Better Late than Never on "Challengers"

RD has been on my case for some time now to watch the movie "Challengers". I kind of just let it fly by the wayside because I was not all that interested in some tennis movie that may have adult themes. It just didn't really float my boat. But I had some free time last week during the day to watch. I reluctantly hit play, the movie is just a hair over two hours, which always gives me pause, but I settled in for the duration and I'm here to say, this movie rips.

I loved it . It is a very well made and well acted movie. I was talking to myself while watching, saying, "RD was right. This movie is rad". I don't know why I had any previous hesitations, besides what I mentioned, but I'm glad I didn't let that stop me from finally streaming it.

For people that may not know, "Challengers" focuses on three tennis phenoms. It tells us the story of how they met and where they went after that meeting. We first see the two main guys, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor, involved in what looks like an intense tennis match. We then see that Faist is this super successful tennis player, and he is married to Zendaya, who is his coach. O'Connor seems to be down on his luck. He's clearly talented, he is playing in a professional tournament, but he sleeps in his car, his credit card gets declined at a motel, he eyeballs a lady's breakfast sandwich until she gracefully offers him half. He is down, but not totally out. The lady tells O'Connor that Faist is playing in the tourney, and this is where we get our first flashback of the movie. We get to see that Faist and O'Connor are old friends. They played doubles together when they were younger.  They were roommates at a tennis boarding school. They do pretty much everything together. This is where we meet young Zendaya, who is a tennis wunderkind. People are at this next generation tournament to watch her. She is the star. Then the horiniess of this movie comes into play. These three actors have a ton of chemistry and it shows, especially in these flashback scenes. The whole plot is basically that these two dudes love Zendaya, and they are constantly fighting for her attention. Sure, they're best friends, but things change when a beautiful and successful person enters their lives. They play for her number. The three of them have a hard core make out session in the hotel at this tournament. She winds up dating O'Connor's character for a good long while. Zendaya and Faist go off to Stanford while O'Connor turns pro. O'Connor and Zendaya are still together during this, but when she realizes she can't control or coach him, they break up. She then brutally injures herself. This is when Faist enters the picture as her guy. All of this is shown in flashbacks, and those are intercut with the two of them, in the current day, playing each other in the final while Zendaya watches. Zendaya and Faist marry and have a kid. She likes this because she controls every aspect of his career. She is in charge of his every move. I like that they show how much stuff goes into being a pro, and that most of it is done behind the scenes. Zendaya even handles all of the marketing that goes into her husband's career as a pro. but O'Connor being at this tournament just brings up old feelings and old issues. Him being there is forcing Zendaya to revert to her old days. She sneaks out to be with him the night before the final. She clearly doesn't love Faist anymore. He wants to retire and says as much, which is why Zendaya leaves to be with O'Connor. O'Connor and Faist have it out in the sauna the day before the final.

All of this may sound boring, but the way it is put on screen is so cool and so unique. And then you add on the Trent Reznow score to this movie, and that took it over the top for me. I said to my dad and another brother of mine, after watching the movie, that I think Reznor is the best at scoring movies right now. I like others, but there is just something about the way he uses music to heighten a scene. The score is so awesome and adds a whole other layer onto this kickass movie.

I loved "Challengers". I was wrong to shove it aside. I should have watched it sooner. But I did finally press play and I had an absolute blast watching this movie. I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't seen it, or give it a rewatch if you already have. This movie rules. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Last weekend my wife and I watched "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery". Let’s discuss.

I enjoyed the first two movies in the series. I think the first movie is incredible and I don't get the hate that the second movie got after it was released. I thought the second movie was very funny in fact. I have always enjoyed the murder mystery genre, and when the powers that be make it a little funny, that is right in my wheelhouse. My son saw a few minutes of this most recent one and he asked my wife and I if it was like "Clue". I feel like that was a very apt comparison. I thought he hit it on the nose. And "Clue" is a classic. I feel like the "Knives Out" series has brought the essence of "Clue" into the 21st century. These are funny and fun murder mystery movies. I know that they have said that Agatha Christie stories are the inspiration, and while that may be true, these are much funnier than any Agatha Christie novel. That is what appeals to me.

And this new one starts with comedy at the very top. We see this newish priest, played by Josh O'Connor, and he is pleading with the board to keep him on hand. Apparently he has punched a church goer in the face for something they have said that rubbed him the wrong way. We never learn what this person said, but this new priest is passionately pleading his case. Josh O'Connor is so great in this role. I don't know much about him, but in this movie he was so good. He portrayed this new priest as what I imagine someone in his generation would be like. He was passionate and opinionated, but he also knew his purpose in life and was going to fulfil that no matter what. I thought he was funny and compassionate and I was there for it. Jeffrey Wright, in a small role, plays O'Connor's mentor of sorts and he was perfect. He has such a commanding and powerful voice and you buy every word out of his mouth. When O'Connor gets put into his new church, this is where the movie truly starts to roll. He is placed in a small church in small town New York, and the characters that this church has are second to none, Josh Brolin is the main guy and he is a piece of work. He plays a version of this new wannabe alpha male who just happens to have an audience. He is mean and spiteful. He goes after what he wants with blinders on. Brolin, who seems to be in every good movie lately, does a fine job playing this butthead of a character. He goes for it and lands the jump. The community is made up of some wonderful actors. Kerry Washington has a "kid", played by Daryl McCormack, and he is a piece of work. He's entitled and a prick. He is a prototypical new age republican. This actor is great. Washington is phenomenal as the put upon lady in her family. They push her aside and make her do all the dirty work and she does it until she cannot take it anymore. And when she exposes information, that is a powerful performance, Cailee Spaeny is very good as the former cellist who has turned to the church to try and help her get over a serious injury. She is the joker who got sukered into thinking money and faith could help her heal. Jeremy Renner is very good in a very different role for him. He is a drunk whose wife left him. He will do anything to get her back, but he goes about it the wrong way. He is a pushover and a follower. Andrew Scott is a sci-fi writer who, much like Renner, will fall in line with the group. He has some of the best comedy readings in the movie and his fate at the end was hilarious and fitting. Thomas Haden Church plays a hard working guy who just wants what is best for his partner. Church continues to prove he is a capable actor. His partner is played by Glenn Close and she has the best performance by anyone in this movie, and it is not even close. She is wonderful as the keeper of the church and her arc is such a joy to watch in this role. Mila Kunis plays a cop and she is so understated and does a wonderful job using cop jargon and going about her business. And then we have Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc. This is such a fun role for him and he seems to be having a grand old time playing this detective. He chews scenery in the best way possible and I really love seeing Blanc on screen.

This third installment is fun, funny and a well done movie. I thoroughly enjoyed all two and a half hours, and it flew by. I cannot recommend this movie enough, especially if you have seen both, or even one of the previous movies. I believe you will find it as enjoyable as the others.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.