Ben and AJ Eccles attended screenings of the new movie CHALLENGERS this week, and are here to discuss this bold new entry into the growing tennis movie canon (NB: we very carefully avoided any significant spoilers until a very clearly marked intermission at the 41-minute mark).
Directed by Luca Guadanigno and starring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist, we discuss how CHALLENGERS compares to recent tennis movies like KING RICHARD and BATTLE OF THE SEXES, and how fiction can actually allow for greater truths.
We also discuss what big and small things new movie gets right about the experience of life on the professional tennis tour, what it explains about tennis culture, and how the campy action sequences do or don't affect the film. We also discuss what the film shows that Netflix's Break Point failed to do.
Again, no spoilers until 41 minutes into the show (and even then we hardly give away everything). AJ also wrote about CHALLENGERS for The Second Serve, so please do check that out as well! Thanks for listening!
Episode 366: "Challengers" Screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes
Episode 364: WTA Goes Saudi; Huge Premier Tour Changes on the Table
Episode 363: Sun Shines on Sinner, Collins, Swiatek and Alcaraz
Episode 362b: The State of the Union in Women's Tennis, Golden, Oldies
Episode 362a:A Halep Reversal and a Rublev Removal
Episode 361b: Sabalenka Smashes Australian Open Women's Field
Episode 361a: Sinner the Winner of Men's Australian Open
Episode 360: 2024 Australian Open Draw Show
Episode 359: ”Naomi Osaka” - Behind the Book
Episode 358: Women’s Tennis Turmoil Reviewed
Episode 357: The Year in Men’s Tennis (With Ricky Dimon)
Episode 356: Simona Halep and the Biggest Doping Conviction in Tennis History
Episode 355i: 2023 US Open Finals - Coco Gauff’s First; Djokovic’s 24th
Episode 355h: 2023 US Open - Semifinals Wrap, Finals Preview
Episode 355g: 2023 US Open Day 10 - Blair Henley, the New Voice of the US Open
Episode 355f: 2023 US Open Day 9 - Shelton Upsets Order, Beats Tiafoe
Episode 355e: 2023 US Open Day 7 - Ostapenko Ends Swiatek’s Reign
Episode 355d: 2023 US Open Day 4 - Going Back to Tennis
Episode 355c: 2023 US Open Day 3 - Is the US Open a Good Neighbor?
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