Malaysia Release Date: 25 Jan 2018
Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:01
Cast: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Natalie Morales, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Elisabeth Shue, Jessie McNamee, Austin Stowell
Director: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy
With what's happening with the #MeToo and Time's Up movement now, BATTLE OF THE SEXES should have been a compelling watch but instead it was flat.
This movie based on true events isn’t really focused on the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” - a 1973 made-for-TV exhibition tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King (Stone) and ex-champ and hustler Bobby Riggs (Carell). Instead, it’s more of bio-pic of King’s life between 1972-73; her struggle with her sexuality and her fight for gender equality in the game of tennis.
The plot on King's first lesbian relationship felt forced. It didn't feel organic as it lacks any sort of chemistry. Instead, it's Stowell's performance as King's husband which felt more real when he discovered his wife's sexual preference. Maybe it's Stone's portrayal as the lead. As an icon of the 70s and the first gay tennis player to come out of the closet, Stone's performance didn't carry any sort of aura at all. As for Carell, he looks eerily like Riggs (according to some reviews, everything about the way Carell moves and behaves resembles the real person).
As for the central match, it was poorly re-enacted. It lacks tension and drama. The event which was watched by millions on TV felt surprisingly small. Battle of the Sexes lacks depth and is disappointingly superficial.
RATING: 5/10
With what's happening with the #MeToo and Time's Up movement now, BATTLE OF THE SEXES should have been a compelling watch but instead it was flat.
This movie based on true events isn’t really focused on the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” - a 1973 made-for-TV exhibition tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King (Stone) and ex-champ and hustler Bobby Riggs (Carell). Instead, it’s more of bio-pic of King’s life between 1972-73; her struggle with her sexuality and her fight for gender equality in the game of tennis.
The plot on King's first lesbian relationship felt forced. It didn't feel organic as it lacks any sort of chemistry. Instead, it's Stowell's performance as King's husband which felt more real when he discovered his wife's sexual preference. Maybe it's Stone's portrayal as the lead. As an icon of the 70s and the first gay tennis player to come out of the closet, Stone's performance didn't carry any sort of aura at all. As for Carell, he looks eerily like Riggs (according to some reviews, everything about the way Carell moves and behaves resembles the real person).
As for the central match, it was poorly re-enacted. It lacks tension and drama. The event which was watched by millions on TV felt surprisingly small. Battle of the Sexes lacks depth and is disappointingly superficial.
RATING: 5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment