With its 2017 Toronto International Film Festival premiere in the rear view, the sports drama “Borg vs. McEnroe” will finally head into U.S. theaters and on demand next month. Director Janus Metz serves up a rivalry between two tennis legends — Swedish pro Björn Borg and legendary American jackass, John McEnroe — in an epic and world-famous Wimbledon match. It’s been months since critics have seen the film, which was the opening night feature at September’s TIFF. Taking a hero vs. villain approach, the film heightens the drama between Borg and McEnroe, examining their personalities, struggles in the sport, public persona, and their final show down.
We were lucky enough to see the film upon its premiere at TIFF, with the film receiving fairly mixed reviews. Here were some of our thoughts:
The film is an admirable effort to recapture the era in tennis and the personalities of two players that would change the shape of the sport. Unfortunately, the drama is never as electrifying as the titular showdown…Metz does deliver when it counts, devoting most of the third act almost entirely to the Wimbledon finale. It’s terrifically shot, and even if you know the outcome, it’s substantially tense, building to the inevitable conclusion with each volley, serve, and smash…Just as many sports movies before have done, and many more will after, “Borg/McEnroe” shines a light on the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. It’s just a shame that the movie itself doesn’t have the same ambition.”
Whether you find yourself a tennis aficionado, or have a keen interest in the film’s story and portrayals of the two icons, it’s worth a swing. Here’s the official synopsis and trailer:
Toronto International Film Festival’s 2017 opening night film BORG VS. MCENROE tells the story of the epic rivalry between Swedish tennis legend Björn Borg (Gudnason) and his greatest adversary, the brash American John McEnroe (LaBeouf), which came to a head during the 1980 Wimbledon Championships.
“Borg vs. McEnroe” hits theaters and on demand April 13th.