[Review] Battle of the Sexes: Forty Years Later, Are We Equal Yet?

First, I'd like to thank 20th Century Fox for inviting me to an advance screening of Battle of the Sexes last month. While watching this film, besides being moved by Emma Stone's excellent performance, I couldn't help but sigh: forty years after the "Battle of the Sexes" depicted in the movie, the status of men and women in society still seems far from equal.

Battle of the Sexes is based on a true story. American audiences, or tennis fans, are likely familiar with the film's two protagonists, Billie Jean King (played by Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (played by Steve Carell). The film primarily has two themes: the origins, events, and outcome of the "Battle of the Sexes," and Billie Jean King's journey of self-discovery during the process.

The "Battle of the Sexes" took place in 1973, a period when feminism and the women's liberation movement were just beginning, and the social status of men and women remained unequal. In the film, Bobby Riggs, who proudly calls himself a "chauvinist pig" and champions male chauvinism or male supremacy, represents an ideology directly opposite and quite extreme compared to feminism. This setup clearly highlights the film's central theme. At the time, women's salaries were generally much lower than men's, even for popular and highly renowned "number one" female tennis players. Besides unequal pay, women were also not respected by men, often seen as only suitable for housework and childcare at home. In the film, Billie Jean King and a group of female players refuse to accept this unfair treatment, thus giving up stable lives to stand against the mainstream major tennis organizations. And the arrogant, gambling-addicted, attention-seeking Bobby Riggs seizes this opportunity to challenge female athletes.

In this match, Bobby Riggs arguably had nothing to lose. Even if he lost the match, men would still hold a dominant position in society, and nothing would change. As a well-known white male with a wealthy wife, he basically lived a carefree life, with no worries about the future. On the other hand, Billie Jean King had always been distressed by gender inequality, and faced with Bobby Riggs's arrogant remarks that demeaned all women, she felt compelled to accept the challenge. Moreover, she essentially could not afford to lose this match; otherwise, the treatment of female athletes, and indeed all women, would become even worse and receive even less respect from men. Facing such pressure, she finally performed to her potential and defeated Bobby Riggs. However, even though she won the match and women gained some respect and saw an improvement in their status, did society truly achieve gender equality? Forty years have passed, and the problem of unequal pay between genders persists. Women are still regarded by many as the less capable sex. Perhaps some might say, at least women are respected now and no longer seen solely as housewives! But when you look back at last year's U.S. presidential election, where a president who disrespects women, constantly objectifies women, and has repeatedly offended women could still win the election, can you still be so sure? Undeniably, the outcome of last year's U.S. presidential election was influenced by many factors, but I believe there are still many people in America who agree with Donald Trump's views and statements. Therefore, the theme of Battle of the Sexes, released in America at this time, truly holds special significance and reminds us: we still have a long way to go before achieving true gender equality.

When depicting the origins of the "Battle of the Sexes," the film successfully uses the conflicts and antagonisms between various characters in the script to highlight the clash between the two ideologies, bringing out the film's theme. This could have been a very serious and solemn subject matter, but fortunately, the script's tone, combined with Steve Carell's exaggerated and humorous performance, prevented the film from being dull and allowed audiences to engage. However, I felt that a minor drawback was that the film's initial setup built up so much anticipation for the "Battle of the Sexes," but the tennis match itself wasn't as tense or exciting as it could have been, leaving a slight feeling of an abrupt conclusion. Nevertheless, tennis matches themselves aren't as inherently cinematic as some other sports, so perhaps it's an inherent flaw!

The film's other theme lies in Billie Jean King's self-discovery. While organizing the women's tennis tour, Billie Jean King meets a female hairstylist and discovers her apparent interest in women. At that time, women had lower social status, and societal attitudes were still quite conservative, leaving women with very few choices. Billie Jean King was already married to her husband, so this discovery troubled her even more. Battle of the Sexes, in addition to recounting that classic tennis match, is also Billie Jean King's coming-of-age story, starting from her discovery of this other side of herself, then detailing her journey through confusion, conflict, and self-denial. Although the film doesn't ultimately show her formally making significant choices or confirming her sexual orientation, her experience is still a moving story that I believe will resonate with many viewers. Forty years later, homosexuality or bisexuality still hasn't gained widespread social acceptance. Many people are still troubled by their sexual orientation and societal pressures and prejudices, living in the closet, unable to make choices according to their own desires. Besides portraying women as a gender oppressed by men, the film also depicts the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in self-discovery and breaking free from shackles, similarly reminding us that there is still a long way to go.

In telling Billie Jean King's story, the film uses many handheld close-up shots, giving the audience a very intimate feeling and allowing them to sense the character's emotions. Last year's Oscar Best Actress, Emma Stone, plays Billie Jean King this time, and her performance is absolutely no less impressive than her Mia in La La Land. From initial confusion to later guilt, Emma Stone's performance in the film is consistently subtle, never overly showy or sentimental. This understated performance, I believe, allows audiences to better feel her character's psychological transformation and resonate more deeply. And in the final scene, after winning the match, her moment of tearful joy shows that her emotions don't explode all at once but are very layered. I believe Emma Stone will receive many nominations in the upcoming awards season!