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Battle of the Sexes
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
If you’re old enough to remember the famous tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, then you can remember how different those times were. In fact, the match itself can be seen as a mirror reflection on the modern progression of the gender equality. The movie version of that particular match, “Battle of the Sexes,” goes beyond the match to tell the story of these two players of different genders and different generations, who changed the sport of tennis for all time.
In the early 1970s, tennis was a male-dominated sport. Despite that, Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) is at the top of her game as the current female champion. Outraged that league owner Jack Kramer (Bill Pullman) is paying the women much less than male players, she and her manager Gladys (Sarah Silverman), form their own women’s tennis organization, attracting the attention of the country. Along the way, she starts an affair with a hairdresser, Marilyn (Andrea Riseborough), despite the fact she’s married, to Larry (Austin Stowell).
Meanwhile, former tennis champion Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) is a down-on-his-luck hustler who is addicted to gambling, which annoys his wife, Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Seeing a golden opportunity, he calls up King and offers her $35,000 to play him. She turns down the offer, but her rival Margaret Court (Jessica McNamee), takes him up on it. When Court loses, King realizes she has to play Riggs. The match, played in the Houston Astrodome, ends up being the televised sensation of the decade.
Even though viewers may already know the outcome of the match, the movie does a good job expanding upon it by diving deeper into the lives of the main players. In the case of true sportsmanship, both of them get equal screen time, allowing the viewer to get to know each better and understand where they came from during that time. With such a clash of personalities, it makes an interesting viewing experience, especially for those who aren’t fans of tennis or any sport.
The movie itself follows the same trajectory that most sport films follow. Think of this as the tennis version of “Rocky,” but with a dash of Bull Durham, and you still get a fine sports drama. Of course, like “Rocky,” the final match will have you cheering from beginning to end. There is heart, but also a lot of comedy, courtesy of Riggs’ hilarious portrayal throughout the film. The blend of comedy and drama helps turn an average sports film into something special.
The main selling point is the actors doing a great job looking and acting like the people they’re portraying. Stone embodies King as the classic strong female protagonist in another wonderful performance that could once again give her awards notice. While Riggs is the antagonist, Carell brings a more lovable comedic personality perfectly playing a man trying to make a comeback in a way that will make him more memorable in the history of sports.
As it is, “Battle of the Sexes” is interesting to watch from a historical context. It wonderfully recreates a different era of sports and entertainment that’s just as enduring as the present. It’s worth a watch for some heart and plenty of laughs.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for some sexual content and partial nudity)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.5 Stars (Out of Four)
