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Luca Guadagnino always wants to make his movies sexy, whether its sun the sun basked horniness of “A Bigger Splash” and “Call Me By Your Name” or the the body horror of flesh on flesh in “Bones and All” and “Suspiria,” Guadagnino loves his sex drenched films. But one could argue that while titillating, his previous works do not always earn their moments but rather sprinkle them throughout in hopes of enough satisfaction. His latest, CHALLENGERS does not have this problem. This tennis match of the mind and body is a soaked in sweat and thrusts its characters bodies at every turn. The tension s built up just enough that the release feels all too satisfying even if its three leads struggle to feel fulfilled. And while CHALLENGERS may seem like a film based solely on a love triangle you quickly realize it is based more around the much needed display of male intimacy and the many detours that encounters. This is not t0 say that this is a film of two men that belong together and the woman who keeps them apart, no it is more a film of three different people all in love with three different aspects of one another but their genesis of companionship began with the gaze of two men both who created one other. CHALLENGERS thankfully gets to also be Guadagnino’s most complex film in terms empathy. A film that often creates a clear villain and clear “hero” to say is constantly switched up much like the two sides of a tennis court, knowing full well with a new view brings new difficulties and perspectives. But even above all the complications CHALLENGERS wants to be the type of film (and it succeeds) that shows that whatever is happening on the court what is off the court is much more important and drives the athletes past their potential or worse their limits. But where other sports movies has used melodrama to show the behind the scenes of an athletes life Guadagnino has fun throughout showing that sex drives all three of the film’s leads and to be honest it pretty much drives everyone else as well.

Art and Patrick are perfect together. (Mike Faist and Josh O’ Connor respectively). Two young hot shot tennis players in the doubles tournament Art (Mike Faist) is there in front to protect the ball while behind him is Patrick (Josh O’ Connor) ready to blast the ball over the net if Art can’t hold it back. Guadagnino is not being coy about the physical positions of these two men, nor is he when their celebration on the court involves Art wrapping himself around Patrick falling to the ground. There is less humor in their enjoyment of one another and more appreciation for both Guadagnino’s directing and a script by Justin Kuritzkes to show two men who are clearly affectionate for one another without any hesitation. Anyone who has ever played competitive doubles knows the relationship you build with your teammate and Art and Patrick are no different. Their movements are in sync and no more than when they watching someone who Patrick deems “the hottest fucking person alive.” Enter Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) who with exuberant star presence makes it hard to argue with Patrick’s description. Zendaya is a mega star, but that can often grow worrisome of if her abilities as a performer can match the level of fame she has reached. Thankfully and to no surprise Zendaya surpasses these already high standards that unfortunately (or fortunately who knows how she feels) isn’t expected from many entertainers her age. Tashi Duncan is going to take over not just the tennis world, but the world in general and Patrick and Art want every bit of it. When the two practically stampede a first encounter with Tashi the match has already begun. Patrick and his arrogant ways are no match for Tashi who refuses to just go pro but instead get a college education first at Stanford much to Art’s excitement. But the back and forth of their first conversation is nothing to the battle that ensues when Tashi agrees to meet the two boys back at their room. Guadagnino must be a big fan of 90’s adult porn, because most of the wonderful set ups of CHALLENGERS is a tribute to an era of video cassette porn stars, gay pornstars to be more specific. Yes fans of performers like Aaron Austin, Hal Rockland and many more will eat these moments up. (If you don’t know these men then enjoy the homework) But Guadagnino never uses his love for 90’s erotica as a way to be corny or lesser (pornstars are not winning Oscars for their acting mind you) but instead to show how the foreplay and the moments before is all meant to build up tension before that wild release, much like the sports of tennis itself. A moment between these three will define evert movement from their on out. It is a scene that is as exciting as it is dangerous knowing that while two people can finally  enjoy themselves there is one that sees opportunity from this all.

CHALLENGERS does not want to spend a lot of time in each moment. The film is wonderfully edited by Marco Costa in a way that is neck breaking and exhilarating. Bouncing between different years as fast as a tennis ball we learn that Tashi has now married Art years after a horrible career ending accident, and Patrick a has been tennis player does not know how to play the politics of the game and struggles to find a tournament who can keep up with his antics. But CHAALENGERS is not as interested in its players separate as it is what happens when they are thrust back together. Watching old friends connect in a who cares city like New Rochelle becomes as comfortable as your highs school reunion and bumping into that old friend you made out with under the bleachers. It happened; you can’t forget it but know you have no other connection to the person. Art and Tashi may want to see Patrick as that old friend we used to “fuck” but any athlete can tell you that past friends and enemies on the court are unforgettable. Thanks to Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor’s thumping score the film is brought away from just another sports film and into a world that feels like a nightclub you’d find in Chelsea back in the day, perhaps the old Food Bar club for those that are familiar with it (you know who you are). The score pulsates through every scene and brings Ross and Reznor’s best score since “The Social Network.” Guadagnino decides even that is not enough as his stylist choices besides the porno world plays like a hall of mirrors all forcing you to look at yourself from every angle and giving the audience a no holds back glimpse into these players. It is exciting filmmaking not just for the director but even more so for showing larger than life ideas can still be used for studio films in a time where settling seems to be the go to choice.

Even as CHALLENGERS brings the excitement of players battling it out physically, the film never wants us to forget the strings being pulled behind the scenes. There is a level of vindictive behavior on each of the three, but even if one stands out more than the others the script knows there will always be a sense of empathy towards each one especially in regard to whatever the audience brings to the film. Tashi may seem like the breaking point for these two men using them as pawns, but the frustration that is inside her does not come from irrational places. Patrick’s wickedness to twist the game and possibly a marriage stems from being the one player most dedicated to the craft of tennis while Art the seemingly good natured husband lives in a world of self doubt and co-dependency brought on by himself but quickly latched onto others. All three performers shine but this is Josh O’ Connor’s biggest moment constantly proving beyond himself (this critic still argues that every role given to Paul Mescal should be O’ Connors). O’ Connor uses Patrick as a sledgehammer but one that knows in the end where his heart lies. The film even lets you know this from the start, making a mockery of the audience if their hellbent on only seeing a love triangle. It was never meant to be one, nor was Tashi ever meant to be a villain even if she does get her Cruel Intentions moment, this is a film titled CHALLENGERS but very much about the two who we first see as doubles. A pair that deserves the sunset while the other deserved her own fame. But the film does not shy away from the idea that male comradery can be a beautiful thing and often built in a much larger sense then just appreciation for the other man. There is an intimacy that cannot be matched and while the film is asking every bromance to become a physical relationship it is asking if the world would be a lot happier if that did occur. After all you’ll never find a more physical relationship then two bros just tackling or wrestling one another so breaking that last resistance really may just be the key to being a better player all around. One can laugh it off but CHALLENGERS is saying why not be all you can be, the worst that can happen is you get enjoyment from every angle, quite literally. That may be the best success of Guadagnino as a filmmaker this time around. He has crafted the kind of film that like a great tennis match you can’t help but watch the winning shots over and over again. A film that deserves multiple rewatches not just for its craftmanship but a reminder that like those VHS tapes you buried under your bed the moment you hit play that instant satisfaction happens and there is no shame in rewinding it the moment it ends and rewatching until your sweating and gasping for a break.

A

CHALLENGERS WILL BE RELEASED IN THEATERS BY AMAZON MGM STUDIOS ON FRIDAY APRIL 26