The romance with film turned a corner this year with the massive success of Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk.” The World War II actioner had the widest 70mm release in 25 years (125 prints, dominated by IMAX), grabbing $188 million domestically and $525 million worldwide. And the visual impact of the IMAX format was powerful in the best picture frontrunner. Whether by land, by air, or by sea, the imagery was immersive. That is why Dutch-Swedish cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema is the frontrunner in his race as well.
But the impact of film on the cinematography race doesn’t stop there. Also in strong contention are “The Beguiled,” “Call Me By Your Name,” “Wonder Struck,” and “Wonder Woman,” all period pieces shot in a variety of styles that particularly benefited from the texture and warmth of 35mm film. At the same time, “The Post,” “Murder on the Orient Express” (another 70mm spectacle), “The Florida Project,...
But the impact of film on the cinematography race doesn’t stop there. Also in strong contention are “The Beguiled,” “Call Me By Your Name,” “Wonder Struck,” and “Wonder Woman,” all period pieces shot in a variety of styles that particularly benefited from the texture and warmth of 35mm film. At the same time, “The Post,” “Murder on the Orient Express” (another 70mm spectacle), “The Florida Project,...
- 12/15/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
‘Battle Of The Sexes’ Directors Say Movie About Much More Than A Tennis Match – The Contenders Video
In 2015, when husband-and-wife directing team Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton came aboard Battle of the Sexes, the Fox Searchlight film about Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs’ iconic tennis match, they figured it was going to hit theaters at a very different time — perhaps when the first woman had been elected President of the United States. But as they told a packed audience of AMPAS and key guild voters at Deadline’s 7th annual The Contenders awards-season event last…...
- 12/8/2017
- Deadline
There are few feelings more fulfilling than watching a movie that unexpectedly stuns and entertains you. We go into so many films assuming this or that about them, but when a movie defies all expectation and delivers something remarkable or unforeseen, you really feel that this is why the cinema is such a place of wonder. In a year that already gave us Borg vs. McEnroe, this new tennis-based film looks back at a moment that sent reverberations throughout the sport’s history and instituted a social change. Battle of the Sexes looks back at the – now iconic – huge 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs and in doing so offers a film that is thrillingly timely and yet perfectly evocative of its era.
From Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, this film is a bio-sports drama but is as taken with its subjects off court as it is on.
From Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, this film is a bio-sports drama but is as taken with its subjects off court as it is on.
- 12/6/2017
- by Jack Bottomley
- The Cultural Post
Coming off a triumphant year with an Oscar in hand for La La Land, Swedish cinematographer Linus Sandgren is back in awards contention this year with a very different project, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ biographical drama Battle of the Sexes. Chronicling a historic moment in the world of tennis, in which world champion Billie Jean King faced off against self-styled chauvinist pig Bobby Riggs in a high-stakes match—setting a precedent for the way women would be…...
- 11/30/2017
- Deadline
Battle of the Sexes for the first time at this year's Telluride Film Festival, audiences and pundits alike seemed to agree that the studio had a bona fide hit. The movie, about tennis great Billie Jean King's famed fight with self-proclaimed male chauvinist pig Bobby Riggs, was light, bright and sparkling, without necessarily being deep. And yet it seemed unusually relevant to an era when male chauvinism is at the forefront of the national conversation. So who could blame Searchlight for bringing out the real-life King, whose presence was ubiquitous on panels and in interviews...
- 11/30/2017
- by Stephen Galloway
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Emma Stone and Steve Carell transport us back to 1973’s famous tennis showdown between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs
The stranger-than-fiction story of how the tennis courts of America became a gender battlefield in the early 70s was brilliantly told in James Erskine and Zara Hayes’s 2013 documentary The Battle of the Sexes. About 90 million people watched Billie Jean King take on self-proclaimed male chauvinist pig Bobby Riggs in the titular 1973 game, which was less a tennis match than a seismic sociological standoff. This dramatisation revisits those carnivalesque events in splendidly springy fashion, achieving the quadruple grand slam feat of being emotionally engaging, politically intriguing, dramatically gripping and frequently very funny.
Related: Game, set and spats… a grand slam of tennis movies
Continue reading...
The stranger-than-fiction story of how the tennis courts of America became a gender battlefield in the early 70s was brilliantly told in James Erskine and Zara Hayes’s 2013 documentary The Battle of the Sexes. About 90 million people watched Billie Jean King take on self-proclaimed male chauvinist pig Bobby Riggs in the titular 1973 game, which was less a tennis match than a seismic sociological standoff. This dramatisation revisits those carnivalesque events in splendidly springy fashion, achieving the quadruple grand slam feat of being emotionally engaging, politically intriguing, dramatically gripping and frequently very funny.
Related: Game, set and spats… a grand slam of tennis movies
Continue reading...
- 11/26/2017
- by Mark Kermode, Observer film critic
- The Guardian - Film News
Thwop! That sound you hear when Steve Carell, playing chauvinist provocateur Bobby Riggs, serves the ball in Battle of the Sexes isn't just any thwop. Sound designer, editor and mixer Ai-Ling Lee, who earned two Oscar nominations this year for La La Land, knew that if the film was going to convincingly re-create the much-hyped 1973 tennis match between Riggs and Billie Jean King, played by Emma Stone, it would have to accurately reproduce the sounds of the '70s.
So, explains Lee, "I bought wood and aluminum rackets on eBay, almost like the ones used in the film, and...
So, explains Lee, "I bought wood and aluminum rackets on eBay, almost like the ones used in the film, and...
- 11/24/2017
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Emma Stone and Steve Carell headline Battle Of The Sexes. Here's our review...
It’s hard for a film about gender equality released in 2017 to escape the context of the real world and the fighting that’s still necessary. Battle Of The Sexes could easily have come across, by accident or not, too worthy or like a watered-down history lesson, but instead the film is an admirably warm and light hearted drama that cares as much about its characters as their position in our collectively-written narrative.
Chronicling the rivalry between champion tennis player Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and self-styled ‘male chauvinist pig’ Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), Battle Of The Sexes takes place in the ‘70s at a time when women’s tennis was very much looked down upon by the wider public. When Riggs challenges King to a match, the contest grows to represent a much larger, and universal,...
It’s hard for a film about gender equality released in 2017 to escape the context of the real world and the fighting that’s still necessary. Battle Of The Sexes could easily have come across, by accident or not, too worthy or like a watered-down history lesson, but instead the film is an admirably warm and light hearted drama that cares as much about its characters as their position in our collectively-written narrative.
Chronicling the rivalry between champion tennis player Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and self-styled ‘male chauvinist pig’ Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), Battle Of The Sexes takes place in the ‘70s at a time when women’s tennis was very much looked down upon by the wider public. When Riggs challenges King to a match, the contest grows to represent a much larger, and universal,...
- 11/23/2017
- Den of Geek
Steve Carell is well cast as the ex-champ who tried to prove men’s superiority on court, but Stone calls the shots as women’s No 1 Billie Jean King
This is a seductively enjoyable, smart and well-acted film based on the most deadly serious sporting contest of modern times: the Battle of the Sexes tennis match of 1973 in a packed Houston Astrodome. It stars Emma Stone and Steve Carell, respectively women’s No 1 Billie Jean King and fiftysomething ex-champ and self-proclaimed “male chauvinist pig” Bobby Riggs – fighting to prove that men are better at tennis and better, full stop.
The film crucially faces the same challenge as the participants from real life: the challenge of tone. How unseriously should this match be taken? How strenuously should the attitude of casual jokiness be maintained? No one involved in this encounter could be certain of its outcome; neither side could be sure of avoiding humiliation,...
This is a seductively enjoyable, smart and well-acted film based on the most deadly serious sporting contest of modern times: the Battle of the Sexes tennis match of 1973 in a packed Houston Astrodome. It stars Emma Stone and Steve Carell, respectively women’s No 1 Billie Jean King and fiftysomething ex-champ and self-proclaimed “male chauvinist pig” Bobby Riggs – fighting to prove that men are better at tennis and better, full stop.
The film crucially faces the same challenge as the participants from real life: the challenge of tone. How unseriously should this match be taken? How strenuously should the attitude of casual jokiness be maintained? No one involved in this encounter could be certain of its outcome; neither side could be sure of avoiding humiliation,...
- 11/23/2017
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
For the second straight weekend, a strongly reviewed new film with a central female character broke through the clutter of this mixed fall season to great success. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Fox Searchlight) joined “Lady Bird” (A24) as the best starts among the many top titles vying for attention, and both did so by a wide margin above other films. “Lady Bird” added other top cities and proved its first week was no fluke, showing results unequaled since “La La Land” last year.
The grosses in both cases are early results, but the films look in prime position for both greater success and maximum attention just as the awards jockeying is reaching high gear. And given that both are female-centered, and not historical figure-based like so many other titles, makes them even more vital at the moment.
Opening
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Fox Searchlight) Metacritic: 86; Festivals include: Venice,...
The grosses in both cases are early results, but the films look in prime position for both greater success and maximum attention just as the awards jockeying is reaching high gear. And given that both are female-centered, and not historical figure-based like so many other titles, makes them even more vital at the moment.
Opening
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Fox Searchlight) Metacritic: 86; Festivals include: Venice,...
- 11/12/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Looking to tell the “personal story” of Billie Jean King and self-styled provocateur Bobby Riggs — the participants in 1973’s historic Battle of the Sexes tennis match — directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris had to look no further than the Battle of the Sexes script by Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy, who managed to go beyond the public events transpiring on the world stage at the time to depict King’s own internal struggles. “There are many documentaries that point out…...
- 11/2/2017
- Deadline
The Human Rights Campaign (Hrc), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (Lgbtq) civil rights organization, announced the lineup for the 21st annual Hrc National Dinner set to take place this Saturday, October 28, 2017, at the Washington Convention Center.
Hillary Rodham Clinton and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will join trailblazing activist and athlete Billie Jean King, multi-platinum selling band Dnce, Gold Star father Khizr Khan, and many more at the sold-out event raising crucial funds in the fight for Lgbtq equality. As previously announced, two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba will be honored and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris will speak at the event.
“Hillary Clinton has spent a lifetime fighting for the vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed — and she’s not about to back down now,” said Hrc President Chad Griffin. “As we confront powerful political forces built on hate and fear, Hillary — and the majority of...
Hillary Rodham Clinton and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will join trailblazing activist and athlete Billie Jean King, multi-platinum selling band Dnce, Gold Star father Khizr Khan, and many more at the sold-out event raising crucial funds in the fight for Lgbtq equality. As previously announced, two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba will be honored and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris will speak at the event.
“Hillary Clinton has spent a lifetime fighting for the vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed — and she’s not about to back down now,” said Hrc President Chad Griffin. “As we confront powerful political forces built on hate and fear, Hillary — and the majority of...
- 10/25/2017
- Look to the Stars
In an effort to break out of my silence -- October is my favorite month so why has it been so hard? -- micro thoughts on 5 Oscar hopefuls I meant to review but didn't. Whoops. Please to discuss in the comments.
Battle of the Sexes (Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris)
The story of Billie Jean King's (Emma Stone) famous 1973 match with Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) and her efforts to make women's tennis viable in a sexist industry
Capsule: A timely well-crafted look back to the beginnings of a gender war that's depressingly still raging and a soupçon of queer romance to give it unique personality. Dayton & Faris's light touch is the right choice for this briskly-paced but delicately felt recreation of a pivotal American moment. Emma Stone is perfection as the heroic tight shouldered athlete at the center. Just discussed on the podcast. B+
Oscar Chances: This one could go either way.
Battle of the Sexes (Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris)
The story of Billie Jean King's (Emma Stone) famous 1973 match with Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) and her efforts to make women's tennis viable in a sexist industry
Capsule: A timely well-crafted look back to the beginnings of a gender war that's depressingly still raging and a soupçon of queer romance to give it unique personality. Dayton & Faris's light touch is the right choice for this briskly-paced but delicately felt recreation of a pivotal American moment. Emma Stone is perfection as the heroic tight shouldered athlete at the center. Just discussed on the podcast. B+
Oscar Chances: This one could go either way.
- 10/14/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Fresh off the New York Film Festival, Sean Baker’s acclaimed “The Florida Project” (A24) sprinted ahead of the over-crowded fall specialty pack, as some 35 titles launched in limited runs this weekend. Backed by some of the best reviews of the year, the Cannes pickup marks Baker’s breakout following succès d’estime “Tangerine.”
“Victoria & Abdul” (Focus) is setting the early pace for this awards season’s contenders, with Judi Dench showing yet again her strength as a draw.
Most other openings appealed to niche audiences, with several documentaries competing to get review attention that might position them for later awards consideration. While another Nyff title, Agnes Varda and J.R.’s “Faces, Places” (Cohen), nabbed the best reviews, none did more than modest business.
Opening
The Florida Project (A24) – Metacritic: 94; Festivals include: Cannes, Toronto, New York 2017
$152,622 in 4 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $38,156
Sean Baker’s sixth feature follows his...
“Victoria & Abdul” (Focus) is setting the early pace for this awards season’s contenders, with Judi Dench showing yet again her strength as a draw.
Most other openings appealed to niche audiences, with several documentaries competing to get review attention that might position them for later awards consideration. While another Nyff title, Agnes Varda and J.R.’s “Faces, Places” (Cohen), nabbed the best reviews, none did more than modest business.
Opening
The Florida Project (A24) – Metacritic: 94; Festivals include: Cannes, Toronto, New York 2017
$152,622 in 4 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $38,156
Sean Baker’s sixth feature follows his...
- 10/8/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Emma Stone is a vision in white!
The 28-year-old actress turned heads at the European premiere of Battle of the Sexes during the 61st BFI London Film Festival in England on Saturday.
She stunned in a gorgeous vintage-inspired Louis Vuitton gown with open shoulders, ruffled sleeves and silver detailing, finishing off her look with gold shimmering eyeshadow and a peach lip. The dress choice was quite fitting, as Stone was recently named the fashion house's latest ambassador.
Photo: Dave Hogan/Cf/Getty Images
Related: Emma Stone Had an Embarrassing Moment With Hillary Clinton Backstage at 'Late Show'
Photo: Getty Images
Battle of the Sexes depicts the epic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, who is played by Steve Carell.
At the premiere, Stone also posed with the tennis pro, as well as Elisabeth Shue and Andrea Riseborough, who stunned in an elegant red Ralph Lauren Collection dress.
Photo: Getty Images
Exclusive: Emma Stone on Why...
The 28-year-old actress turned heads at the European premiere of Battle of the Sexes during the 61st BFI London Film Festival in England on Saturday.
She stunned in a gorgeous vintage-inspired Louis Vuitton gown with open shoulders, ruffled sleeves and silver detailing, finishing off her look with gold shimmering eyeshadow and a peach lip. The dress choice was quite fitting, as Stone was recently named the fashion house's latest ambassador.
Photo: Dave Hogan/Cf/Getty Images
Related: Emma Stone Had an Embarrassing Moment With Hillary Clinton Backstage at 'Late Show'
Photo: Getty Images
Battle of the Sexes depicts the epic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, who is played by Steve Carell.
At the premiere, Stone also posed with the tennis pro, as well as Elisabeth Shue and Andrea Riseborough, who stunned in an elegant red Ralph Lauren Collection dress.
Photo: Getty Images
Exclusive: Emma Stone on Why...
- 10/8/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Emma Stone is a vision in white!
The 28-year-old actress turned heads at the Battle of the Sexes European premiere during the 61st BFI London Film Festival in England on Saturday.
Donning a gorgeous vintage-inspired Louis Vuitton gown with open shoulders, ruffled sleeves and silver detailing, Stone looked fresh-faced with gold shimmering eyeshadow and a peach lip. The actress was also recently named the fashion company's latest ambassador.
Photo: Dave Hogan/Cf/Getty Images
Related: Emma Stone Had an Embarrassing Moment With Hillary Clinton Backstage at 'Late Show'
Photo: Getty Images
Battle of the Sexes depicts the epic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, who is played by Steve Carell.
At the premiere, Stone also posed with the tennis pro, Elisabeth Shue and Andrea Riseborough, who stunned in an elegant red Ralph Lauren Collection dress.
Photo: Getty Images
Exclusive: Emma Stone on Why Her Physical Transformation for 'Battle of the Sexes' Became 'Addictive'...
The 28-year-old actress turned heads at the Battle of the Sexes European premiere during the 61st BFI London Film Festival in England on Saturday.
Donning a gorgeous vintage-inspired Louis Vuitton gown with open shoulders, ruffled sleeves and silver detailing, Stone looked fresh-faced with gold shimmering eyeshadow and a peach lip. The actress was also recently named the fashion company's latest ambassador.
Photo: Dave Hogan/Cf/Getty Images
Related: Emma Stone Had an Embarrassing Moment With Hillary Clinton Backstage at 'Late Show'
Photo: Getty Images
Battle of the Sexes depicts the epic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, who is played by Steve Carell.
At the premiere, Stone also posed with the tennis pro, Elisabeth Shue and Andrea Riseborough, who stunned in an elegant red Ralph Lauren Collection dress.
Photo: Getty Images
Exclusive: Emma Stone on Why Her Physical Transformation for 'Battle of the Sexes' Became 'Addictive'...
- 10/8/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Contemplating their take on the historic “Battle of the Sexes”—the famous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs—some writers might be inclined to trot out simple displays of athleticism, emphasizing the tug and pull and sheer physicality of the match itself over a more complicated narrative. For directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris—known for critically acclaimed dramas including Little Miss Sunshine and Ruby Sparks—what was much more engaging…...
- 10/6/2017
- Deadline
Movies to see this Thanksgiving weekendMovies to see this Thanksgiving weekendJenny Bullough10/5/2017 10:09:00 Am
Thanksgiving is all about family and togetherness, and of course food. But let’s be honest, sometimes you get to a point in the holiday where you need a little break. Maybe your mom or your aunt has started asking that dreaded “when are you going to settle down/get married/have kids” question, or you just can’t listen to your Dad and crazy Uncle Bruce debate over their different political opinions or sports team loyalties any more.
There’s no better escape than a Cineplex theatre, where you can get away from your family for a short but refreshing time and enjoy someone else’s drama! Here are our recommendations for movies to see this long weekend:
If you’re in the mood for action American Made
Veteran movie star Tom Cruise teams...
Thanksgiving is all about family and togetherness, and of course food. But let’s be honest, sometimes you get to a point in the holiday where you need a little break. Maybe your mom or your aunt has started asking that dreaded “when are you going to settle down/get married/have kids” question, or you just can’t listen to your Dad and crazy Uncle Bruce debate over their different political opinions or sports team loyalties any more.
There’s no better escape than a Cineplex theatre, where you can get away from your family for a short but refreshing time and enjoy someone else’s drama! Here are our recommendations for movies to see this long weekend:
If you’re in the mood for action American Made
Veteran movie star Tom Cruise teams...
- 10/5/2017
- by Jenny Bullough
- Cineplex
There should be a disclaimer at the beginning of Battle of the Sexes: "This story is based -- loosely -- on real people and events."
Rather than telling the actual story of Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, and depicting their characters with something approaching authenticity and depth, the film is as two-dimensional as if it were Battle of the Sexes: The Leggo Movie. It is like watching a top tennis player get an easy overhead smash and dump it in the net -- or swing wildly and miss it entirely.
It's a Great story that deserves a far better telling. 55 year-old former world #1 Bobby Riggs challenges 29 year-old and current world #1 Billie Jean King to a $100,000 tennis match, in a circus atmosphere hyped as pitting women's lib against male chauvinism. But of course its real purpose was to make money, and bundles of it, for ABC (which aired...
Rather than telling the actual story of Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, and depicting their characters with something approaching authenticity and depth, the film is as two-dimensional as if it were Battle of the Sexes: The Leggo Movie. It is like watching a top tennis player get an easy overhead smash and dump it in the net -- or swing wildly and miss it entirely.
It's a Great story that deserves a far better telling. 55 year-old former world #1 Bobby Riggs challenges 29 year-old and current world #1 Billie Jean King to a $100,000 tennis match, in a circus atmosphere hyped as pitting women's lib against male chauvinism. But of course its real purpose was to make money, and bundles of it, for ABC (which aired...
- 10/5/2017
- by Mark Weston
- www.culturecatch.com
Amazon Studios owns the 2017 New York Film Festival with opener “Last Flag Flying” from Richard Linklater, Todd Haynes’ “Wonderstruck” as the centerpiece gala October 7, and Woody Allen’s “Wonder Wheel” closing it out October 15 — but taking those movies into the crowded fall marketplace and landing Oscar nominations and wins is another matter altogether.
Of course, Amazon has done it before: At Sundance 2016, it paid $10 million for Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester By the Sea” and took the movie (via Roadside Attractions) all the way to six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It won two, for Best Actor Casey Affleck and Lonergan for Best Original Screenplay, and earned a robust $47.6 million domestic.
This year, the deep-pocketed studio challenger — which, unlike Netflix, supports the industry’s established theatrical paradigm, 90-day window and all — has a wider swath of films to compete in multiple awards categories. But there are several key differences this time.
Of course, Amazon has done it before: At Sundance 2016, it paid $10 million for Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester By the Sea” and took the movie (via Roadside Attractions) all the way to six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It won two, for Best Actor Casey Affleck and Lonergan for Best Original Screenplay, and earned a robust $47.6 million domestic.
This year, the deep-pocketed studio challenger — which, unlike Netflix, supports the industry’s established theatrical paradigm, 90-day window and all — has a wider swath of films to compete in multiple awards categories. But there are several key differences this time.
- 10/3/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Amazon Studios owns the 2017 New York Film Festival with opener “Last Flag Flying” from Richard Linklater, Todd Haynes’ “Wonderstruck” as the centerpiece gala October 7, and Woody Allen’s “Wonder Wheel” closing it out October 15 — but taking those movies into the crowded fall marketplace and landing Oscar nominations and wins is another matter altogether.
Of course, Amazon has done it before: At Sundance 2016, it paid $10 million for Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester By the Sea” and took the movie (via Roadside Attractions) all the way to six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It won two, for Best Actor Casey Affleck and Lonergan for Best Original Screenplay, and earned a robust $47.6 million domestic.
This year, the deep-pocketed studio challenger — which, unlike Netflix, supports the industry’s established theatrical paradigm, 90-day window and all — has a wider swath of films to compete in multiple awards categories. But there are several key differences this time.
Of course, Amazon has done it before: At Sundance 2016, it paid $10 million for Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester By the Sea” and took the movie (via Roadside Attractions) all the way to six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It won two, for Best Actor Casey Affleck and Lonergan for Best Original Screenplay, and earned a robust $47.6 million domestic.
This year, the deep-pocketed studio challenger — which, unlike Netflix, supports the industry’s established theatrical paradigm, 90-day window and all — has a wider swath of films to compete in multiple awards categories. But there are several key differences this time.
- 10/3/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Nearly 30 specialized films debuted in New York and/or Los Angeles this week. And with Yom Kippur falling right during the weekend, it meant most potentially high-end titles avoided the date (unlike last weekend).
Perhaps the highest-profile among them, “Our Souls at Night” starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, is debuting on Netflix film at the same time it played a few scattered big city play dates (grosses are not available).
Among those that opened, “Lucky” (Magnolia), Harry Dean Stanton’s second to last acting role, opened ahead of the rest. The initial limited full week (prior to its one-day showings) of “Pearl Jam: Let’s Play Two” (Abramorama) showed some strength, while “Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House” (Sony Pictures Classics) fared less well in its limited showings. An exclusive opening in Los Angeles of the surfer documentary “Take Every Wave” (IFC) in Los Angeles was impressive,...
Perhaps the highest-profile among them, “Our Souls at Night” starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, is debuting on Netflix film at the same time it played a few scattered big city play dates (grosses are not available).
Among those that opened, “Lucky” (Magnolia), Harry Dean Stanton’s second to last acting role, opened ahead of the rest. The initial limited full week (prior to its one-day showings) of “Pearl Jam: Let’s Play Two” (Abramorama) showed some strength, while “Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House” (Sony Pictures Classics) fared less well in its limited showings. An exclusive opening in Los Angeles of the surfer documentary “Take Every Wave” (IFC) in Los Angeles was impressive,...
- 10/1/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Emma Stone and Steve Carell historical film Battle of the Sexes has been certified fresh by Rottentomatoes, earning an impressive 85%. Stone plays tennis great Billie Jean King while Carell plays her male rival Bobby Riggs. In 1985, Riggs challenged the #1 women’s tennis player King to a match to prove that a woman couldn’t beat a man. Of […]
Source: uInterview
The post ‘Battle Of The Sexes’ Movie Review Roundup: Accurate Sports Comedy Seems Relevant Today appeared first on uInterview.
Source: uInterview
The post ‘Battle Of The Sexes’ Movie Review Roundup: Accurate Sports Comedy Seems Relevant Today appeared first on uInterview.
- 9/29/2017
- by Hillary Luehring-Jones
- Uinterview
If you’re over age 50, you likely recall the Billie Jean King-Bobby Riggs tennis match from 1973, a feminist landmark and time-capsule of male chauvinist history that attracted one of the biggest audiences ever for a sporting event at that time. Over 100 million worldwide watched the 29-year old Number 2 ranked women’s champion take on the 55-year old former men’s champ in a $100,000 tournament that’s now been dramatized in Battle Of The Sexes, a flawed but mostly entertaining look at a repressive time when women athletes weren’t taken seriously and ‘lesbian’ was a dirty word.
Loudmouth hustler and gambling addict Bobby Riggs (Steve Carrel), was a self-confessed ‘male chauvinist pig’ even though he lived off the family money of his second wife Priscilla (Elizabeth Shue). Riggs had been a tennis champ decades earlier and was still active on the senior circuit in the early ‘70s. He...
Loudmouth hustler and gambling addict Bobby Riggs (Steve Carrel), was a self-confessed ‘male chauvinist pig’ even though he lived off the family money of his second wife Priscilla (Elizabeth Shue). Riggs had been a tennis champ decades earlier and was still active on the senior circuit in the early ‘70s. He...
- 9/29/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In an award season dominated by biopics and politics, “Battle of the Sexes” serves the first volley with its deep dive into the sexual revolution and the women’s movement of the ’70s. When tennis star Billie Jean King (“La La Land” Oscar-winner Emma Stone) beat blowhard Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) at the Houston Astrodome in 1973, she not only struck a blow for equality and respect, but also gained the confidence to pursue her sexual identity as a lesbian. Therefore, the sports/biopic directed by the husband and wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (“Little Miss Sunshine”) captures a game-changing moment that resonates today in Trump’s America.
And in visualizing the era, Oscar-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren (“La La Land”) went at it without a whiff of nostalgia. “Basically, Jon and Val wanted to make a film like it was made in the ’70s on real locations in a contemporary fashion,...
And in visualizing the era, Oscar-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren (“La La Land”) went at it without a whiff of nostalgia. “Basically, Jon and Val wanted to make a film like it was made in the ’70s on real locations in a contemporary fashion,...
- 9/28/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Dream on. Dream until your dreams come true. That statement couldn’t be any more accurate for this story than if someone had gone and shouted it from the rafters during the infamous Bobbie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs match in 1973. Bobbie Jean King was playing for more than a prize, more than pride, she was playing to bring dignity to the sport of tennis, to all sports, for women that sought to reach their dreams in a way that promoted equality between men and women. It’s a fight that is still going on, but King was one of the
This is The True Story Behind Billie Jean King’s Victorious “Battle of the Sexes”...
This is The True Story Behind Billie Jean King’s Victorious “Battle of the Sexes”...
- 9/28/2017
- by Wake
- TVovermind.com
Forty-four years ago this month, Billie Jean King, one of the top female tennis players of all time, beat Bobby Riggs, a retired former #1 player in the men’s circuit, in front of an estimated worldwide audience of 90 million people.
Besides sending the cocksure and (admittedly) chauvinistic Riggs into a depression, the match, which some dismissed as a publicity stunt, would go on to be remembered as a symbolic achievement for women in a decade of tremendous social progress.
Now, the story behind the game, and the changes it helped inspire, is on the big screen in Battle of the Sexes,...
Besides sending the cocksure and (admittedly) chauvinistic Riggs into a depression, the match, which some dismissed as a publicity stunt, would go on to be remembered as a symbolic achievement for women in a decade of tremendous social progress.
Now, the story behind the game, and the changes it helped inspire, is on the big screen in Battle of the Sexes,...
- 9/28/2017
- by Mike Miller
- PEOPLE.com
Emma Stone has received Oscar nominations for Birdman and La La Land, and now she's one of this year's top contender with Battle of the Sexes. The storyline centers on the landmark tennis match between Billie Jean King (Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell). "Billie Jean made it clear early on that she [...]...
- 9/28/2017
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
‘Battle of the Sexes’ and ‘Victoria & Abdul’ Launch Fall Wave; ‘Loving Vincent’ Shows Animated Start
The fall specialized season ratcheted up with a group of top festival releases starting their theatrical release with later awards in their sights. As expected, well-reviewed “The Battle of the Sexes” (Fox Searchlight) stood out as the top performer in a week without much other signs of life from holdovers (IFC’s “The Viceroy’s House” is the best of a weak bunch).
In two initial cities, Judi Dench showed her royal form in Stephen Frears’ “Victoria & Abdul” (Focus) with the weekend’s best per theater average, while “Stronger” (Roadside Attractions) saw some success in a much wider limited release.
The upstart was “Loving Vincent” (Good Deed), which unexpectedly came up with a $24,000 exclusive New York opening. This rare animated arthouse release (using Van Gogh “painted” animation to tell its narrative) could be a sleeper success within this uber-competitive period.
Opening
The Battle of the Sexes (Fox Searchlight) – Metacritic: 73; Festivals...
In two initial cities, Judi Dench showed her royal form in Stephen Frears’ “Victoria & Abdul” (Focus) with the weekend’s best per theater average, while “Stronger” (Roadside Attractions) saw some success in a much wider limited release.
The upstart was “Loving Vincent” (Good Deed), which unexpectedly came up with a $24,000 exclusive New York opening. This rare animated arthouse release (using Van Gogh “painted” animation to tell its narrative) could be a sleeper success within this uber-competitive period.
Opening
The Battle of the Sexes (Fox Searchlight) – Metacritic: 73; Festivals...
- 9/24/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
On September 20, 1973 a tennis match dubbed the Battle of the Sexes took place and over 48 million viewers tuned in to watch Billie Jean King defeat Bobby Riggs. Riggs was 55 and a former World number one.
- 9/23/2017
- by Jazz Tangcay
- AwardsDaily.com
The new film Battle Of The Sexes, starring Emma Stone as Billie Jean King, follows the tennis icon’s infamous 1973 match against Bobby Riggs. The “Battle Of The Sexes” match represented a critical turning point in the public’s acceptance of women’s tennis. In the video above, James Mackay, who plays Barry Court in the…
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- 9/22/2017
- by Baraka Kaseko
- avclub.com
Steve Carell is back in the Oscar race with “Battle of the Sexes,” the latest collaboration between the actor and “Little Miss Sunshine” directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton. Based on a true story, the film recounts the 1973 tennis match between World number one champ Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Carell). In recognition of […]...
- 9/22/2017
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
“Battle of the Sexes” opened on September 22, telling the true story of the 1973 tennis match between female champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and chauvinist male tennis pro Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell). It was a high-pressure moment for King, who had fought for pay equality for women’s tennis and was risking the credibility […]...
- 9/22/2017
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The Kingsman spy agents and Lego toys are back on the big screen in Kingsman: The Golden Circle and The Lego Ninjago Movie. Anticipated biopics are also hitting theaters this weekend, with Emma Stone and Steve Carell portraying Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, respectively, in Battle of the Sexes and Jake Gyllenhaal as Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman in the drama Stronger.
Read on to find out what The Hollywood Reporter's critics are saying about the new offerings (as well as which film will likely top the weekend box office).
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
...
Read on to find out what The Hollywood Reporter's critics are saying about the new offerings (as well as which film will likely top the weekend box office).
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
...
- 9/22/2017
- by Arlene Washington
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Look anywhere around you, and it’s obvious: Sexism sells. In 1973, tennis hall of famer Bobby Riggs exploited that fact to goad Billie Jean King into competing in a match he billed “The Battle of the Sexes.” Riggs knew which buttons to push to get a whopping 90 million viewers to tune into the game. “She doesn’t stand a chance against me,” Riggs told one journalist. “Women’s tennis is so far beneath men’s tennis.” For the cheap seats, he bragged, “I want to prove that women are lousy, they stink, and they don’t belong on the same court as.
- 9/21/2017
- by Inkoo Kang
- The Wrap
Tennis great Billie Jean King, 73, attended the red carpet premiere of Battle of the Sexes with stars Emma Stone and Steve Carell. Billie Jean King, Emma Stone, Steve Carell At Battle Of The Sexes Premiere The film is a biopic of sorts that details the famous “battle of the sexes” tennis match between King and Bobby Riggs. Riggs notoriously challenged […]
Source: uInterview
The post Billie Jean King Joins Emma Stone, Steve Carell At ‘Battle Of The Sexes’ Premiere appeared first on uInterview.
Source: uInterview
The post Billie Jean King Joins Emma Stone, Steve Carell At ‘Battle Of The Sexes’ Premiere appeared first on uInterview.
- 9/21/2017
- by Hillary Luehring-Jones
- Uinterview
With “Battle of the Sexes” opening in 2017, Emma Stone is once again squarely in the Best Actress Oscar race after having won for “La La Land.” Directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton (“Little Miss Sunshine”), the film recounts the 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King (Stone) and ex-champ Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell). In honor of her new film, let’s […]...
- 9/21/2017
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Billie Jean King is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and an outspoken advocate off the court for the Lgbtq community and women’s rights. The new film, Battle Of The Sexes, stars Emma Stone as Billie Jean King, and follows the tennis icon’s infamous 1973 match against Bobby Riggs. In the video above, the…
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- 9/21/2017
- by Baraka Kaseko
- avclub.com
MaryAnn’s quick take… An essential history lesson with a smart smack of relevance for today (because feminism always has to be relitigated). It’s also warm, funny, and hugely entertaining. I’m “biast” (pro): I’m desperate for movies about women
I’m “biast” (con): not a sports fan at all
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
That saying about those not remembering the past being condemned to repeat it? Of course it’s true… but sometimes it’s not an accident that the past gets forgotten. Sometimes the squashing of history — and the continuation of history into the present — is deliberate. Feminists know this: Women are constantly having to reinvent feminism, refight the same battles, because they don’t stay won. A brief moment of small triumph very quickly gets drowned out by major cultural pushback; women may savor victory only long enough...
I’m “biast” (con): not a sports fan at all
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
That saying about those not remembering the past being condemned to repeat it? Of course it’s true… but sometimes it’s not an accident that the past gets forgotten. Sometimes the squashing of history — and the continuation of history into the present — is deliberate. Feminists know this: Women are constantly having to reinvent feminism, refight the same battles, because they don’t stay won. A brief moment of small triumph very quickly gets drowned out by major cultural pushback; women may savor victory only long enough...
- 9/21/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Battle Of The Sexes, starring Emma Stone as Billie Jean King, follows the tennis icon’s infamous 1973 match against Bobby Riggs. In the video above, Bill Pullman, who plays commentator Jack Kramer, discusses why he thinks this movie took so long to get off the ground.
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- 9/20/2017
- by Baraka Kaseko
- avclub.com
Emma Stone (“Battle of the Sexes”) could make Oscar history this year as the first actress to be nominated for taking on the challenge of playing a real-life athlete. In her well-regarded new film, Stone portrays legendary tennis great Billie Jean King, who trounced Bobby Riggs in an 1973 match that was a victory for […]...
- 9/20/2017
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The ‘Battle Of The Sexes’ is headed to the big screen! The film, opening on Sept. 22, sees Steve Carell portray the loudmouth Bobby Riggs, so get to know about the real man behind this legendary tennis match.
- 9/20/2017
- by Jason Brow
- HollywoodLife
Battle of the Sexes' Emma Stone on learning to become a tennis champBattle of the Sexes' Emma Stone on learning to become a tennis champJim Slotek, Cineplex Magazine9/20/2017 10:32:00 Am
Singing and dancing in La La Land was demanding. But Emma Stone says it may have been more challenging to learn to play tennis for the role of legendary Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes.
“I mean, I had sung before and I had danced a little, so I had that to start out with,” she says of the three months she spent prepping for her Oscar-winning role in 2016’s feel good movie of the year. “But I was a complete novice when it came to tennis.
“I dove in right after we completed La La Land. Battle of the Sexes could not be more different in a way. But it also required the same amount of rehearsal,...
Singing and dancing in La La Land was demanding. But Emma Stone says it may have been more challenging to learn to play tennis for the role of legendary Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes.
“I mean, I had sung before and I had danced a little, so I had that to start out with,” she says of the three months she spent prepping for her Oscar-winning role in 2016’s feel good movie of the year. “But I was a complete novice when it came to tennis.
“I dove in right after we completed La La Land. Battle of the Sexes could not be more different in a way. But it also required the same amount of rehearsal,...
- 9/20/2017
- by Jim Slotek, Cineplex Magazine
- Cineplex
Emma Stone wasn't thrilled with how her first introduction to Hillary Clinton went down.
The 28-year-old actress met the former secretary of state backstage at The Late Show on Tuesday, and revealed to host Stephen Colbert that she got a little embarrassed when the two decided to take a photo together.
For the photo op, Clinton -- who also sat down with Colbert -- and Stone held up T-shirts that had former tennis pro Billie Jean King's face on them and her winning scores when she competed against Bobby Riggs in 1973 and won. The Oscar winner portrays King in the film Battle of the Sexes, which hits theaters on Sept. 22.
"I get a chance to meet Hillary Clinton, which is unfathomable and incredible," Stone told Colbert before adding, "and I look nude in them."
More: Katy Perry Tears Up as Hillary Clinton Surprises Her at Unicef Ball
Colbert held up the photo that Stone was describing...
The 28-year-old actress met the former secretary of state backstage at The Late Show on Tuesday, and revealed to host Stephen Colbert that she got a little embarrassed when the two decided to take a photo together.
For the photo op, Clinton -- who also sat down with Colbert -- and Stone held up T-shirts that had former tennis pro Billie Jean King's face on them and her winning scores when she competed against Bobby Riggs in 1973 and won. The Oscar winner portrays King in the film Battle of the Sexes, which hits theaters on Sept. 22.
"I get a chance to meet Hillary Clinton, which is unfathomable and incredible," Stone told Colbert before adding, "and I look nude in them."
More: Katy Perry Tears Up as Hillary Clinton Surprises Her at Unicef Ball
Colbert held up the photo that Stone was describing...
- 9/20/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
What does a movie about a 1973 tennis exhibition match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs have to say to millennials when everyone knows the war between so-called women's libbers and male chauvinist pigs ended last century? Ha! Starring a top-form Emma Stone as King and a perceptively flamboyant Steve Carell as Riggs, Battle of the Sexes is not an overtly political movie; it's a blast about two tennis champions going over the top to make a point. But in speaking to the marginalized, the movie comments bluntly on the here and now.
- 9/20/2017
- Rollingstone.com
Steve Carell knows a thing or two about working on non-fiction narratives (The Big Short, Foxcatcher) and with Battle of the Sexes he plays showman and tennis star Bobby Riggs. Emma Stone co-stars as his opponent Billie Jean King, and their match would be one of tennis' most popular matches. "There's that public persona [...]...
- 9/20/2017
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s world champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the Battle Of The Sexes and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles.
The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that...
The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that...
- 9/20/2017
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Awards season is getting into full swing, and one of the early contenders is the real-life sports drama ‘Battle of the Sexes‘. The film follows the well publicized tennis match between Billie Jean king (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) that was dubbed by the media as the “Battle of the Sexes”. The film seems to tackle gender equality, and is primed to be a major player in this year’s awards race.
The film was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine), with a script form Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire writer Simon Beaufoy. In addition of Carell and Stone, ‘Battle of the Sexes’ stars Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Elisabeth Shue, Natalie Morales, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, and Eric Christian Olsen.
In preparation for the movie’s sure-to-be awards run, Fox Searchlight have released two clips and a featurette for the film. Here...
The film was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine), with a script form Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire writer Simon Beaufoy. In addition of Carell and Stone, ‘Battle of the Sexes’ stars Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Elisabeth Shue, Natalie Morales, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, and Eric Christian Olsen.
In preparation for the movie’s sure-to-be awards run, Fox Searchlight have released two clips and a featurette for the film. Here...
- 9/20/2017
- by Taylor Salan
- Age of the Nerd
A firestorm ignited in 1973 when retired tennis pro Bobby Riggs, a hustler and gambler looking for new prey, challenged reigning tennis queen Billie Jean King to a match to prove that a female champ was far inferior to anyone on the men’s tour — even an old-timer in his mid-50s. She turned it down at first, but after he defeated one of her chief rivals, King took on what became a virtual circus of immense proportions covered on ABC and around the world. Now that era and…...
- 9/20/2017
- Deadline
The Battle Of The Sexes, which pitted the 29-year-old top-ranked women’s tennis player Billie Jean King against the 55-year-old retired men’s pro Bobby Riggs, was a circus. Riggs, in the part of the avowed male chauvinist and opponent of women’s lib, entered the Houston Astrodome—about as un-tennis a setting as…
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- 9/19/2017
- by Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
- avclub.com
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