Is the New Challengers Movie Good? Yeah x10
Even their names are literally the coolest names I’ve ever heard — Tashi Duncan <3 Art Donaldson :3 Patrick Zweig :D
Listen, listen, listen. I’ve seen this movie twice this week. I’m already thinking about when I can see it next. Yeah, it’s THAT good. Not only is it good — it’s captivating, alluring, and sexy. It has depth. You may have heard that it doesn’t have that much dialogue, but BOY does this script have THINGS to SAY. There is plenty of non-verbal communication that is jaw-dropping and downright revolutionary.
We’ve been hearing this a lot — throuples are the new thing in mainstream media. But in queer culture, throuples have BEEN a thing. And let me tell you, I think this movie transcends straight/queer culture and is simply: monoculture. By definition, monoculture means the cultivation of a single crop in a given area. In sociology, monoculture is used to discuss group dynamics, when culture is led or dominated by a single shared belief, objective, or other element that defines the group.
As contemporary culture philosophers and my favorite hot boys Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers describe on their podcast Las Culturistas, monoculture is essentially required reading, it’s something that’s for every single person on the planet, and everyone can enjoy it. Take Titanic, for example. Perfect monoculture. If you only could grow one crop, maybe you’d want the Titanic because that’s your fave movie all of time. For me, my crop of the summer is CHALLENGERS. What’s your crop of the summer, my trashies?
Here’s what I took away from seeing the Challengers twice:
The soundtrack is the club album of the summer (see Treasure Chest for the only playlist you need right now, featuring my favorite songs from the movie).
Sometimes the sexiest and RICHEST thing a person can do is put on lotion. I think Trash volume 11 is going to be about “applying lotion as storytelling” because damn is it one of my favorite ways to be dramatic in TV/film.
The line between love and hate is super close — especially when the stakes are high. I mean, these particular characters are professional tennis players, so sadly I cannot relate to them too much, but I think there’s definitely something to be said about friendship, falling in love, and falling out.
Tennis is FUN to watch. Have you watched Break Point on Netflix? You definitely should.
Always play with someone who is better than you — that’s the only way to get better.
Maybe everyone needs a sexy Zendaya bob this summer???
Thighs might be the best body part — I’M LOOKING AT YOU JOSH O’CONNOR.
I really want a churro and I want to share it with all of my best friends.
ANYWAY — I really hope you treat yourself to a night at the theater to see this masterpiece of a movie. I think all three of them should win Academy Awards right NOW. I can’t wait to see Zendaya in more movies. AND we get to see Josh O’Connor star alongside Paul Mescal in a romantic movie soon — yes, it’s confirmed!
