Wimbledon | ||||
Richard Loncraine Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Sam Neill, Jon Favreau, James McAvoy, Bernard Hill, Eleanor Bron, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Robert Lindsay, John McEnroe, Chris Evert 2006 |
A charming confluence of underdog-battling-the-odds sports movie, love story and culture critique, "Wimbledon" scores points for intelligence, sweetness, comedy, excitement, and sex appeal. It even has a few emotional sneak-attacks lying in wait. Set at the prestigious tennis tournament in England, the film makes a pair of driven, potentially obnoxious tennis stars appealing. Kirsten Dunst ("Spider-Man") plays rising U.S. player Lizzie Bradbury, and Paul Bettany ("The Reckoning") plays fading British player Peter Colt, whose current ranking on has tumbled to triple digits. In his mid-30s, Peter is ready to retire from the pro tour without having won a big tourney; in her early 20s, Lizzie is an uncompromising competitor with a string of victories. Differences aside, they're competing in their respective championships on the grass courts of Wimbledon and they're drawn to each other, romantically. Their obstacles go beyond the game: Lizzie's father Dennis (Sam Neill) is her coach, and he'll have nothing distract his daughter, and Peter, whose own family doubts he'll get past his first opponent, has no confidence anymore. Directed by Richard Loncraine with wit and warmth in the personal moments and flashy, yet judicious camera technique during the match sequences, it's knowledgeable about its milieu. Plus, Dunst and Bettany are plausible athletes. With a funny Jon Favreau as Peter's agent. | |||
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