Challengers

There are really no words for how electrifying the ending is. Really staggering especially on a rewatch how many little details are woven into the time-jumping structure of this, in the form of jokes, jabs, visual motifs, careful reveals of vital information, references to fashion and sports culture, all of which do a lot to really unlock the masterful characterization and themes of competition, desire, and masculinity. My favorite of these details is the allusions to the differences between Art and Patrick’s physical development during adolescence and how that lends itself to Art’s looming insecurity in himself and his ability (in tennis and romance) and Patrick’s total self-confidence. [Patrick being an “early bloomer” and Art being “on time,” Patrick introducing Art to masturbation, multiple references to Patrick’s penis size, and more all reveal a lot about the dynamic between Art and Patrick that when examined in relationship to Tashi, takes this movie to another level for me.] Also I can’t talk about this without just mentioning just how damn fun it is. The performances by the three leads are fantastic. Guadagnino popped off with the style, and the contribution from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross really can’t be overstated. Even in dialogue scenes, the score makes you feel the energy and intensity of everything. God, this movie rips. Nothing better than when you realize that what seems like a pointless tennis match is actually maybe the most consequential sporting event in the history of mankind - and Guadagnino and the performers treat it as such. Come the fuck on.