Challengers (2024)

Challengers, aka "that tennis threesome movie," tells the story of a tennis prodigy (Zendaya) and her back-and-forth relationship between two competitive players who volley for her affections over the course of a 13-year period. The material is directed with kinetic style and grace by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) along a thumping techno score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. This film is certainly competent and an entertaining piece of escapism, but it fails to elicit the kind of response from me that it seems to have had on the culture at large. It's good, but let's not get too crazy.

3 wild cards out of 5

The Bikeriders (2023)

Based on the photograph book of the same name, Jeff Nichols's film loosely chronicles the exploits of a midwestern motorcycle club in the 1960s called The Vandals. The story is told via interviews by Kathy (Jodie Comer), who recalls her rowdy romance with Benny (Austin Butler) and describes the gang's violent history throughout the years. As more chapters grow across the country, the more unruly it gets, until enigmatic leader Johnny (Tom Hardy) is no longer able to keep a lid on it. As a film about motorcycle counterculture, it reminded me of classics like The Wild One and Easy Rider.

3 jacket patches out of 5