s. It's well-costumed and decorated with strong set pieces, capturing the spirit and weight of the situation and atmosphere fantastically.
Battle of the Sexes is well-scored by Nicholas Britell, who enhances the emotion superbly; it excels in the tender moments between King and Marilyn Barnett, conveying their love in a sensual, touching way. Lavender Oil and First Kiss are the score's particularly strong moments, emphasising the genuine emotion and their connection and chemistry well. Furthermore, Britell's soundtrack elevates the match sequences terrifically, sprinkling an intensity, energy and excitement throughout these final scenes, making the culmination of the Battle of the Sexes all the more satisfying.
Battle of the Sexes isn't quite the total victory I hoped for - like Bille Jean King herself in the concluding match, it struggles to get going to begin with and, while impressive, can't quite muster the brilliance many hoped. But as it heads into the second half, it find the energy and excitement to elevate it to crowd-pleasing, fist-pumping heights. Emma Stone and Steve Carell are sensational in the leading roles and explore the screenplay's set of timely themes effectively, helmed by two confident directors who manage to overcome the occasionally lacklustre pacing that holds the first half back somewhat. An impressive, crowd-pleasing biopic that, while not quite as show-stopping as hoped, is nonetheless inspiring and potent relief in these dark and challenging times.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
(7/10)
Summary: Battle of the Sexes is by no means a grand slam but it's timely, gorgeous, emotionally engaging and well-acted, with a fantastic double serving of Emma Stone and Steve Carell in career-high performances.