"I'm gonna put the Show back in Chauvinism." Battle of the Sexes Review

Battle of the Sexes

1/5

Directed by: Johnathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Written by: Simon Beaufoy

Rated: PG-13

            On Thursday September 20, 1973, over 90 million people across the world tuned into to one sporting event. Men and women alike watched the game of the decade in the Houston Astrodome, where over 30,742 spectators gathered to watch former 1939 Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs, 55, take on World no. 1 Billie Jean King, 29. The momentous match between the lobber and the libber was hailed as the "Battle of the Sexes." This incredible true story of friendly competition, the press's power, and people's desire to prove once and for all which is the better sex...is not in this movie. Battle of the Sexes is a hypocritical look at modern day USA through the perspective of a warped and considerably forgettable biopic.
           The only decent aspect of this film, and primary source of its humorous, dramatic, and relationally impactful scenes is Bobby Riggs, played by comedy genius Steve Carell. In real life Bobby Riggs was a gambling addict and a hustler who portrayed himself as a chauvinist pig on television. Steve Carell nails this role and Bobby Riggs' unique sense of humor. In his efforts to blatantly show how men are better than women at tennis, he plays with ridiculous handicaps, and dresses up in silly costumes. It is amusing watching this 55 year old play tennis with a frying pan, walking three large dogs, and wearing a little-bo-peep costume with his own herd of sheep.
           Billie Jean King is played by a soft spoken Emma Stone, and the camera intently shows off her spotless complexion. Billie Jean's theatrical portrayal is not characterized beyond her ability to play tennis, which is rarely shown on screen, and her relationship with her husband and the woman she is cheating on with him. The story does not take necessary time illustrating Billie Jean as a strong hearted and worthwhile protagonist. By the time the battle between her and Riggs begins, audiences may find themselves rooting for the misogynistic showman, which should be this movie's opposite intent.
           What greatly diminishes Billie Jean's chances for character development is her forced romantic infatuation with her hair dresser Marylin, played by a plastic Barbie doll faced Andrea Riseborough. These awful scenes seem to take up more than 75% of this movie's runtime, significantly diminish the plot's pacing, and appear to be constructed in a way that conveys unnecessary intimacy with as little effort possible.
           The directors chose to display Billie Jean and Marylin's sexual attraction, through psychological direction. The cinematography in their scenes consists of extreme close ups on make-up  covered faces, and provocative shots with free floating movement, but little substance. According to an interview with  "Ney York Times'" the directors' goal was to mimic what is known as "the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). It's when people talk in a certain tone [and] elicit a sensual response." While these scenes have the ability to provoke uncomfortable arousal from audience members, they fail to create tenderness and deep rooted passion between the characters. Billie Jean and Marilyn's romance focuses on superficial biological desires, rather than greater unconditional love, the kind that makes a character heroic and noteworthy.
           In addition to these lack luster sexual scenes, this movie is hypocritical of its message. In Battle of the Sexes the obviously villainous Jack Kramer, founder of the Association of Tennis Professionals, claims women cannot play tennis as well as men, because they crumble under emotional pressure more than men do. This movie could have easily disproven the claim, by showing a heroic Billie Jean King overcome all obstacles and challenge Bobby Riggs with a level head and an optimistic spirit. Unfortunately the movie does not do this, and instead plays into Kramer's words. In the movie Billie Jean's unnecessary romance clearly messes with her head, and is shown as the main cause of her losses on the court and her emotional strife. Meanwhile Bobby Riggs' wife divorces him, he suffers from a gambling problem, and his oldest son does not appreciate him, yet Bobby Riggs plays tennis like a champ with a can do attitude. The film also deliberately points out that if Billie Jean left her husband and followed her misguided heart, then she would be able to win more tennis matches and be happy. If this movie was showing Billie Jean as a strong willed protagonist who did not let her romantic life get the best of her, then her domestic life would not have had a pronounced negative effect on her athletic skill or competitive attitude. It is sad that this movie puts supplemetary effort into heroically parading the male pig, and then tries to persuade audiences into believing that the writer and ditectors cared more about the hairy legged feminist just because she had the most screen time.
           Battle of the Sexes is one of the most appalling bait and switches in biographical cinema. This movie's advertising claimed the film would be a well directed and uplifting story about gender rivalry and its affects on the athletic environment. It is disgraceful how a story with such magnitude, popularity, and open power for change was mutilated into an unbalanced self righteous pat on the back for men and an awkward side hug for women.

Verdict: With its one good character being the showy antagonistic chauvinist pig, Battle of the Sexes is a hypocritical waste of an iconic historical event and box-office money.