Battle of the Sexes is less a movie about a famous tennis event than an exploration of relationships at a time when women were demanded more equality. It is skilfully made in that sense. Emphasis is on Billie Jean discovering her sexuality and the strain that puts on her husband, and on Riggs's strange relationship to gambling that threatens his marriage. We also see something of a contrast with Margaret Court, a young married conservative, and rival to Billie Jean. Thrown into the mix is the battle between women's tennis and the official league, with women branching out on their own and demanding better pay on the one hand, and the chauvinistic league on the other refusing to budge. The movie is full of interesting moments and clashes in this behind the scenes look at relationships around professional tennis in the 1970s, and is well cast and acted. The characters are far from ordinary and this is a far more interesting movie than I expected. It's a feel good movie I suppose, but is based on real events and as such certainly has that stranger than fiction quality.
Review of Battle of the Sexes
