Battle of the Sexes (2017)

As expected, Jack and I liked very much this dramatization of the 1973 Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs tennis match, the personal lives of the players, and the social challenges of the time. Emma Stone (last blogged for La La Land) and Steve Carell (most recently in these pages for Café Society) are terrific as King and Riggs. So are Andrea Riseborough (last in Nocturnal Animals) as the tour hairdresser Marilyn who plays a pivotal part, Sarah Silverman (most recently blogged for The Book of Henry) as the women's tennis spokesperson Gladys Heldman, and Elisabeth Shue (Oscar-nominated for Leaving Las Vegas in 1995, she was also good in The Karate Kid (1984), Cocktail (1988), Back to the Future parts II and III (1989 and '90), Mysterious Skin (2004), and, as herself, Hamlet 2, among others) as Riggs' wife.

Originally Danny Boyle was set to direct from a script by Simon Beaufoy (last blogged for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen). When Boyle had a scheduling conflict with T2 Trainspotting, he stayed as producer and brought in the married directing team of Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton (most recently in these pages for Ruby Sparks, they directed Carell in Little Miss Sunshine (2006). Good choice. It all feels pretty authentic, including the use of historic footage, although apparently the filmmakers took some liberties with various timelines. After seeing the movie, you may want to read this analysis.

Before his birthday in August, Carell and Stone, at 54 and 28, mirrored the age difference between Riggs and King (55 and 29) in 1973. No big surprise that there were tennis-playing doubles for both of them, with Stone's and Carell's faces added in post-production.

We enjoyed hearing the hits of the 70s, listed here with clips, as well as the original soundtrack by Nicholas Britell (last blogged for his Oscar-nominated score for Moonlight), which you can stream from this playlist.

I can't find the exact quote, but I heard King say (or read that she said) that, despite her record twenty Wimbledon titles, including six for singles, and many other accomplishments in the sport, she is best known for this match which was more about entertainment than athleticism.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics are averaging 84 to its audiences' 76%. Just go see it to remind yourself that we've come a long way, baby (in some ways but not in others)!