ashford, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 11/11/2017 10:45 AMReported by: Film Critic
    Plot: The true story of the 1973 Tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

    I follow a lot of sport, and Tennis is the one I follow in most detail. With that, and seeing the 2013 film documentary of these events, I was pretty excited to see how this would turn out as a feature film.

    The story of this match from 1973 is so historic and pivotal that it really elevated women in sport and make Tennis the premier women's sport that it is today.

    I was loving the casting choices of Emma Stone and Steve Carrell as our two leads, and with Stone collecting an Best Actress Oscar earlier this year, I was hoping her hot-streak would continue in this.
    Also, in terms of the timing of this release, it is spot on. Given whats been going lately in the media in regards to equality, this could not have been any more perfect.

    I felt pretty satisfied with this in the end. It touched on all the correct things that happened during that time. So I was happy that it will make people understand all the critical moments that got us to where we are today. I was enjoying Stone and Carrrell perfectly personifying the characters personalities.
    The second half of the film starts to show you that it's the type of story that you would not believe was true. I had forgotten so much of the general circus-esque antics in the build-up to the match itself.
    Then as we get to the match, it really transported you to that time period. From the costumes, sets and even the way it was shot looked like genuine archive footage. It was almost scary how exact they got everything to look how it did back then.

    While Billie Jean King is the central character, it was Steve Carrell who was the stand-out as Bobby Riggs. He showed the true spirit of Riggs. While he purposely came across as a chauvinist of the highest order, it was purposely emphasized to put on a show, and that's what he did well, and Billi Jean knew that. That's what made them great together, especially in the press conferences.
    Emma Stone was good as Billie Jean. It's not going to win her any awards. But I was happy the way it turned out. It showed her characters intent on what she wanted out of this event really well and I think the real Billie Jean would be happy with this.
    There were a few very pleasing supporting performances. Particularly by Sarah Silverman, Alan Cumming, Bill Pullman and Elizabeth Shue.

    I'm going to harsh now in this portion of the review. While I did enjoy it, I think it did play this rather safe. I think people might have problems with it. I can see people going into this expecting a serious drama giving what's been going on lately. While it does have moments of that, it does come off as being a bit fluffy in its presentation. I think what people need to understand, is that the true events had a big 'show' element to it and the two people at the forefront of this, especially Riggs, embraced it. The dark side of this match-up were the people behind all this razzmatazz.

    There was also an interesting side-story happening behind closed doors involving Billie Jean and her personal life. I think if it delved a bit deeper in that aspect, then maybe this would have been a bit spikier in its themes.

    Also, I think the Tennis scenes might not feel gripping enough to non-followers of the sport. It is documented perfectly and looked exact to the real match itself. But in terms of being cinematic, I don't feel it worked. I think it would have been tough to make it work on both sides. So at least, the route they went down looked as good as it could have been.

    Despite all that, I enjoyed it and I was happy with the execution. Stone and Carrell were great together and were the top choices for playing King and Riggs.
    I hope a lot go and see it and not just to be entertained by it, but to understand the history around it.

    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Ashford / South East
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Ashford



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
ashfordashford News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
ashford Bathroom Suppliesashford Bathroom Tapsashford Bathroom Furnitureashford Bathroom Showersashford Shower Enclosuresashford Bathsashford L Shaped Bathashford P Shaped Bathashford Wet Roomsashford Bath Screensashford Bath Mixer Tapashford Bidet Tapsashford Toilet Seatsashford Sanitarywareashford Combined Toilet Basinashford Stovesashford Wood Stovesashford Home Stovesashford Cooker Stovesashford Enamel Stovesashford Designer Stovesashford Contemporary Stovesashford Multi Fuel Stovesashford Accounts Softwareashford Sage Softwareashford Sage Line 50ashford Sage Line 200ashford Pegasus Accountsashford Access Accountsashford Car Servicingashford MOTgashford Tyresashford Car Batteryashford Exhaustashford Journalist Jobsashford Reporter Jobsashford Writing Jobsashford Freelance Writerashford Self Employed Jobsashford Franchise Businessashford Franchise Opportunitiesashford Driving Schoolsashford Driving Lessonsashford Driving Testashford Driving Theory Testashford Driving Instruction, 0000 ashford Driving Instructor, 0000 ashford Insolvencyashford Insolvency Serviceashford Insolvency Servicesashford Liquidation Serviceashford Business Recoveryashford Insolvency Practitionerashford Bankruptcy Serviceashford Winding Up Petitionashford Business Financeashford Business Recoveryashford Voluntary Arrangementashford Individual Voluntary Arrangementashford IVAashford Debt Adviceashford Debt Managementashford Company Administrationashford Administrationashford Corporate Recoveryashford Corporate Voluntary Arrangementashford CVAashford Corporate Insolvencyashford Corporate Liquidationashford Members Voluntary Liquidationashford MVLashford Partnership Voluntary Arrangementashford PVAashford Tax Demandashford Invoice Financeashford Bridging Financeashford Vouchersashford Dealsashford Matalanashford Firewoodashford Fire Woodashford Kiln Dried Hardwoodashford Logs For Saleashford Log Suppliesashford Logsashford Firewood Logsashford Seasoned Logsashford Hardwood Logsashford Firewood Suppliersashford Firewood Log Suppliersashford Firewood Dumpy Bagsashford Firewood Cratesashford Cheap Firewoodashford Homefire Logsashford Cheap Firewood Logsashford Kindle Conesashford Pizza Oven Logsashford Heating Oilashford Home Heating Oilashford Red Dieselashford White Dieselashford Kereseneashford Commercial Fuelsashford Calor Gasashford Propane Gasashford Butane Gasashford Heating Gasashford Horse Trainingashford Horse Trainerashford Horse Whispererashford Equine Whispererashford Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithashford Rattan Garden Furnitureashford Rattan Furnitureashford Rattan Sofaashford Rattan Dining Setashford Rattan Directashford Cheap Rattan Furnitureashford Rattan Corner Sofasashford Rattan Day Bedsashford Rattan Sun Loungersashford Rattan Cube Setsashford Rattan Bistro Setsashford Chimeneasashford Firepitsashford Patio Heatersashford Card Payments Processingashford Credit Card Processingashford Merchant Servicesashford Merchant Accountashford Merchant Paymentsashford Card Machinesashford Card Terminalsashford Online Paymentsashford Worldpayashford Bouncy Castlesashford Bouncy Castle Hireashford Garden Trampolinesashford Pramsashford Pushchairsashford Strollersashford Hauck Pramsashford Huackashford Childrens Trampolinesashford Baby Mobilesashford Baby Activity Matsashford Baby Bedroom Furnitureashford Childrens Bedroom Furnitureashford Hygiene Vendingashford Washroom Vendingashford Air Freshenersashford Air Careashford Aerosol Systemsashford Gel Systemsashford Water Savingashford Urinal Water Savingashford Eco Capsashford Sensaflushashford Water Managementashford Urinal Dosingashford Urinal V Screensashford Legionella Risk Assessmentashford Legionaires Bacterialashford Odour Controlashford Odour Eliminationashford Odour Removalashford Airsterilashford Hand Careashford Hand Creamashford Hand Soapashford Hand Washingashford Hand Dryingashford Hand Dryersashford Electric Hand Dryersashford Fast Hand Dryersashford Commercial Hand Dryersashford Energy Efficient Hand Dryersashford Hand Dryer Rentalashford Hand Dryer Salesashford Paper Towelsashford Roller Towelsashford Cotton Roller Towelsashford Blue Roller Towelsashford White Roller Towelsashford Janitorial Suppliesashford Janitorialashford Cleaning Suppliesashford Cleaning Productsashford Cleaning Equipmentashford Office Cleaningashford Home Cleaningashford Debt Recovery Servicesashford Debt Recoveryashford Debt Collectionashford Outsource Credit Controlashford Collection Agencyashford Debt Collection Agencyashford Commercial Canopyashford Steel Canopyashford Bike Shedsashford Bike Storageashford Bicycle Storeashford Bicycle Storageashford Bikes Storeashford Bike Storeashford Outdoor Canopyashford Cycle Sheltersashford Cycle Shedashford Cycle Storageashford Cycle Rackashford Cycle Compoundashford Cycle Solutionsashford Scooter Storageashford Scooter Shelterashford Canopiesashford Canopyashford Play Area Canopyashford Entrance Canopiesashford Entrance Canopyashford Waiting Shelterashford Smoking Shelterashford Parent Waiting Shelterashford Parent Shelterashford Teen Shelterashford Nursery Canopyashford School Canopyashford Play Canopyashford Envirolawnashford Astroturfashford Cheap Astroturfashford Artificial Grassashford Cheap Artificial Grassashford Astro Turfashford Artificial Lawnashford Fake Grassashford Fake Lawnashford Fire Stove Glassashford Heat Resistant Glassashford Fire Glassashford Stove Glassashford Fire Resistant Glassashford Replacement Stove Glassashford Glass For Stovesashford Spill Kitsashford Spill Control Kitsashford Spill Kit Refillsashford Spill Kit Refill GK6ashford Chemical Spill Kitsashford Oil Spill Kitsashford Solar Panelsashford Solar Panels Costashford Solar Heatingashford Solar PVashford Commercial Solarashford Photovoltaicashford Dust Matsashford Entrance Matsashford Reception Matsashford Anti Fatigue Matsashford Floor Matsashford Logo Matsashford Washroom Servicesashford Principal Washroomsashford Washrooms Suppliesashford Washrooms Solutionsashford Sanitary Disposalashford Sanitary Binsashford Sani Binsashford Lady Binsashford Feminine Hygiene Unitsashford Sanitary Waste Disposalashford Sanitary Wasteashford Sanitary Unitsashford Feminine Unitsashford Hygiene Servicesashford Sanitary Bin Supplierashford Sanitary Bin Rentalashford Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesashford General Wasteashford Trade Wasteashford Commercial Wasteashford Business Wasteashford Waste Managementashford Waste Collectionashford Cardboard Wasteashford Paper Wasteashford Plastic Wasteashford Glass Wasteashford Biomass Wasteashford Metal Wasteashford Confidential Wasteashford Confidential Waste Serviceashford On Site Shreddingashford Off Site Shreddingashford One Off Shreddingashford Contract Shreddingashford Dental Wasteashford Dental Waste Disposalashford Dental Waste Legislationashford Dental Waste Complianceashford Accupuncture Wasteashford Accupuncture Waste Disposalashford Accupuncture Waste Collectionashford Tattoo Wasteashford Tattoo Waste Disposalashford Sharps Binashford Sharps Collectionashford Hazardous Sharpsashford Non Hazardous Sharpsashford Cytotoxic Sharpsashford Cytostatic Sharpsashford Ink Blockashford Wet_Wasteashford Tattoo Inkashford Drug Destructionashford Drug Disposalashford Drug Denaturingashford Unwanted Drugsashford Out Of Date Drugsashford Pest Controlashford Rodent Controlashford Bird Controlashford Bird Proofingashford Guano Controlashford Pest Call Outashford Pest Preventionashford Pest Deterrentashford Nursery Wasteashford Nappy Wasteashford Nappy Binashford Nappy Disposalashford Nappy Wheelie Binashford Nursery Waste Disposalashford Nursery Waste Collectionashford Incontinence Padsashford Offensive Wasteashford Human Wasteashford Nursing Home Wasteashford Care Home Wasteashford Hazardous Wasteashford Infectous Wasteashford Pharmaceutical Wasteashford Medicinal Wasteashford Medicine Wasteashford Infection Controlashford Hand Sanitisersashford Clinical Waste Disposalashford Clinical Waste Managementashford Clinical Waste Policyashford EA Registrationashford Hammocksashford Garden Hammocksashford Adult Hammocksashford Childrens Hammocksashford Baby Hammocks