NEW YORK (AP) — How sexy can a qualifying tennis tournament in New Rochelle, New York, be? When the on-court drama involves Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, the answer turns out to be quite a bit more than your average USTA singles match in Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers.”
The film, directed by Guadagnino from a script by playwright Justin Kuritzkes, may have the appearance of a sports movie. Much of the action happens in between baselines. There are break points and short shorts. But in Guadagnino’s film, what’s being volleyed isn’t just a fuzzy little yellow ball.
“The ball is the ephemeral, invisible force of desire,” says Guadagnino, the director of “Call Me By Your Name” and “Bones and All.” “I wanted to show desire going back and forth.”
The result, by a score of about six-love, is the love triangle of the year. “Challengers,” which Amazon MGM Studios releases in theaters Friday, takes the melodrama of the threesome and gives it a breathless, bi-curious spin. That’s especially due to the multilateral chemistry between Zendaya, O’Connor and Faist — all actors in their late 20s or early 30s, all very capable of smoldering when called upon.
New Fort Wayne, Indiana, mayor is sworn in a month after her predecessor's death
China unveils regulations on implementation of consumer rights protection law
PLA garrison in Hong Kong organizes joint patrol
Tokyo raises alarm as deadly bacterial infection cases surge: media
Woman charged with murder in crash that killed young brother and sister at birthday party
China's tiger and leopard park sees over 35 cubs born in past year
Over 260 mln passenger trips made on first day of Qingming holiday
249 mln women covered by maternity insurance in China
Taylor Swift's former boyfriends have ended up marrying Swifties
Taiwan body donates cultural relics to national heritage administration
Richmond Mayor Stoney drops Virginia governor bid, he will run for lieutenant governor instead
Chinese courts highlight child protection during divorce trials