Battle of the Sexes

And once again Hollywood is handing us yet another film based on a true story replete with problematic yet colorful characters smack dab in an era that was as controversial as it was tumultuous. Why so many projects based on true stories? Not sure, but with "Battle of the Sexes" how could fiction get any stranger?

 

In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women's movement, the 1973 tennis match between women's world champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men's-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the Battle of the Sexes and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis courts, sparking discussions in bedrooms that continue to reverberate today.

 

Others to round out the cast are Natalie Morales as Rosie Casals, Sarah Silverman as Gladys Heldman, Bill Pullman as Jack Kramer, Alan Cumming as Cuthbert 'Ted' Tinling, Eric Christian Olsen as Lornie Kuhle, Fred Armisen as Rheo Blair, Jessica McNamee as Margaret Court, Austin Stowell as Larry King, Billie Jean's husband, Wallace Langham as Henry, Lewis Pullman as Larry Riggs, Bobby's son, James Mackay as Barry Court, Margaret's husband and Martha MacIsaac as Jane 'Peaches' Bartkowicz.

 

This was well executed by directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris ("Little Miss Sunshine" '06, "Ruby Sparks" '12) plus videos and shorts. These filmmakers were amazingly able to extract those quirky personalities out of Carell and Stone playing the lead roles so well that you thought you were watching the real personalities. Their films are eclectic films and I find it refreshing when unoriginal and banal are the order of the day. It was brilliantly written by Simon Beaufoy ("Among Giants" '98, "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" '08, "Slumdog Millionaire" '08, "127 Hours" '10, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" '13, "Everest" '15) plus others and TV. This is a writer one can't pigeon-hole hence the resume, which I find an asset. His ability to write a well thought out, cohesive script is amazing and this screenplay follows suit. There were a couple of small places of slowness, but otherwise this storyline soared. The fact that Beaufoy has garnered an Academy Award (for "Slumdog Millionaire"), proves he has what it takes to write a powerful script. Who knows, with this film, he might be looking at another Oscar nomination come that time.

 

When it comes to very powder-dry comedies, this is one that excels. Sure there are dramatic moments in this, but as one continues to watch this film, the characters are so over-the-top that the story leans to that comedic formula. Although not a film for everyone, this is certainly a well-crafted movie that delineated, will please those that are film affictionatos.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                  Rated: PG-13                                    122mins.