Battle of the Sexes

“Emma Stone and Steve Carell bring their A game to this crowd-pleaser based on the electrifying true story of the 1973 tennis match between women’s champion Billie Jean King (Stone) and former men’s champ Bobby Riggs (Carell). As fierce rivals on opposite sides of the court and the gender equality issue, Billie Jean and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the sporting world. Filled with heart, humor and biting wit, Battle of the Sexes is a triumphant celebration of the historic contents that changed the game!”

When Billie Jean King learns that the men in a tennis tournament are earning eight times more than the women despite selling the exact same amount of tickets1, she commits to starting a tournament of her own that takes place on the same day as the other, boycotting the official tennis league. With a handful of women players, Billie Jean King and her group dedicate themselves to overcoming all the odds that are stacked against them of coming out ahead in a male-dominated business world.

Billie Jean makes a splash in the sports world, raising the issues of gender equality at the time which falls on the deaf ears of a society who wholeheartedly believes women are inferior. This attention sparks the interest of Bobby Riggs, a self-proclaimed chauvinist who is looking for any reason to be back in the limelight. After back and forth between the two, Billie Jean finally relents, thus setting up one of the most important tennis matches in history.

Weaved through the story is Billie Jean’s self-discovery as she begins a relationship with her hairdresser, something that both frightens and excites her. This story definitely contains most of the heart of the story, as Billie Jean’s dedication to changing the status quo drives her.

What Battle of the Sexes accomplishes more than anything is the fact that is has been released in the current climate that is so polarized for change, with the recent focus of the #MeToo  movement which has empowered women to speak out against abuse in different forms. Not only does Battle of the Sexes tackle the focus of women’s rights and gender equality, it explores equality on another level, hoping to reach a more receptive audience which struggles to progress in a divisive world. The film highlights the male-dominated society, which contrasted with society today seems like night and day. Although things still have a long way to go, it’s absolutely amazing the differences in what was considered the norm at the time.

As important of a story this is, some focus should be spent on Emma Stone’s amazing performance. She immerses herself in this role, in one of her best performances to date, transforming her look and body language. Steve Carell provides a lot of the humor, a perfect choice to play her opposite, and with his previous work with these directors on Little Miss Sunshine, I expected great things. Not only do these performances enhance the already poignant story, but  they ensure that Battle of the Sexes will get further attention come award season.

Video

Battle of the Sexes is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. This is a great transfer on this disc, that contains a very unique look that accentuates the look and atmosphere of the 1970’s. It has a some welcome grain to it that adds to the fact, with some muted colors that do the same. No defects or issues were noticed in the print.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, and is one of my favorite things about the film. It contains an amazing soundtrack with some great classic hits of the time period that are perfectly chosen for the scene they are featured in. Audio balance is good throughout the surrounds, with no problems noticed.

Special Features

There aren’t too many extras on this disc, but what’s there is all worth taking a look at, especially the conversation with Billie Jean King herself. You’re going to see:

• Raw Footage: Billie Jean’s Grand Entrace
• Reigniting the Rivalry
• Billie Jean King: In Her Own Words
• Galleries

Battle of the Sexes has a lot to say when it comes to equality, and presents itself in a heartwarming and entertaining story full of amazing performances. This is one to watch come award season.