A modern take of the classic, Design for Living, this drama about desire and lust amid the intensity of tennis competition is a fascinating character study that draws its audience to a powerful conclusion.
Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) is a rising tennis star who meets two young men who have just won doubles in the US Open. The friends, Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor), are both immediately drawn to her, and this love triangle is a complicated relationship that waxes and wanes over the years with the harsh reality of championship tennis in the background. As years go by, Art and Patrick face off in an important challengers match that has implications for their careers even as their bond with Tashi ultimately comes into focus.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name), sensitive scenes are given full breath and, led by an excellent Zendaya, acted beautifully by the cast, all of whom actually perform their own tennis lending authenticity to the story. There is imaginative cinematography capturing the intensity of tennis amid a pulsing soundtrack.
The
film’s structure utilizes a series of flashbacks
through intervening years or even days, and despite the timeline
gymnastics, it all comes back to the challengers match which serves as the key
point from which to look back on the development of these relationships and
how they change over time. The
screenplay (by Justin Kuritzkes) verges on some humorous moments like a make
out scene unlike any other. The themes
about love and friendship as well as a coming of age and the pressures of competition
are the strength of the film as it relies on investing in these characters whose
emotions spill onto the tennis court. It’s a winner and much better than expected.
****1/2
of ***** (for Zendaya fans)
No comments:
Post a Comment