Review of Gender Wars (2015) by Alan W — 13 Dec 2017

Adorable yet poignant and timely, this film about the famous 1973 tennis match between Bille Jean King and Bobby Riggs covers not only how it came into being but also juxtaposed events happening on and off the court by delving into the players' personal and marital lives, especially that of King's sexuality.

From the writer of Slumdog Millionaire (Simon Beaufoy) and directed by Little Miss Sunshine's co-directors (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris) the mannered tone is well judged while the drama is feelgood and breezy.

As a result, the 2hrs duration flies by effortlessly. Detailed period production and cinematography that evokes the 70s set a warm and nostalgic tone and Emma Stone and Steve Carell is brilliantly cast.

Stone's performance vividly draws out King's struggle between her conflicted private life and that of an ambitious and principled professional sportswoman, while Carell's chauvinistic Riggs is never written nor played as a caricature or a comedic villain and you end up feeling for his aging sportsman-turns-showman looking for something to strive and live for.

Even knowing the result of the match will not spoil any of the fun or dramatic tension in this engaging film which highlights issues that 40 odd years later still looms large in our society that is battling for more tolerance and equality between the sexes and even, the sexualities.