Plot Overview:
I watched this movie in the flight, could not get time to write a review before. We write a review to recommend a book / movie to others, but this one takes a small detour. I guess I am writing this review more for myself as there is a little history behind it. My mother used to follow tennis and I used to watch all the games with her. All the Grandslam tournaments used to be a religious watch in our home, and wimbledon was the top favourite. We would watch right from the qualifying rounds. Infact I do not follow tennis frequently anymore after she passed away.
So, the story goes that my mother always rooted for John McEnroe. When I was watching tennis ,McEnroe was already in the back seat. It was more of Becker, Edburg, Andre Agassi at that time. McEnroe was weaning off by then, but still my mother would watch all his games, even if he lost it. But what she would rave about the most were his matches with his most famous rival, Bjorn Borg. So when I saw the movie title on the flight, it was my obvious pick.
One is a raging storm, the other is a calm ocean. One fierce as fire, the other as soothing as water.
That is how the duo were best described. They are known for their contrasting personalities. But is the ocean really calm, or there is a strong current raging somewhere beneath the seemingly calm exterior??
The movie is centered around the epic wimbledon final between Borg and McEnroe. Borg has already won wimbledon 4 times by then. And the only one to stop him from his 5th wimbledon title is McEnroe. The media is splashing the news on the headlines. There is betting all over and sponsors doing all the marketing. Amidst the hype, the two players face the pressure in their own way. McEnroe is more vocal, fights with the referees and is known to throw his notorious tantrums. Borg, on the other hand, is extremely focused and quiet.He is superstitious to the core, the same racket, the same car, the same shirt, the same band. But, people close to him have a different story to tell. He had severe anxiety pangs. He dreads that he will be lost to history if he does not make a new record of winning wimbledon five times in a row and making a mark for himself in the tennis books.
The tournament starts, the first rounds, then the quarter-finals and then the semis. They briefly show the match between McEnroe and Connors, one of his other big rivals. It is more of a verbal spat than a tennis game. I guess it should have been a wholesome entertainment to the audience with each player first fighting with the referee and then fighting with each other !!
Finally, the big day arrives for the grand finale. Borg Vs McEnroe. Its time to face the giant. And on that day, McEnroe focuses more on the game, than on his verbal spats. It was a war of rackets, a war of serves, a war for the wimbledon cup. Anything but words. And what a finale it was. Five sets played and the final set goes to the tie breaker. 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6. It is still regarded as one of the greatest matches, ever played. Even when you are watching the movie, the tension builds up. One can imagine how it would have been when the epic game was live.
The movie is an out and out Borg movie. He is the tennis giant, the invincible, solid wall. He was talented, hardworking and meticulous. But one can see why people found McEnroe so charming with all his flares and tantrums, he was a natural. He was flamboyant.
In those days , when humans played tennis matches, unlike super heroes like Roger Federer, my vote goes for Borg. Sorry mom !! To my defence, I think if you ask McEnroe, Borg would be his choice too ,considering the friendship they formed in the later years despite their contrasting personalities and deep rooted rivalry.
All in all, to summarize, the movie could have been named - Clash of the Titans in Tennis.
Recommended : 👍👍👍
I watched this movie in the flight, could not get time to write a review before. We write a review to recommend a book / movie to others, but this one takes a small detour. I guess I am writing this review more for myself as there is a little history behind it. My mother used to follow tennis and I used to watch all the games with her. All the Grandslam tournaments used to be a religious watch in our home, and wimbledon was the top favourite. We would watch right from the qualifying rounds. Infact I do not follow tennis frequently anymore after she passed away.
So, the story goes that my mother always rooted for John McEnroe. When I was watching tennis ,McEnroe was already in the back seat. It was more of Becker, Edburg, Andre Agassi at that time. McEnroe was weaning off by then, but still my mother would watch all his games, even if he lost it. But what she would rave about the most were his matches with his most famous rival, Bjorn Borg. So when I saw the movie title on the flight, it was my obvious pick.
One is a raging storm, the other is a calm ocean. One fierce as fire, the other as soothing as water.
That is how the duo were best described. They are known for their contrasting personalities. But is the ocean really calm, or there is a strong current raging somewhere beneath the seemingly calm exterior??
The movie is centered around the epic wimbledon final between Borg and McEnroe. Borg has already won wimbledon 4 times by then. And the only one to stop him from his 5th wimbledon title is McEnroe. The media is splashing the news on the headlines. There is betting all over and sponsors doing all the marketing. Amidst the hype, the two players face the pressure in their own way. McEnroe is more vocal, fights with the referees and is known to throw his notorious tantrums. Borg, on the other hand, is extremely focused and quiet.He is superstitious to the core, the same racket, the same car, the same shirt, the same band. But, people close to him have a different story to tell. He had severe anxiety pangs. He dreads that he will be lost to history if he does not make a new record of winning wimbledon five times in a row and making a mark for himself in the tennis books.
The tournament starts, the first rounds, then the quarter-finals and then the semis. They briefly show the match between McEnroe and Connors, one of his other big rivals. It is more of a verbal spat than a tennis game. I guess it should have been a wholesome entertainment to the audience with each player first fighting with the referee and then fighting with each other !!
Finally, the big day arrives for the grand finale. Borg Vs McEnroe. Its time to face the giant. And on that day, McEnroe focuses more on the game, than on his verbal spats. It was a war of rackets, a war of serves, a war for the wimbledon cup. Anything but words. And what a finale it was. Five sets played and the final set goes to the tie breaker. 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6. It is still regarded as one of the greatest matches, ever played. Even when you are watching the movie, the tension builds up. One can imagine how it would have been when the epic game was live.
The movie is an out and out Borg movie. He is the tennis giant, the invincible, solid wall. He was talented, hardworking and meticulous. But one can see why people found McEnroe so charming with all his flares and tantrums, he was a natural. He was flamboyant.
In those days , when humans played tennis matches, unlike super heroes like Roger Federer, my vote goes for Borg. Sorry mom !! To my defence, I think if you ask McEnroe, Borg would be his choice too ,considering the friendship they formed in the later years despite their contrasting personalities and deep rooted rivalry.
All in all, to summarize, the movie could have been named - Clash of the Titans in Tennis.
Recommended : 👍👍👍
