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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Battle of the Sexes (2016) in Movies

Jul 11, 2019  
Battle of the Sexes (2016)
Battle of the Sexes (2016)
2016 | Biography, Comedy, Sport
8
7.9 (16 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
1972: Billie Jean King (played brilliantly by Emma Stone) just became the Grand Slam Champion of the Women’s Tennis Association. She had challenged the inequity of pay between the Men’s and Women’s Tennis Tour. Once she learns that the tournament for the Lawn Tennis Association is paying Women one eighth of the Men’s purse. She goes up against Jack Kramer (Bill Pullman at his misogynistic best). Billie, with her Manager, Gladys Heldman (Sarah Silverman in spectacular form echoing a more subdued version of Bobbie Fleckman) leave the LTA and start their own Women’s Tour. Which became the Virginia Slims tournament.

Around the same time, Bobby (Steve Carell, playing Riggs like a manic Pagliacci) the once Pro Slam Champion who now works in a nondescript office at his father-in-law’s business. Bobby, the dreamer, is a gambler figuratively and literally. The man who’s inner child has taken the reins on the run. He is the clown who needs constant attention, and the showman who could sell the Golden Gate. Carell, gives an exceptional performance, riling us up with cringe-worthy moments and showing us the man that is so certain of his abilities that he forgets the fable of the tortoise and the hare.

We are brought into relationships that these two athletes have with their families and loved ones. Of what they went through before the epic, world famous Battle of the Sexes in the Houston Astrodome. The film serves us a picture of the time where women had recently began the feminine movement and Women’s Liberation. The entire feel of the movie is set solidly in the seventies, the sexism rampant and accepted as the status quo. Misogyny is socially acceptable and Riggs and friends epitomize the attitude.

There is also the story of Billie Jean, realizing an attraction to a woman she meets before the starting her tour. Marilyn (Andrea Riseborough was magnetic), the hairdresser that was instantly drawn to Billie. We also get the treat of seeing the magnificent Alan Cumming as Ted, the charming designer of the women’s fantastic tennis outfits. Wallace Langham as Henry, the tailor.

The story is built up to the historic Battle of the Sexes at the Astrodome. We see the work that Billie does in preparation. Daily drills and practice games. Bobby’s confidence in his ability to deliver a win that mirrored the decimation of Margaret Court (Jessica McNamee) who at the time was the top female tennis player in the world.

The directing duo of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine) delivers us a well balanced, heartfelt film with a stellar cast. The soundtrack brings us into the early seventies and the costuming is quantum leap back to the time where polyester leisure suits and colorful shirts were the height of fashion. This is a love story of Billie Jean King and Tennis
  
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Debbiereadsbook (1202 KP) rated Love All in Books

Feb 1, 2023  
Love All
Love All
Liza Malloy | 2023 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
steamy and emotional, but dark in places!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

On the tennis courts and in the sheets, Nate and Olivia are perfect. Elsewhere, not so much. Can they really make a go of it?

Sometimes, I have issues​ will college aged characters, mostly cos I'm way older than that. These two though, are perfect for each other and I loved them both!

Olivia is working hard to make ends meet: Nate doesn't have to. Olivia tars Nate with the same brush she uses for all entitled men, and steers clear. But something changes as they get to know each other properly. Olivia is big enough to admit she might have been a teeny bit wrong about Nate.

But when Olivia gets the shock of a person entering her life she never knew, things spiral out of control for Olivia. She will not become like her mother. Nate wants to help, but only makes things worse.

I loved how these two bantered off each other. There is a good deal of passion between them, and it burns bright and hot, right through the book. Well, dims a little but given what happens, hardly surprising.

I loved that Olivia made Nate think about his own family situation and that there are ways out of it, if he just takes that step.

Its steamy and smexy, but emotional and a bit dark in places, when Olivia explains about her tattoo.

First I've read of this author, AND the first tennis book! I will admit, while both Olivia and Nate play tennis here, the actual playing of tennis is not described in any great detail and I liked that. As the least sporty person on the planet, I appreciated that. But I'd like to read more by this author, I like how she spins and tells her tales.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere