Battle of the Sexes

TOPIC: Battle of the Sexes 

FACT: Battle of the Sexes is a sports and biography film that describes the perspective of former No. 1 woman tennis player Billie Jean King during the early '70s, while giving the audience a deeper understanding of the events that eventually molded her iconic win against tennis champion Bobby Riggs in 1973. This live event ended up reached over ninety million viewers worldwide and also gave rise to the women's movement and early feminism at this time. 

An insightful look at the past, this 2017 motion picture brings audiences back to the days of Billie Jean King, played by La La Land star Emma Stone, in a historical tennis match truly illustrating a "Battle of the Sexes". Regarding the unequal salaries of American men and women athletes in the early '70s, this film shines a light on a series of events which eventually led Billie King to accept a match against Steve Carell's character, Bobby Riggs, who according to the film, prefers women "in the kitchen and the bedroom". While having a few laughs and tear-jerking acting, Battle of the Sexes succeeds in capturing the state of America during this eventful time period, explaining why King saw this game as not only a tennis match, but as a fight for equality in America. 

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' popular biography also tells the behind-the-scene battles each of the two tennis players faced during their famous rivalry, from Billie Jean King coming to terms with her own sexuality, to Bobby Riggs gambling his reputation and legacy away one night after the next.    

   

The film racked up an average score of 6.9/10 from IMDb while currently holding 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Battle of the Sexes additionally stars the talents of Elisabeth Shue, Sarah Silverman and Alan Cumming, who all play significant characters in the story. 

In conclusion, Battle of the Sexes took one of the most publicized sporting events in history to places far beyond the tennis court, which is no wonder why the film's genuine tagline simply states, "He made a bet. She made history."