Bottom line: This movie is not just for sports fans. The athletes are dealing with trials and tribulations that just did not fit into the mystique and the theater of sports at that time.
One would think a movie where the ultimate outcome is not in doubt would be boring. Battle of the Sexes was a great film told from multiple points of view. Primarily, the film is told of Billie Jean King’s but the story also gives the perspective of Bobby Riggs, Billie’s opponent in the exhibition match, Billie’s husband, Bobby’s wife, and Marilyn who has a hidden romance with the tennis great Billie Jean King. At times, there was more going on with the principals’ personal lives compared to the drama on the court. This just illustrates that life does not stop when the games begin. These are real people who have to work through real life distractions and challenges. Sports is competition, theater, and living myth all at once and getting the opportunity to see behind the curtain feels surreal as we get a glimpse of the real people behind the sports legends.
Bottom line: This movie is not just for sports fans. The athletes are dealing with trials and tribulations that just did not fit into the mystique and the theater of sports at that time. Broadcasters, then and now, have conversations with the television and radio audiences and embellish the play by play to create a special experience. Usually, if an athlete has an illness or some kind of struggle, it is only brought up to effectively prove that the athlete has so much to play for and their accomplishments are legendary. The broadcasters, as told in the film, brought up changes in society, injuries, and the relationship between the sexes, but these were only part of the story. In that time period, marital difficulties, questions about orientation, and gambling were too taboo to bring up. Athletes had to play within the confines of the narrative to appease the arbiters of what sports programming should be. Broadcasters were also not portrayed as being bigger than the sport or having an effect on the outcome (which is clearly debateable in hindsight).
(Overall 3.25) This was a good film with solid acting by the principals Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Natalie Morales, Elizabeth Shue, Alan Cumming, and Bill Pullman. Emma Stone showed vulnerability, but also toughness and determination as Billie Jean King. Bobby Riggs, as played by Steve Carell, was like the clown that is actually crying. His gambling and marital woes make you feel pity for his situation, especially if you were rooting for an unapologetic male chauvenist to lose. If you enjoy films about the sports personalities primarily off the field, then you should enjoy this film. If you are not into character development then maybe this isn't the right fit for you.
(Drama 3.5) There were some really deep moments in the film spliced in between the comedy and the theater of sports. This includes the conversations between Bobby and his wife, Billie and her contacts as part of the tennis association, as well as Billie's husband and hair dresser. Depending on the situation, someone gets hurt, someone gets rejected, and someone feels loved.
(Action 2.5) Battle of the Sexes is not an action adventure film, but the film production makes good use of the action to tell the story, provide mood or tone to a scene, or convey emotion. It was effective.
