Battle Of The Sexes

This film detailing the real-life 1973 tennis showdown between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs has an impressive pedigree. Apart from the charismatic Emma Stone as world no. 1 tennis champ King and Steve Carell as serial hustler and compulsive gambler Riggs. The screenplay is by Oscar winner, Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours), plus add to the mix the creativity of directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine, Ruby Sparks) and it's a recipe for success.

It's inherently tricky to capture a true story as there'll always be those who'll dispute aspects. Writer Beaufoy has chosen to focus in a large part on King's personal struggles as she meets a hairdresser (the wonderful Andrea Riseborough), whom she embarks on her first lesbian relationship with, despite being married to the devoted Larry (Austin Stowell). When Larry turns up unannounced at his wife's hotel room and realises what's been going on, you can acutely feel the pain on all sides. He warns Billie Jean to keep certain things secret because being outed back in the 1970s would've surely meant the loss of all tennis sponsorship deals.

Emma Stone is absolutely convincing as King, while Steve Carell once again proves he's much more than a comedic actor with his portrayal of the self-professed male chauvinist but ultimately quite sad and pathetic Riggs. Unfortunately, Oscar-winner Elisabeth Shue has a small and thankless role, while Sarah Silverman and Alan Cumming, also in supporting roles, have a bit more to work with and make their mark.

The ultimate tennis showdown - 55-year-old former tennis great Riggs challenged 29-year-old King to prove that men were superior to women - ended up being viewed by 90 million people. The tennis match scenes are exciting if you're a tennis fan - not to mention flawless in the way they seem to convey Stone and Carell playing extraordinary tennis. Most powerful however is the scene immediately following the match when King takes a few moments on her own in the dressing room. It's here where we can see just how much it all meant to her at a much deeper level than for Riggs who turned the whole thing into a circus.

The film might disappoint some in that Riggs doesn't come off worse for all his offensive posturing, but at least humanising him should put to rest any accusations that he's been short-changed as one-dimensional. Battle of the Sexes isn't perfect but it's an enlightening glimpse into a fascinating moment in sporting history.