Challengers 2024

Good movie, I feel like I would have liked it more if it wasn’t so fucking slow. That final scene was so infuriating, it was so good yet if I had to watch one more slow motion shot of one of those guys bouncing a tennis ball I think I would have had to leave the cinema. Yet at the same time it was so dramatic, with all the flashbacks it felt like the final match at the end of a sports anime.  The non linear narrative was good. I don’t usually like films like that, every time I’m getting into it there’s a flash back and it kinda ruins the flow for me. It was the same for this film, I let out a large sigh every time it cut to 5 years earlier. But it was all worth it when it came to the final match, with each cut back in time adding more context and making the match have higher stakes and more intensity. By the end I had no idea who would win and even who I wanted to win. Some of the shots were incredible. In the first scene the push in to zendeya during the match was one of my favourite shots of the whole film. The final scene the shot that was the tennis balls pov was really cool. Also loved the lighting in the shots in the parking lot towards the end. Really nice film to look at. All the characters were awful and it made me feel uncomfortable. But they were well written.  It’s a shame the final scene was so slow because it was amazing. The fact they conveyed so much to each other just by looking at each other. When he puts the ball in the other guys serving position that was an incredible moment. I don’t really get what Patrick did wrong to ruin his friendship with Art. Her injury was not his fault at all, she started that argument. They both kinda annoyed me, I liked their friendship. Very interesting film. My first time paying for a cinema ticket since leaving my job at cineworld. I was there 2 and a half years and saw 78 free films in total. Was nice to go back but may have to buy an unlimited card for the future.  7.9/10