DVD review: The Great Hip Hop Hoax

September 23, 2013December 17, 2025 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

A fascinating and hilarious true story of two Scottish rappers who pretended to be American to pursue their dream to be the next big thing. Jeanie Finlay directs, documenting through interviews and shaky archive footage shot by the lads themselves. Back before the UK hip hop scene had taken off with the likes of Plan B, Dizzee Rascal and Wiley, Gavin McBain and Billy Boyd met at Dundee University and instantly formed a connection, however there was no room for Scottish hip hop – it wasn’t marketable. After a disastrous 2002 audition in London where they were stereotypically branded ‘the rapping Proclaimers’, they thought they had blown the big chance for a breakthrough into the industry. Months later, ‘for a laugh’, Boyd put on an American accent when trying to secure a gig claiming to be over from California to promote an EP and to his amazement, it worked. From then on, they were no longer Bill and Gav from Arbroath. They were Silibil n’ Brains from LA. ‘The Great Hip Hop Hoax’ takes us on their unique journey through the dizzy heights of Sony record deals and appearing on MTV, to the inevitable combustion, and carries it off with style, humour and most importantly honesty, creating an intriguing watch that has you questioning how on earth they pulled it off.

What makes this piece so interesting is the lie that holds it all together, and this is what drew Jeanie Finlay to the project. To completely assume new identities for what was a number of years is astounding to the point that most guys lost sight of who they were and why they were doing it. The talking head segments from Billy’s fiancée, friends and the music moguls who were taken in by their creation are really key in shedding light on how dedicated they both were, never breaking character and even avoiding phonecalls from parents to maintain the new facades. The well developed new characters are also given wacky cartoon personas, the cleverly made zany animation offering a different aspect to the film. There is a great sense of authenticity running through the whole production, Billy and Gavin telling it how it was, ahead of the release of their new EP ‘Eat Your Brains’ which is available to download now on iTunes.

After the screening, I had the pleasure of attending a Q&A session and after party with the director, Billy and Gavin, and it was staggering to see how driven they both still are. Perhaps Gavin more so than Billy as he has now settled down and had a couple of kids. Whilst performing at the after party, Silibil n’ Brains were as captivating as ever, now openly Scottish and proud but keeping up the Beastie Boys attitude and accents, spitting comedic lines to extremely catchy beats. Maybe they haven’t achieved what they set out to originally, but they are treated with respect now in the industry they longed to be a part of, having a lot of fun at the same time and ‘The Great Hip Hop Hoax’ documentary is a worthy account of the brilliant story.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUGUydxj-ck

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DVD review: Mud

September 2, 2013April 14, 2016 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

I have avoided the work of Matthew McConaughey in the past, his associations with romantic comedies have put me off to the point that when I see his name attached I tend not to show any interest at all, but as his career has since taken an expected twist, I was intrigued to see ‘Mud’, a story in which two young boys meet a dishevelled man living in a boat come tree house on a deserted island on the Mississippi Delta. Citing Mark Twain as an influence, writer director Jeff Nichols attempts the great American film where adolescent intrigue and curiosity steer the teenage friends Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) to meet Mud (Matthew McConaughey) befriending and assisting him, despite the ‘wanted’ posters in town bearing his face.

Beginning as a Stand By Me-esque adventure tale, Ellis hopping on the back of Neckbone’s dirt bike for a summer of fun, romance at the forefront of the formers pubescent mind, and ‘titties’ on the agenda of the latter. The friendship is magnificent to watch, capturing the humour to a tee but with a genuine essence, and Ellis’ idealistic but naive notion of love holds the narrative together. Though the light-heartedness is short-lived, hinted at early on with symbolic shots of spiders and eerie suspenseful score. The cinematography sweeps us off to the ominous island, crucifixes in the sand leading to the suspenseful encounter with Mud, who with his dirty exterior and scraggy features earns his title. Striking a bond with Mud, going back to the island alone providing food and drink, Ellis escapes from his home life difficulties. His parents are in a turbulent marriage, he has an unrequited crush on the ‘popular one’ in the neighbourhood, and when Mud recounts his quest for happiness with Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) it triggers his true-love-must-prevail attitude which pits him against his family and the criminals searching for Mud.

The performances in Mud are of the highest order throughout, with McConaughey delivering straight from the top drawer. Initially coming across as arrogant, and perhaps a little over confident, as his character develops, his past unravelling, the portrayal continually keeps up, climaxing with a gripping finale. Unwilling to be outshone completely are the two youngsters, Sheridan and Lofland, who are outstanding. It is the norm for these kind of performances to either seem overplayed, or rather flat but the two get the balance spot on, and I think their chemistry helps boost one another, both giving heartfelt, and at times hilarious. With Sam Shepard, Reese Witherspoon and usual Nichols collaborator Michael Shannon filling the back seat in supporting roles, the towering stature of the cast is undeniable. Shannon, for me, was a little underused, as I really enjoyed him in a less serious role, taking the part of Neckbone’s deep sea diving, womanising uncle, offering words of wisdom. It was also very interesting to see Witherspoon used with a different approach, a darker, beautifully trashy side shown, clashing with her customary ‘girl next door’ depictions.

The only criticism I have of Mud is that it overstays its welcome somewhat, the pace dragging along through certain segments, the two hour ten minutes running time perhaps could have benefited with twenty or so shaved the sides. Despite lagging through the domestic scenes in Ellis’ broken home, which I felt were quite heavy handed, the script is at its best during the interchanges between Ellis, Neckbone and Mud, the dialogue exceptional with acting to boot, and it is the connections between these characters and between these three which are long lasting and pull you in, immersing us in their adventure.

4stars

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DVD review: The Look of Love

August 21, 2013February 22, 2024 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

Having previously worked together on a number of projects, including ’24 Hour Party People’ and ‘A Cock and Bull Story’, the friendship between director Michael Winterbottom and leading man Steve Coogan is evident. The latest collaboration ‘The Look of Love’ displays this wholeheartedly, both clearly enjoying themselves in their representation of Soho’s seedy seventies backdrop, following porn mogul Paul Raymond , revolutionising the sex industry, whilst juggling relationships with wife Jean (Anna Friel), mistress Fiona (Tamsin Egerton) and beloved daughter Debra (Imogen Poots). This tale offers a glossy insight into his world, but without getting fully beneath the cracks.

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DVD review: The Place Beyond The Pines

August 12, 2013June 16, 2022 Garry Arnot1 Comment

Derek Cianfrance previously got the best out of Ryan Gosling with ‘Blue Valentine’ in 2010, and this time around, he’s topped it. ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ spans three generations, following motorbike stuntman Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) and rookie cop Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper) in Schenectady, New York, the English meaning of which gives the film its name. When. travelling loner Luke discovers by chance that he has a young son, he abruptly quits his job to stick around, disillusioned by the concept on settling down and starting a family. In a desperate attempt to provide for his child, he begins a life of crime, robbing banks in a smash and grab but calculated fashion, using the ill gotten gains to buy a cot and gifts for his offspring. A brooding illustration of fatherhood and all that comes with it, fixed in an ambitiously brave structure assisted by standout performances, this quietly intelligent tale hits hard.

Split into three acts, shown chronologically, this approach to filmmaking is certainly admirable, though the cinematic impact of the first act is so strong that I feel it outshines the second and third. Hitchcockian in its camera work, the one take sequences and extreme close ups draw the audience into the story brilliantly, straight from the opening over the shoulder scene of Luke as he enters a spherical cage to join his ‘heartthrobs’ ahead of their death defying travelling fair performance. This provides an instant intimacy with the character, giving a very humanistic insight into his flawed and psyche. To jump from the first act to the second through a tragic twist, the focus shifting from Luke to Avery, is a remarkably bold move, which clashes with the traditional method of storytelling, but unfortunately signifies a slight lull in interest, with the moral dilemma of the young policeman failing to garner quite as much likeability as the rock n’ roll fable it follows. Though it picks up again in the final act, coming fifteen years later, showing the sons of Luke and Avery, and the lives they lead, consequential of the paths their fathers led before them, bringing the beautifully poetic arrangement to its somewhat predictable conclusion. Holes can be picked in the plot, like the sons AJ and Jason coincidentally meeting across a school dinner table and becoming friends when their backgrounds are so contrasting, but it is difficult to be over critical when the overriding messages of class and justice are so powerful, and presented in such an effortlessly stylish way, memorable shots throughout and a subtle soundtrack resonating, tying the trio of tales tightly together.

In a story which offers a brutally realistic take on family, a trait which appears a developing trademark for director Cianfrance, the acting is spot on, wholly doing justice to the rich characters. Gosling, who worked closely in developing the ‘Handsome Luke’ creation, is mesmerising. With shades of his portrayal of ‘the driver’ in crime cult hit ‘Drive’, he is again mysterious and moody, and has another super cool jacket, his damaged persona dripping with magnetism, but here he takes it to another level. The performance is multi-layered, and the character is immediately iconic, with his doodle tattooed physique and platinum blond hair. His onscreen chemistry with love interest Romina (Eva Mendes) is electric, though this is probably helped by the fact they’ve been dating off screen for two years. The other star, dominant in the second part is Bradley Cooper, who also gives a career best piece as the dislikeable Avery Cross. Though Gosling is undoubtedly difficult to follow, Cooper does a professional job. Flimsy and overrated in the past, here he takes a deeply conflicted character, with dividing loyalties and surprisingly carries it off exceptionally. A suitably great supporting cast includes Ben Mendelsohn as bank robbing grease monkey Robin, and Ray Liotta as sleazeball cop Deluca, both heavily involved in pivotal plot devices. Even the two youngsters playing the sons in the closing third do very well, carrying attributes of the roles prior, and showing promise for the future. Dane DeHaan with the recklessness of Luke admittedly impressed more so than Emery Cohen as the cocky rich kid son of Avery and Jennifer, his rap star wannabe attitude seemed off-key and unnecessary, but this fault is with the writing I guess, not with the acting itself. Both hold their own in a tense finale to the father and son epic.

A commendable slice of cinema with a unique storytelling method, ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ is a thought provoking piece of work, boasting a memorable and intriguing character in daredevil Luke Glanton. Ryan Gosling is the stand out, epitomising cool and continuing his working bond with Cianfrance, now competing with his other director/actor partnership with Nicolas Winding Refn who has worked with him in Drive and Only God Forgives. He announced a break from the silver screen, to sit in the director’s chair for his own project ‘The Lost River’, but with the media tipping him all the roles going, let us all hope he isn’t away for long. ‘If you ride like lightning, you’re going to crash like thunder’ is the tagline alongside Luke’s rapid path, but with the Gosling fan base ever increasing, his own ride surely won’t be crashing anytime soon.

4stars

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DVD review: Trance

August 4, 2013January 28, 2017 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

Nobody can fault Danny Boyle’s ambition. He took Irvine Welsh’s beloved drug fuelled novel Trainspotting and created a cult classic, he put the true story of an adventurer stuck between a rock and a hard place on-screen brilliantly with 127 Hours and last year he orchestrated the Olympic opening ceremony showing what he can do away from the big screen. Now he is back in the director’s chair with ‘Trance’, a heist thriller starring James McAvoy and Rosario Dawson but where in the past his risks have paid off and then some, making him one of the most respected filmmakers of his generation, his latest effort falls short, disappointingly appearing more of a muddled mess than a marvel masterpiece.

The premise of the plot is fantastic on paper; an art auctioneer with a gambling addiction is complicit in the theft of Francisco Goya’s Witches in the Air, but when he is knocked out by gang leader Franck and can’t remember where he hid the painting, hypnotist Elizabeth Lamb is called upon to assist Simon in accessing his memory to retrieve the stolen artwork. The films begins well, with the opening sequence heist scene carried off effortlessly, generating excitement very early on. Artistically, this is a film to be admired, boasting bold, but stylish visuals and there are exhilarating moments throughout, improved by an uncomfortably mesmerising soundtrack, but this just isn’t enough. The complexity of the narrative becomes increasingly untidy, and the characters have little to no depth, becoming nothing more than pawns in an increasingly frustrating clutter. Obvious comparisons can be made with Christopher Nolan’s dreamy Inception but where putting that puzzle together was confusing, it was undoubtedly fun whereas Trance is a jigsaw that would make you want to flip the table before picking up all the pieces and putting them firmly back in the box.

James McAvoy shows promise in the lead role, but seems restricted, drowning in a series of sub plots that don’t really go anywhere. I did, however, enjoy the internal monologue segment, reminiscent of Ewan McGregor who provided the iconic ‘choose life’ speech in Boyle’s most impressive work. Vincent Cassel is weak as the villainous gang boss, and his team of goons are no better, none of them given their own identity. As a group of so-called ‘baddies’, I think there’s probably been Power Rangers’ foes’ that have been taken more seriously. With the male leads failing to cause much of a stir, it is left to Rosario Dawson to raise the bar, delivering the goods in a challenging role that develops at an uncontrollable pace, which she manages to maintain control of, holding it together to give a mature performance that steals the film, also earning some unexpected sex symbol status in suspenseful X-rated segments, handled expertly by Boyle’s stylistic direction.

‘Trance’ is not without its strong points, but with a back catalogue as glittering as Boyle’s, this will ultimately be seen as a letdown, not matching his past successes in any way shape or form. With the anticipation and intriguing foundations, it should have offered so much more though I feel we can let him off with one slip-up, as he has earned the right to be experimental. If nothing else, he has shown that his imagination is still as inventive as ever, which can only be a positive thing, even if the execution this time is way off the mark.

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DVD review: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

July 28, 2013May 4, 2014 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

As American goofball comedies go, ‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’ is probably as good as you will get, due to the all star veteran cast. Set in Las Vegas, we see Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) find fame as successful magicians. Their glittering career is threatened by controversial street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) and they must put personal differences aside to prevail, recapturing the magic that first kindled the friendship.

The script writes itself here, and there are no surprises, playing off a real life scenario; the traditional Penn & Teller-esque act versus the extreme David Blaine type. It is a reflection of the ever-changing entertainment industry, similar to silent hit The Artist which looked at silent movies phasing out to make way for ‘talkies’, it shows how a tried and tested art form can become stale, and if it’s not updated, can be swept away by ‘the next big thing’. This is easy viewing at it’s easiest, with stereotypical subplots and a radio friendly soundtrack, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Laughs do come thick and fast, especially from street magician Steve Gray and his hilarious attempts at holding in his urine for days, and spending the night sleeping on red hot coals.

At the heart of this film, it is blindingly obvious that the cast are enjoying themselves, bouncing off one another and revelling in not taking themselves too seriously, in particular Buscemi and Gandolfini who are light-years away from their ‘two Tony’s’ Soprano’s relationship. Both have impeccable timing, adapting to the genre with ease. Steve Carrell also puts in an interesting performance, escaping the nice guy typecasting he is so closely associated with for a chauvinistic love-hate character, yet he still seems very much in his comfort zone, and delivers the goods. The real pleasant surprise is Jim Carrey, breezing into the plot about a third of the way in, stealing the limelight as eccentric guerrilla artist Steve Gray, which I think is his funniest piece in over a decade. The part was initially lined up to be underplayed by Adam Pally and was altered at a later stage once Jim Carrey was involved as he apparently wanted to take the character in a ‘Jesus-y direction’.

‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’ is a lot of fun, and it’s brilliant to see a cast having such a great time, despite the predictability of the narrative. With a lesser known cast, this would just be another throwaway comedy. It is silly from the off, and once the inevitable US sentimentality kicks in, the jokes do subside a little. Though once the awkward ‘romance’ between Burt and Jane passes through, the laughs do fortunately return. The big positive is the welcome comeback of the funny Jim Carrey, and with his turn in ‘Kick Ass 2’ also on the way later this year, hopefully his return to form will continue.

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DVD review: Side Effects

July 28, 2013May 4, 2014 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

After Steven Soderbergh announced his retirement, the talk around his final film began and after his recent successes with Contagion and Magic Mike, the anticipation of ‘Side Effects’ has been high, though the film doesn’t need the ‘last film’ hype to support it; people would still be talking about this in ten years time regardless. A medical psychological thriller starring Rooney Mara as Emily, a young wife with a depressive history, and Jude Law as her psychiatrist, Dr Jonathan Banks. After Emily drives her car into a wall at speed in an apparent suicide attempt, Banks steps in to help, trying to assist her in recovery, administering drugs intended to ‘stop your brain telling you that you’re sad’, but when he gives her the newly available Ablixa, disaster strikes and his professional and family life fall apart, leaving questions to be asked which seem to have no answers.

When recommending ‘Side Effects’, and confronted with the question of what it is about, it is extremely difficult to give an answer without wanting to blurt out the whole plot. It is a disturbing tale of deceit where the flawed integral characters give nothing away, duping each other as the narrative dupes the audience. Just when you think you have the plot weighed up, it changes. There is no hero in this story, just greed and trickery which gives it a shockingly current quality and provides a twisted, but brutality honest projection of the society we are living in. Despite the characters not being entirely likeable, it is imperative to see how their stories pan out as even though you don’t necessarily care for the characters, you care about what will happen to them in the end. Not only is the concept exceptional here, but it has visuals that complement it so perfectly. The palette is limited, the shots drained of colour and the use of linear cinematography traps attention. Never has New York City looked so claustrophobic and unforgiving.

So maybe the cast will be underwhelming, drowning in the complexity of the script and the visual strokes of genius, but no, the acting is faultless. Rooney Mara follows on from her beautifully warped performance as Fincher’s Lisbeth Sander with another masterstroke. She’s come a long way since playing Mark Zuckerberg’s girlfriend in The Social Network. The character of Emily is so deeply multilayered and Mara excels, taking it in her stride, portraying a vulnerably fractured soul that on paper would maybe seem far-fetched and making her believable. Not to be outdone is Jude Law with what I think is a career-best performance as Dr Banks. He shows class comfortably as the wealthy, well dressed doctor, so smooth and self confident. Then the character cracks show and a murky past is touched upon, we see Banks descend into a state of paranoia and anxiety, glugging bottles of beer in his pants in the afternoons whilst on a laptop, hunting for evidence to prove his innocence and it’s then when we see Law stand out. It is at Banks’ lowest when Law’s standard is at its highest. The supporting cast are excellent also, Catherine Zeta Jones mysteriously menacing as Emily’s former psychiatrist Victoria Siebert and even walking talking lump of flesh Channing Tatum can do no wrong as Emily’s high flying businessman husband, who’s just spent four years in prison for inside trading.

If this is Soderbergh’s last hurrah, then he will be sitting up from the director’s chair with the knowledge that he has created a masterpiece. He’s got the best out of his actors, put a brilliantly clever script to very good use and made a thought provoking film that deserves all the plaudits it will no doubt receive. If you are only as good as your last film then for Soderbergh, it is a job well done.

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DVD review: GI Joe: Retaliation

July 14, 2013May 4, 2014 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

Can you smell what The Rock is cooking? Whatever it is, I think the recipe needs a serious rethink. Following on from 2009’s ‘GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra’, Channing Tatum’s Duke makes way for Dwayne Johnson’s Roadblock as the new leader of the GI Joes. When nanotechnology is used to disguise villainous Zartan as the President of the United States, Cobra Commander and Storm Shadow are released from their high security chambers and nuclear weapon Zeus is built. It is left to the Joes to put a stop to their destructive plans, calling in the original GI Joe, smugly portrayed by Bruce Willis to help save the day, and the world.

In a plot full of stereotypes and a script full of very little, you’d think it’d be difficult to find something positive to mention, but here it is easy as the visual ambition pays off big time, producing scenes that are great to watch, providing comforting escapism, allowing the viewer to soak up explosions and action sequences without having to think too much. In particular, the ninja mountain fight scene is prominent, along with some impressive CGI city crumbling. For fans of the franchise, I can imagine it would be satisfying with a massive host of characters and nods to the series but as an action sci-fi flick it is nothing out of the ordinary.

Losing Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Christopher Ecclestone from the original, the Hollywood sequel draft-ins include Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. Johnson’s comic patter is a perfect match for co-star Tatum, their cringe worthy dialogue like verbal ping pong, but where neither player quite manages to get the ball over the net. Bruce Willis struts into the story halfway through, excellently playing Bruce Willis playing General Joseph Colton, with trademark cocky glances and awful one-liners, looking as though he feels he is doing the picture a favour in gracing it with his presence.

If you ignore the patchy narrative, the latest instalment in the ‘GI Joe’ franchise provides an enjoyable enough 90 minutes, boasting nicely choreographed fights and striking cinematography. Achieving box office success, it has its draws and to the cult following it will stand as a worthy addition to a series which looks likely to continue, but to the average moviegoer it serves as nothing more than a bit of mindless fun.

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DVD review: Stoker

July 1, 2013March 14, 2024 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

Even from the title, there is an obvious gothic reference and these continue throughout South Korean director Park Chan-Wook’s first move into English speaking cinema with ‘Stoker’, a coming-of-age psychological thriller. Starring Mia Wasikowska as India Stoker, a misfit teenager, coming to terms with losing her father, whilst struggling to connect with her manipulative mother, immaculately played by Nicole Kidman. Once the mysterious uncle, Charlie (Matthew Goode) arrives on the scene at his brother’s funeral and then moves into the family home, the family dynamic gradually falls apart, descending to darkness.

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DVD review: The Battle of the Sexes

June 24, 2013May 4, 2014 Garry ArnotLeave a comment

‘The Battle of the Sexes’ looks at the women’s liberation movement in the 1970s, focussing on tennis and the conflicts on and off the court of Billie Jean King. This insightful documentary is named after the series of tennis matches involving ‘chauvinist pig’ Bobby Riggs who at the age of 55, claimed that he could easily defeat any female professional as he believed the female side of the sport was far inferior. When he issued an open challenge to any woman who wished to take him on, all eyes turned to Billie Jean King who was a pioneer at that time.

As the title suggests, this contest was developed by the media not just as a tennis match, but a battle between men and women, and the documentary uses this aspect of the marketing well, giving the archive footage a boxing promotion vibe which brings striking visuals and laughs, particularly during ridiculous Riggs segments. This poses the fascinating question of whether he really was the sexist fool and compulsive gambler he seemed to be or was it all an act? Was he in fact an intelligent businessman, carefully plotting to make money from his bold outbursts? Either way, his actions led to a spectacle which advertised the sport to millions and arguably put tennis where it is today. The match itself was set up as if it was a Rocky Balboa duel, with use of extreme close ups, slow-mo sequences and a dramatic score. Though being a documentary, the outcome played out years in the past long predetermined therefore the footage drags at times, failing to achieve the intended suspense.

At this time off the court, Billie Jean King and the other key figures of the women’s game were fighting another battle as they were dissatisfied with the smaller prize money awarded compared with the amounts dished out in the males game. Dubbed the ‘Original 9’, they refused to take part in the tour and in turn bravely set up a tour of their own, the ‘Virginia Slims Circuit’, each playing for only one dollar apiece. This debate is carried out mostly through the talking heads of BJK, Virginia Wade, Margaret Court amongst others, and offers a nice balance to the film, providing a tidy structure and a steady pace.

In the aftermath of the contest between King and Riggs which is the built up finale of the piece, there is a neat summary involving the players of the modern era including Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters which aids in showing the impact Billie Jean King has had on the game, and on woman’s sport in general. The only problem I have is that although a lot of ground is covered, the character study of Billie Jean King herself is only glossed over. Perhaps as she was not only the star but also one of the people involved in the making of the film, details of her mysterious personal life was held back. The issues of her marriage and her sexuality are merely touched upon, but are not investigated fully, which in fairness may not be of relevance to the key subject matter but would offer a greater understanding of the human being and her relentless courage. Despite not being as hard hitting as King herself, ‘The Battle of the Sexes’ is an eye opening historical account, executed with style.