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Its hard to make actors look like athletes.
So how didZendaya, Mike Faist, andJosh OConnordo?
According to real-life stars of the tennis world, pretty good!
Zendaya nails the physicality of Tashis powerful forehands and aggressive style of play.
Faist plays up Arts unfocused game as a youth and his controlled, elegant technique as a top-ranked adult.
OConnor captures Patricks jagged edges, stubborn service style, and petulant on-court antics.
Whos Coaching?
It helps that Guadagnino knows how to film his actors to emphasize them at their best.
Zendaya perfected her forehand with the help of former player and ESPN broadcaster Brad Gilbert.
So its no surprise that he has Zendayas forehand looking dominant in the court scenes.
Zendaya does intensity real well.
(Just check out thoselast shots ofDune: Part Twoif youre unsure.)
How Close Is Art Donaldson to GOAT Status?
For the most part, Guadagnino and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes place their movie inside the real world of tennis.
Hes one behind John McEnroe and two behind Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors.
Arts about halfway to Pete, so not GOAT status, but certainly among the greats of his era.
The Roger and the Rafa?
On the court, Art plays with the precision of a Federer and the svelte grace of Djokovic.
Aided by Guadagnino cranking up the racquet-on-ball sound effects to nerve-jangling levels, their ground strokes have power.
Its not unheard of as a service motion; American Jay Berger wasnotorious for itin the early 90s.
But its far from optimal.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Rosssclub-ready soundtrackthumps around the action.
Guadagnino giddily has Faist and OConnor drip sweat onto the camera lens.
Even the grunts in the third set yes, the male players also grunt feel natural and not actorly.
Its the flurry of volleys that happen right before that.
In tennis, volley exchanges are fast, frantic, and thrilling.
In tennis terms, its first-serve percentage is strong.
