Most film buffs have already watched Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers. We were there on opening day, ready to make it our entire personality, and well, we did. But interestingly, many people still have yet to do themselves a favor, and whether a possible love triangle is deterring them or knowing very little about tennis, Challengers is, in every way, a film worth watching. And it’s even more fun to watch it a second and third time, too.
With a thought-provoking premise and riveting characters, the film brings nuanced discourse to the internet and allows us to dive back into dissecting relationships. (Some of us always do this, shippers by heart and all, but that’s neither here nor there.) While Tumblr is still around and kicking, this film would’ve been everyone’s obsession in the early days. While conversations are still going strong on sites like Twitter and TikTok, there could always, always be more.
1. Challengers Features Compelling Characters
Challengers features some of my favorite characters in movies of the last five years, primarily because they’re so complex, so messy, and well-rounded that writing about them has been a blast. Art Donaldson, Tashi Duncan (Donaldson), and Patrick Zweig are the type of characters writers could look to as examples to understand what it means to be lovable and awful at the same time. Penning characters like this means knowing that viewers aren’t always going to be happy with their actions, but they’re going to sit together after an initial viewing and talk about them with fired-up emotions.
These characters will be remembered years and years from now because while they aren’t based on books or historical figures, in the two hours we spend with them, the actors imbue them with so much personality and depth that it feels like we’ve known them for ages. Films that span through various points in time don’t always hit as hard with the characters, but because they’re the ones hitting the ball at every moment (metaphorically and physically), Challengers feels more intimate. They feel more real and relatable.
2. Luca Guadagnino’s Directorial Vision Makes the Film Breathtaking
Every year, there’s one movie where there are so many perfect shots you can’t possibly pick your favorite. From beginning to end, every frame mesmerizes and keeps viewers entranced. This year, it’s Challengers. Guadagnino’s ability to veil characters with an intricate glow that feels both ordinary and otherworldly is no small feat. Most of the time, it’s not even what they’re doing or how they’re doing it, but it’s the light cast upon them that’s indescribable. (It does help that everyone’s unfairly beautiful in this movie, but that’s not entirely where the magic comes from.)
As a director, Guadagnino paints the cluttered parts of life with such an affinity for the human experience that you can’t help but be dazzled. He cares so deeply about people and their complex relationships with others that even something as simple as a conversation between two best friends holds unmistakable power.
3. The Plot is Refreshing
So much of the reason why Challengers works is entirely because of the ending. The film subverts expectations of the love triangle trope, and at the same time, it chooses to honor its characters. In an effort to keep this feature spoiler-free, I’ll refrain from talking about the actual ending, but it’s worth noting that if it’d gone in any other direction, it simply wouldn’t have been as memorable. It’s the ending that makes it feel new in more ways than one. It’s the ending that takes what could’ve been a cliche relationship and turns it into something bigger, messier, and more complicated.
4. The Casual Intimacy Is Stunning
Challengers is masterful at many things, but Luca Guadagnino remains unmatched when it comes to organic displays of casual intimacy. The number of times I held my breath? I lost count after the third instant it happened. Some of the most seemingly small moments carry the most weight in relationships. They leave a mark, etch themselves into the most emotionally charged parts of our being and stay there. More importantly, displays of casual intimacy show viewers how entwined the characters are while simultaneously proving that some of the sexiest moments can be when characters are fully clothed.
Whether it’s a thigh grab or pulling someone’s chair closer, a kiss on the wrist, or the simple extension of a hand, the intimacy sprinkled throughout allows the characters to be more vulnerable, giving the actors exceptional material to work with. Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor are brilliant in more ways than one, yet it’s how they present their respective character’s longings through quiet moments that hits like a ton of bricks in the best way. It’s what I still can’t stop thinking about months later and why the film is so easy to adore.
5. It’s the Year’s Best Film
The year might not be over yet, and Challengers might not take home any awards, but here at Lady Geeks, we’re deeming it the year’s best film. The performances are each award-worthy, the directing is exceptional, and the story is captivating on all fronts. It’s an enthralling love story that captures a lasting bond with thoughtful metaphors that center tennis in spellbinding ways.
It’s a breathtaking spectacle with an addictive original score, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon through memes and recognizable material. Whether it’s the “I Told You” shirt becoming a staple in our wardrobes or people wanting to take tennis lessons, the film is bound to leave its mark for many reasons.
Challengers is now available for digital purchase.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: © 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved