Tropic Sprockets / Challengers

By Ian Brockway

Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) is arguably the closest thing to Roman Polanski without actually being Roman Polanski. The Italian auteur frequently focuses on obsessive or dysfunctional relationships. [Showtimes at Tropiccinema.com.]

In his latest film “Challengers,” young tennis star Tasha (Zendaya) bumps into two young tennis players. One, Art (Mike Faist) has talent. The other, Patrick (Josh O Connor) does not. The two are inseparable and do everything together. Both hypnotically entranced by Tasha and ask for her number. She agrees to meet them. After some shared banter, she has a threesome but settles on red-haired Art as her main attraction.

After a short while, Tasha and Art marry and become a powerhouse sports couple, going on talk shows, and scoring endorsements. Years later, Art becomes jaded and self-absorbed, nervous on the court. He starts losing and becomes semi-retired, mostly commentating and watching TV.

Tasha gives him an ultimatum based on his libido: he must start playing tennis again at a level or else.

The next day, Patrick appears sleeping in his car before a match. He begs Tasha to be his coach. After some manipulation, Tasha agrees, and they commence an affair. Art becomes horribly jealous. This inspires pleasure from Tasha, who coldly states that if Art does not win a match against Patrick, she will seek a divorce. All the while, because of the tension, Tasha is excited beyond measure.

While at first appearing flat, Art and Patrick evolve into their own as male drones, vying for the attention of Tasha, a domme in white Polo attire on the level of Salome.

Narratively the film flirts with the genre of soft porn, but only a short volley concludes before something more sinister is in the works.

Cinematically, there are many artistic references in this film, from Brian De Palma to the homoerotic paintings of Paul Cadmus. This is another fine outing from Guadagnino, exploring the toxins of jealousy, ego, and sexual dependence. Zendaya shines as the aloof and distant power player with a bloodcurdling scream of victory that sounds like the roar of Hell.

Write Ian at [email protected].

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