Using the sport of tennis as a backdrop, Challengers ramps up the drama between Zendaya and her two friends Patrick Zweig played by Josh O’Connor best known as Prince Charles in the TV series The Crown and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist who played Riff in 2021’s West Side Story). The three make quite the power trio but as the story evolves and more information becomes available you realise the power is held by just one.

It’s a testament to Zendaya’s increasing skill of craft that even though her manipulations of these two boys (who never quite grown up to be adults) are complete, you still find her interesting and not so easy to dismiss outright. Her agenda is one of self-advancement and as more facts drip from the faucet you realise that she holds all of the power over these two more than willing dupes.

The sport of tennis is presented in an almost stomach-turning way as the camera is constantly in motion and supplemented by computer graphics that keep the plane of perspective ever elusive. It also successfully masks the fact that they can’t actually play world-class tennis. The film score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is forceful in the extreme. This highly stylised take on Tennis with its throbbing soundtrack gives teen angst a path to extend into young adulthood and provides another successful route for Zendaya to do her thing.
Rob Hudson
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Centred on a spicy love triangle filled with twists and turns, this captivating romantic drama is not to be missed.

Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court.

Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – West Side Story), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (O’Connor) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.

As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.

Join us at the Ladies Night Preview on Wednesday, April 17 at 6.30pm at either Dendy Cinemas Coorparoo or Dendy Cinemas Portside. Also Screening in their Premium Lounge at Dendy Coorparoo.

Screenings includes your choice of a Watermelon Margarita or Winter’s Passion from the Happy Hour Cocktail Co on arrival.

Challengers Ladies Night Preview Screening
Wednesday, April 17 at 6.30pm
Dendy Cinemas Coorparoo and Dendy Cinemas Portside
www.dendy.com.au

Oscar and BAFTA nominee Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name”, “I Am Love”) directs from a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes. The film is produced by Amy Pascal, Guadagnino, Zendaya and Rachel O’Connor, with Bernard Bellew serving as executive producer.

Golden Globe winner Zendaya (the “Dune” films, “Euphoria”) stars alongside Golden Globe and SAG Award winner and BAFTA nominee Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”) and BAFTA nominee Mike Faist (“West Side Story”).

Guadagnino’s creative team includes such frequent collaborators as director of photography Sayonbhu Mukdeeprom, production designer Merissa Lombardo and editor Marco Costa, as well as costume designer Jonathan Anderson. The film’s score is by Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (“Soul”, “The Social Network”, “Bones and All”).

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Presents a Why Are You Acting? / Frenesy Films / Pascal Pictures Production, Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers”. The film opens in Australian cinemas 18 April, 2024 and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – West Side Story), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor – The Crown) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.

As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.

Challengers will be released in Aussie cinemas October 5!
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