BATTLE OF THE SEXES

US, 2017, 121 minutes, Colour.
Emma Stone, Steve Carrell, Andrea Riseborouogh, Natalie Morales, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Elizabeth Shue, Eric Christian Olson, Jessica Mc Namee, Lewis Pullman, Austin Stowell.
Directed by Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Farris.

This is how a famous tennis match was billed in 1973. It was the initiative of veteran tennis champion, Bobby Riggs, at that stage aged 55, challenging a female player, fully expecting to win – after all, he had issued a challenge to Margaret Court, who had accepted, but lost to Riggs. He had previously challenged US champion, Billie Jean King, who had declined but, after the defeat of Margaret Court, accepted. And the rest, as they always say, is history!

This is a tennis film for enthusiasts of the sport, with some highlights of the Riggs- Court match, and a substantial, well-choreographed presentation of the important features of the King-Riggs? match, enabling the audience to see skills and tactics, King wearing out Riggs, making him run all over the court. And she won.

Steve Carrell has something of a luminous presence on screen, is able to do the very serious, but also has a capacity to excel at clowning when required. And this is certainly required in portraying Bobby Riggs, antics on the court, playing with two dogs on a leash, dressing up as Little Bo Peep along with some sheep… He was an inveterate gambler, trying the patience of his wife, Priscilla (Elizabeth Shue), winning a Rolls-Royce? as prize for a game and selling it to get the prize money for the tournament, relying on the support of his son (played by Lewis Pullman, Bill Pullman’s son). Carrell certainly brings Riggs to life.

The title, however, says much more. This is a film about equality and about equity. In terms of equity, the film opens with Billie Jean King, played with zest and enthusiasm, although with a kind of luminous quality, by Emma Stone, accompanying her manager, Gladys, Sarah Silverman, to the bosses of the American Lawn Tennis Association and defying them about payment to women players. The proposal by the Association was to pay men eight times more than women – alleging that men were far more interesting and athletic to watch.

The women created their own women’s tennis tournament, sponsored in the manner of the times by a cigarette brand, Virginia Slims. They were successful, succeeding in drawing Margaret Court (Australian actress Jessica Mc Namee) to play with them. Jack Kramer (Bill Pullman) head of the Association, with a rather smug superior attitude towards women, was to do the commentary on CBS for the Battle of the Sexes but Billie Jean King refused.

However, the title has a touch of the ambiguous because it is also a battle about the sexes, about relationships, about same-sex relationships. The narrative here has Billie Jean King attracted to Marilyn, the tournament hairdresser, Andrea Riseborough, and discovering her orientation. With this theme, the film is very topical in the light of worldwide discussions about same-sex marriage and issues of legislation. (In the background is a gay couple who designed the dresses for the women, characters, including Alan Cumming, able to make comment about the situation in the context of the 1970s.)

And, as we see often in films based on actual characters, information about their continuing lives and photos of the real persons.

1. A tennis film? Tennis plus? Broader themes? Relationships? Men and women?

2. The film based on actual characters, events? Dramatised 45 years later?

3. The period of the 70s, costumes and decor, cars, hotels? The musical score?

4. The tennis background, Billie Jean King and her achievements? Bobby Riggs and his achievement? Margaret Court, tennis champion? The background of other famous players? The variety of tournaments? Jack Kramer and the Lawn Tennis Association? The commentators, Howard Cossell, commentator from the period?

5. Issues of equality and equity, men and women? The opening with the Lawn Tennis Association and the discussion about prize money, eight times the amount allotted to women? Kramer and his comments about audiences and men playing, women and their lesser interest, strength, skills? The background of emerging feminism, women libbers, the presumptions by men? Women’s equality, women’s equity in the professions? Billie Jean King and Gladys defying Kramer? Sponsorship, Virginia Slims and the tobacco industry? Public opinion?

6. Emma Stone as Billie Jean King, age, her career up to this point, skills and talent, awards? Her personality? Strongly defying Kramer? The visit with Gladys? No ideas for developing plans? Sponsors, the tournaments, the women tennis players, the travels? Getting Margaret Court on side? Billie Jean King and her personal life, her marriage to Larry, dependence on him? Relationship with her parents?

7. Lesbian issues, in the 1970s, presumptions about marriage? Billie Jean King in herself, meeting Marilyn, the hairdresser? Bonding, the time together, the sexual encounter, Billie Jean King’s hesitation, the repercussions, the secrecy? The background of the dress designers, the gay couple, their appreciation of what was happening? The gay men and their comments? Margaret Court, condemnatory, her husband surprised?

8. The introduction to Bobby Riggs, Steve Carell? His experience, age 55, victories? At home with Priscilla, her wealth, playing with Junior, the meal sequences? His having a job in Priscilla’s father’s company? Going out, playing tennis with the dogs, the bets? Clowning, humour? His gambling? His winning the Rolls-Royce? in the gambling, delivered at the door? Priscilla, her reaction, ousting him? His staying with his son, his son’s support? Going to the house, asking for underwear and Priscilla throwing them out the window? Bobby Riggs and his friends, drinking companions, the coaches?

9. Bobby Riggs, the Rolls- Royce, selling it, his idea, phoning Billie Jean King in the night, the proposal, the refusal? Margaret Court and her beating Billie Jean King? The distraction with Marilyn and Margaret Court capitalising on this and the emotional difficulties? Bobby Riggs ringing Margaret Court, the discussion with her husband, accepting the challenge?

10. Bobby Riggs, the campaign, clowning, publicity, the commentaries? The game, Riggs winning?

11. Billie Jean King, the relationship with Marilyn, Larry meeting Marilyn in the corridor, realising what was happening, the effect, his leaving? Yet his support of Billie Jean King, her being faithful to him before this?

12. The character of Gladys, in charge, manager, sponsorship, interactions with Billie Jean? Her supporting her, and the reactions and the final match?

13. Billie Jean King making the decision, the extent of her training, hard, getting the flu?

14. Bobby Riggs, his gimmicks, the collage of his stance, even Little Bo Peep and the sheep? His talking with Priscilla, her still loving him, but not able to live with him?

15. The match, Billie Jean King’s parents and their support? Marilyn coming? Larry and his stances?

16. The choreography and editing of the game, the tennis fans, the non-fans, able to understand the game, the techniques, tactics, Billie Jean King wearing out Bobby Riggs, taking off his coat, the defeat?

17. The effect on each, Billie Jean King sitting, weeping, going out to meet the crowd and celebrate? Bobby Riggs alone, accepting his defeat, Priscilla coming in and supporting him?

18. The information about the life and careers of Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs? The issues of gay rights and protest, changes, Billie Jean King and her partner (and being technical advisors for the film)? Bobby Riggs and his staying with Priscilla?

19. An interesting tennis film, interesting character studies and performances, and contemporary issues of sexual orientation and relationships?