Luca Guadagnino latest cinematic offering - Game, Set, Match?
Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya, brings a refreshing yet layered take on love and sport, set against the world of professional tennis. At its core, the film is about much more than the sport—it’s a high-stakes exploration of the emotional complexities that unfold between three individuals whose lives are intertwined in a web of passion, betrayal, and ambition.
Zendaya takes on the role of Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy who, after an injury, steps into the world of coaching. Her portrayal is compelling and multifaceted, balancing the hardened demeanour of an athlete who’s faced setbacks with the vulnerability of a woman whose past and present relationships shape her identity. Zendaya captures Tashi’s sharpness and charisma, delivering a standout performance that carries much of the film’s emotional weight. Her chemistry with her co-stars—Josh O’Connor as Patrick and Mike Faist as Art—adds a complexity to the love triangle at the heart of the story.
The central plot revolves around the entangled relationships between Tashi, her husband Art, and his best friend (and her ex-lover), Patrick. As the trio’s personal and professional lives collide, the film takes on the feel of both a tense psychological drama and a sensual love story. Guadagnino deftly explores themes of jealousy, longing, and competition, creating a narrative that feels intimate yet heightened by the stakes of professional sports.
The love triangle is the film’s driving force, and while this dynamic is rich with tension, it sometimes feels overextended. The emotional push-and-pull between the characters, particularly between Zendaya’s Tashi and O’Connor’s Patrick, is often compelling but occasionally drifts into melodrama. At times, the dynamic between these two characters tends to overshadow Faist’s role. Nonetheless, the film impressively excels in portraying the intensity of this love triangle, with each actor delivering nuanced performances that highlight the fragile egos and deep-rooted insecurities of their characters.
Known for his visually lush films, Guadagnino brings his signature style to Challengers, blending elegance with raw emotion. The tennis matches are shot with precision, emphasizing the physical and mental strain of the sport, but Guadagnino’s true focus remains on the characters' internal battles. The film’s visual aesthetic—cool tones, sleek set designs, and intimate camera angles—mirrors the polished, competitive world of tennis while giving us a voyeuristic view of the characters’ emotional struggles.
While the visuals are striking, the pacing of the film can feel jagged. Some scenes linger for dramatic effect, drawing out tension, while others move too quickly through key moments of character development. This imbalance occasionally makes the film feel disjointed, particularly when transitioning between the quieter, more introspective moments and the intense athletic scenes.
Challengers explores familiar themes—ambition, rivalry, and love (or is it love, when greed, pride, and lust are involved?)—but adds emotional complexity that gives the film its distinct edge. Tashi is driven not only by her competitive spirit but also by a need for control in both her career and personal life. This contradiction can be frustrating at times, but it reflects the complexities of the human experience. The film skilfully explores how ambition and love can become intertwined, and the price one pays when lines blur between passion and competition.
That said, while Challengers excels in character-driven moments, the broader narrative occasionally loses focus. The tension between the film’s exploration of relationships and its use of tennis as a metaphor doesn’t always mesh seamlessly. At times, the story feels caught between wanting to be both a sports drama and a romantic thriller, resulting in tonal inconsistencies.
Challengers offers an intriguing, character-rich drama that’s elevated by Zendaya’s captivating performance and Luca Guadagnino’s distinct visual style. While the film’s narrative may stumble at times, the intense dynamics between its characters and the exploration of personal ambition make it a compelling watch. It’s a film that plays with high emotional stakes, where love, rivalry, and ambition collide in ways that are both thrilling and thought-provoking.
Challengers now streaming on Prime Video
