Anyone alive in 1973 will remember the hype around the famous match between tennis star Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and the misogynist ex-champ Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell). The narrative fills in the personal perspectives of both players, with LOTS of emphasis on King’s life-changing relationship with a woman. So much that it dilutes the focus on the competition. Stone and Carell are enjoyable and the directors manage to capture exciting energy of the time and the rivalry. The ultimate match is shot mostly in wide shots, which dilutes the impact of the experience on the two players and renders the climatic conflict less thrilling. Still, it’s an absorbing look at a time when gender equality and sexual orientation were just starting to be recognized as significant issues.
(3.5 / 5)