In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women's movement, the 1973 tennismatch between women's World #1 Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men's-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.
Even after the hostility and the circus preamble, the matchup ends with a classy handshake, one that will continue to spark discussion and change backward thinking
It's mostly lighthearted fun. The two leads exhibit familiar character beats: Stone is sweet, toggling between tentative and quietly determined, while Carell finds the note of pathos beneath Riggs' braying goofball.
This film is much more than a skilful re-enactment. It's a witty and insightful exploration of the kind of person who chases sporting success and global fame, even when the odds are stacked against them.
Interestingly enough, is that had it not been for a handful of diehard chauvinists one of the most iconic moments of the women's rights movement might never have happened.
