Movie Review: Challengers

I stayed up late last night watching Zendaya's Challengers (2024) and it has inspired me to write The Caroline Show's inaugural movie review. I'm using the phrase 'movie review' here loosely, as this will probably be more of my rambling than a traditional review (ie I probably don't have any real insights or critiques, I just want to talk about it.)  If you haven't watched it, I would recommend going to Amazon Prime and then coming back here in just over 2 hours to read my thoughts and share any of yours. 

I turned it on with no expectations other than I probably will watch for like an hour, get tired, and go to sleep. Well I did get tired but I could not turn it off!!! It's crazy because it kind of felt like nothing was happening, but it was still so captivating ?? Also, I've never wanted to use the word "cinamatography" before, but perhaps some of this was due to the cinamatography. At times it was sickening (POV: you're the tennis ball), at times it was confusing (when there's trash swirling all around them and they start glowing red while making out in the parking lot ??), and at times it was beautiful and cool and interesting (I really liked the shot where they're seemingly looking up at the court from underneath, as if through a glass ceiling). Similarly, that music was so intense I hated it but also it did it's job. I was locked in. 

I was so enthralled by the characters, because I was simultaneously rooting for each one of them to triumph over the others, and also thought each one was a pretty bad person and felt like they deserved to lose (in love and in tennis). I think this is probably what made it such a captivating movie-- having all of these complex, ever shifting, ever competitive relationships. I was also so struck by the power Zendaya held. To be honest, when the movie started I didn't think she was a very good actor, but by the end I was thoroughly starstruck by her. I don't know how much should be attributed to her acting vs how her character was written vs whatever idk movie stuff, but I just loved the absolute power she commanded over those men!! To be honest, coming out of a few days where I'd been feeling pretty down, watching her in this movie really reminded me of all the power and respect I can, do, and should command in my own life. 

Also, that ending scene!!! My jaw dropped. I loved it. I don't know exactly what it means, but I loved it so much. 

Now, for the negatives. I was caught pretty off guard by the nudity in the locker room, and I didn't love that. Also some of the product placement was pretty obvious, but I guess that's Hollywood. 

Anyway, if you've seen it lmk what you thought!! 

[and if you're looking for more media to consumer, Tramped by Turtles put out an ep yesterday called "always here" that I'm finding absolutely mesmerizing. like I just let those 5 songs play over and over and over again.]