Last Monday’s news capsules included an article published by the Tennis Channel expressing surprise that the movie “Challengers” was snubbed by the Oscars. That piece drew parallels to the 2005 film Match Point as both films were released to high critical acclaim yet were notably absent during awards season. Before reading that article, I had never heard of Match Point. To be fair, I don’t watch many movies, and my children were very young when it was released. In any case, I corrected the apparent oversight by watching Match Point over the weekend. Having now seen both movies, I can confidently say that I would have been surprised if either had been recognized with major accolades.
There are certainly a lot of similarities between Match Point and Challengers. Both movies are high-concept psychological dramas featuring themes of ambition, betrayal, and manipulation. Another commonality is excessive gratuitous sex scenes. At the same time, both efforts are marred by tedious plot development and completely unsympathetic characters. While the slow-burn storytelling might have been intended to build suspense, it resulted in a plodding viewing experience instead.
Another shared shortcoming is a lack of tennis authenticity. In Match Point, Jonathan Rhys Meyers portrays Chris Wilson, a former touring professional turned tennis instructor who somehow has laughably bad stroke mechanics. Additionally, the descriptions of his life on tour and why he decided to give up professional tennis were nonsensical for someone capable of competing at the highest levels.
While Challengers did a better job keeping tennis at the forefront of the story, the opening scene of Match Point suggested that the sport would be a vital part of the movie. It opened with a ponderous tennis metaphor comparing luck with net cord winners that occur on Match Point. However, the sport only returned to the screen when needed to support plot mechanics, such as a need to hide a shotgun in a racquet bag. The tennis scenes in the opening moments foreshadowed the film’s climactic end, yet somehow, the thematic parallel wasn’t effectively driven home.
Despite its flaws, Match Point has its strengths. As one high point, the individual acting performances were outstanding. Jonathan Rhys Meyers delivers a compelling portrayal of a man torn between ambition and authenticity. Scarlett Johansson provides an emotionally charged performance as his temptress. It also highlights societal differences and how wealth and privilege can insulate individuals from the consequences of their actions while the less fortunate suffer from the fallout. Unfortunately, like Challengers, Match Point ultimately left me feeling that the pieces didn’t fully come together in the end.
Tennis fans who liked Challengers will probably also like Match Point. If I had to recommend one or the other, I would have to go with Match Point. However, tennis fans should be aware that despite the title and the trailer, it really isn’t a tennis movie.
