HER GAMES. HER RULES.

A Luca Guadagnino drama about romantic relationships is always worthy of attention. This one is a love triangle between three young tennis talents that plays out over several years as their lives and fortunes change.

The narrative is nonlinear, building up to a final game that turns into a sort of catharsis for all three of them. The leads are good, including Zendaya as the 18-year-old who remains somewhat elusive throughout, but this drama never quite reaches a fully satisfying degree of maturity.

The film gets its energy primarily from the music score.

2024-U.S. 131 min. Color. Directed by Luca Guadagnino. Screenplay: Justin Kuritzkes. Music: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross. Song: ”Compress/Repress” (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Luca Guadagnino). Cast: Zendaya (Tashi Duncan), Josh O’Connor (Patrick Zweig), Mike Faist (Art Donaldson), Darnell Appling, Shane Harris.

Trivia: Co-produced by Zendaya and Guadagnino. Austin Butler and Timothée Chalamet were reportedly considered for the part of Art.

Golden Globe: Best Original Score.