The biggest question I kept asking myself throughout the film was “Is Tashi (played by Zendaya) really a homewrecker?”, and I guess I can’t say much now, but by the time you finish the movie, you’ll have yourself an answer to that question.
Throughout the entire duration of Luca Guadagnino’s newest film, which is surely destined for Oscar Buzz amid the upcoming 2025 Oscars season, kept me glued to my seat the ENTIRE time I was watching this film, from beginning to credits to the end credits, I was enthralled by Guadignino’s world that he created, and the characters that came with that world.
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Writer: Justin Kuritzkes
Cast: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, A.J. Lister
Rating: R (for language throughout, some sexual content and graphic nudity)
Release Date: 4/26/24 – Wide
At first, we are immediately thrown into a tennis match against two unknown characters, and to the side, we see this woman which both players seem to know, but at that moment, I just knew her as Zendaya. As this first introduction match continued, I could tell these characters had a past, let alone knew each other. Guadagnino does a great job positioning and stationing these characters so that their chemistry does arise. Because of this, Zendaya gives one of her best performances to date. As for Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, the two have a remarkable chemistry that is sure to swirl around some potential Oscar nominations for the upcoming year.
As we zoom back and forth through time, we start to understand why this tennis match that the movie opened on is so important, and what it means to all the characters involved. Sure, the plot might be fairly simple, but I don’t think Guadagnino relies heavily on the plot to bring out the intended emotions for the viewers. This film is heavily centered around its characters, and I believe Guadagnino and the screenplay did a good job at ensuring these characters stay relevant and that we, as an audience, still care about them.
I do really appreciate how this film shows us that we really don’t need a huge over-the-top plot for a film to be entertaining, instead, we can be caught up in over two hours’ worth of tennis matches, obsession, and the reality of being famous. Now, in the current day, Tashi is married to Art Donaldson (played by Mike Faist), who happens to be a finalist for the Challengers, a tennis competition. The other finalist happens to be Patrick Zweig, who is Art’s ex-best friend, and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend. To win this match, Art must overcome his past, and Tashi must ensure Patrick will not get away with the trophy.
Overall, Challengers is a fascinating character study that explores the differences and similarities between love, lust, and obsession. Guadagnino does a phenomenal job at presenting a movie that is so fascinating, that you’ll want to be a part of every second.
Wyatt’s Takes 