What a nice surprise this little movie was, superbly directed- by a woman, no less- a rousing story of 'the battle of the sexes'. Holly Hunter proves once more that she's one of the best actresses around, and Ron Silver is great too. In fact all the cast did a great job. Filled with hilarious touches like the colour schemes of the 70's and some very bad hair and sideburns. Definitely a gem!
17 Reviews
Preachy and lightweight.
kgowen-117 July 2008
Amen, sister! Can I get a witness? Hallelujah, I'm saved! Yes, he orthodox gospel of feminist rectitude is proclaimed at full volume in this trying-to-be-relevant-but-mostly-fluffy made-for-TV movie.
My daughter has recently taken up an interest in tennis, so I dropped this lightweight drama in my Netflix queue, not expecting much either way. As it turned out, this could have been a really bad movie, but thankfully it's not. What saves it (hallelujah, it's saved!) from being just another dreary feminist harangue is good performances from Holly Hunter as Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King and Ron Silver as the aging hustler Bobby Riggs. I was going to further criticize this movie for unequal treatment: making King an actual human being but portraying Riggs as a nothing but a one-dimensional buffoon (after all, who doesn't want a dastardly villain who is easily dispatched?), but the more I read about Riggs, the more I came to realize that that was the way he was in real life.
This is not a fine-cuisine-and-red-wine type of movie; it's more like a Burger King meal deal. Fun, but not to be taken too seriously, and not with all the heavy-handed preaching.
My daughter has recently taken up an interest in tennis, so I dropped this lightweight drama in my Netflix queue, not expecting much either way. As it turned out, this could have been a really bad movie, but thankfully it's not. What saves it (hallelujah, it's saved!) from being just another dreary feminist harangue is good performances from Holly Hunter as Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King and Ron Silver as the aging hustler Bobby Riggs. I was going to further criticize this movie for unequal treatment: making King an actual human being but portraying Riggs as a nothing but a one-dimensional buffoon (after all, who doesn't want a dastardly villain who is easily dispatched?), but the more I read about Riggs, the more I came to realize that that was the way he was in real life.
This is not a fine-cuisine-and-red-wine type of movie; it's more like a Burger King meal deal. Fun, but not to be taken too seriously, and not with all the heavy-handed preaching.
Fast moving and fun .....
merklekranz11 August 2013
"When Billie Beat Bobby" is a fast moving fun movie. Even though the outcome is known, this is such an uplifting film that the journey is what it's all about. Ron Silver is terrific as the constant hustler, Bobby Rigggs, and Holly Hunter more than adequate as his adversary. Make no mistake this movie belongs to Ron Silver, because he absolutely nails his character. Throw in the always interesting Bob Gunton and Fred Willard, and it is easy to see why "When Billie Beat Bobby" is so entertaining. I did not find the overplaying of womens lib to be distracting, as it was the critical motivation for the match to be played. This is worth seeking out, even if tennis is not your game. - MERK
ABC got a bargain.
jacketeer217 April 2001
This is one of the best TV movies to come along in years, maybe longer. As usual, Holly Hunter turns in a wonderful performance as Billie Jean King (both as the person and the tennis player). But the real shocker here is the writing and directing. "When Billie beat Bobby" has a wonderful sense of style that rarely, if ever, is available for free in the comfort of your home. It makes use of visual grain, hand held camera work, jump cuts (when was the last time you saw a jump cut on TV), and non-diagetic visuals. This does not deserve to be on TV and it does not deserve to be called a movie. I would have loved to see this film in a theater and ABC got their luckiest break since "Millionaire." From an artistic standpoint, seeing this in a theatrical release would have taken a great TV movie and turned it into one of the year's best films. From a business standpoint, someone would have made a lot more money if this was on the big screen. I don't know if this will be availiable on video one day (or in theaters) but if you ever get a chance to see it then do. It really harkens back to the TV movies
Billie Jean knocking at his door
bkoganbing15 August 2020
When Billie Beat Bobby tells the story of the events leading up to the famous match between women's tennis champion Billie Jean King and over the hill Bobby
Riggs. It was big sports and sociological newsin the 70s and promoted like the
match horse race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral.
Billie Jean King was in her prime back then and took her game and her opponents seriously. Bobby Riggs was a ranking pro back in the 40s but was now a middle aged sports hustler be it tennis, poker, tiddlywinks, whatever.
Riggs got the idea to challenge ranking women pros and make the challenge boorish saying a midddle aged over the hill male player could beat the best the female sex had to offer. It was the battle of the sexes as t had never been fought before.
For Riggs it was a joke and he treated it as such. When he beat Margaret Court it was because she didn't and should have taken him seriously.
This film reminded me a lot of the Rocky film where heavyweight champion Sly Stallone trains to fight the fight of his life against the Russian challenger Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren trained on borscht and steroids. The results were predictable.
Holly Hunter as Billie Jean King and Ron Silver as Bobby Riggs fitted quite nicely in their parts.
For all you female dreamers out there, this male recommends this film highly.
Billie Jean King was in her prime back then and took her game and her opponents seriously. Bobby Riggs was a ranking pro back in the 40s but was now a middle aged sports hustler be it tennis, poker, tiddlywinks, whatever.
Riggs got the idea to challenge ranking women pros and make the challenge boorish saying a midddle aged over the hill male player could beat the best the female sex had to offer. It was the battle of the sexes as t had never been fought before.
For Riggs it was a joke and he treated it as such. When he beat Margaret Court it was because she didn't and should have taken him seriously.
This film reminded me a lot of the Rocky film where heavyweight champion Sly Stallone trains to fight the fight of his life against the Russian challenger Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren trained on borscht and steroids. The results were predictable.
Holly Hunter as Billie Jean King and Ron Silver as Bobby Riggs fitted quite nicely in their parts.
For all you female dreamers out there, this male recommends this film highly.
When Disney aped John Waters
QQQ-217 April 2001
One of the worst sports films in a long time, When Billy Beat Bobby is a mutant of a movie. Unevenly waffling between drama and comedy, fact and farce, it takes a fairly normal subject--a famous tennis match--and makes a weird mini-spectacle of it.
Completely miscast, Holly Hunter doesn't quite fit into Billy Jean King's tennis shoes, she looks too strange and unnatural--as if she should have been in Hannibal instead (The muscular character Margot Verger was omitted from the horror flick for fear of offending certain women). Ron Silver broadly overacts as Bobby Riggs, has too close a resemblance to Austin Powers, and sounds too much like Sylvester the Cat. Fred Willard as a TV sportscaster helps only to skew the film into Fernwood 2-Night territory, and every other person is reduced to a sexist/racist/handicapped/ethnic caricature.
The story and style is clumsy and unsteady. Is it trying to be Rocky, the Karate Kid, or When Harry Met Sally? When Billie Beat Bobby does not know what it wants to be. The 1970's setting seems to come out of an old Mad magazine, and everyone looks and acts grotesque as if they were directed by David Lynch, or John Waters-lite. The fake-Stanley Kubrick technique breaks into bits of sports-film cliche, bits of nostalgic kitsch, bits of comic exaggeration, and other odd bits that don't move, fit or jive. It has about as much respect tennis-players as a black-face minstrel show has for African-Americans.
What it all ends up in is When Myra Breckinridge Beat the Nutty Professor with an American Graffiti/Animal House epilogue tacked on. It even cheats the viewer out of any beleivable tennis action--most of the shots are of closeups and fans in the bleachers. When Billie is best forgotten, it may be remembered for being what Dan Aykroyd on SNL used to call "Bad Performance Theatre!" At least it was broadcast on ABC TV, so you got your money's worth of curiously awful cinema.
Completely miscast, Holly Hunter doesn't quite fit into Billy Jean King's tennis shoes, she looks too strange and unnatural--as if she should have been in Hannibal instead (The muscular character Margot Verger was omitted from the horror flick for fear of offending certain women). Ron Silver broadly overacts as Bobby Riggs, has too close a resemblance to Austin Powers, and sounds too much like Sylvester the Cat. Fred Willard as a TV sportscaster helps only to skew the film into Fernwood 2-Night territory, and every other person is reduced to a sexist/racist/handicapped/ethnic caricature.
The story and style is clumsy and unsteady. Is it trying to be Rocky, the Karate Kid, or When Harry Met Sally? When Billie Beat Bobby does not know what it wants to be. The 1970's setting seems to come out of an old Mad magazine, and everyone looks and acts grotesque as if they were directed by David Lynch, or John Waters-lite. The fake-Stanley Kubrick technique breaks into bits of sports-film cliche, bits of nostalgic kitsch, bits of comic exaggeration, and other odd bits that don't move, fit or jive. It has about as much respect tennis-players as a black-face minstrel show has for African-Americans.
What it all ends up in is When Myra Breckinridge Beat the Nutty Professor with an American Graffiti/Animal House epilogue tacked on. It even cheats the viewer out of any beleivable tennis action--most of the shots are of closeups and fans in the bleachers. When Billie is best forgotten, it may be remembered for being what Dan Aykroyd on SNL used to call "Bad Performance Theatre!" At least it was broadcast on ABC TV, so you got your money's worth of curiously awful cinema.
Fun, Lighthearded and Inspiring
playgrrrll19 September 2007
I was blithely unaware of the existence of the Battle of the Sexes until happening upon this film one evening on my way to bed.
I ended up staying awake for the whole film simply because its manner of taking classic caricatures of personality extremes and making them not only something to laugh at, but human and warm and intelligent.
I am NOT a tele movie type of gal, but this one took a hold somehow and just went from strength to strength. I will be looking for it to add to my DVD collection.
I know the whole women's lib thing was a significant event to which I should be eternally grateful etc etc, and that theme was well developed of course, but what this film really showed me is that in any situation where people are oppressed and undervalued there can be a positive, friendly and adamant attitude that can bring about real and genuine change - not just in the rules but in the attitudes of the masses, the place REAL changes occur.
I'll be looking for this film to add to my DVD collection and I'll be making sure I show my children when they are older to inspire them and prove that we are able to stand up for what we believe in without putting others down.
Two enthusiastic thumbs up!!
I ended up staying awake for the whole film simply because its manner of taking classic caricatures of personality extremes and making them not only something to laugh at, but human and warm and intelligent.
I am NOT a tele movie type of gal, but this one took a hold somehow and just went from strength to strength. I will be looking for it to add to my DVD collection.
I know the whole women's lib thing was a significant event to which I should be eternally grateful etc etc, and that theme was well developed of course, but what this film really showed me is that in any situation where people are oppressed and undervalued there can be a positive, friendly and adamant attitude that can bring about real and genuine change - not just in the rules but in the attitudes of the masses, the place REAL changes occur.
I'll be looking for this film to add to my DVD collection and I'll be making sure I show my children when they are older to inspire them and prove that we are able to stand up for what we believe in without putting others down.
Two enthusiastic thumbs up!!
The world changed.......for the better
PAL16 April 2001
One of the most entertaining, best-written/directed TV movies I've seen. Jane Anderson has given us a classic of quality. A slice of the past that sums up a turning point in American history. Holly Hunter, Ron Silver......the best.
Girl Power, truly great, colorful and gripping.
racheljensen4416 April 2001
a great inspirational story and equally empowering film, though the title gives it away for the younger audiences the film is a gem. Holly Hunter was incredible and looks great, Ron Silver was fantastic, a big change from the other performances he's given, the director/writer filled the film with rich colors and smart editing I score it 6/6 6/6 6/5
Outstanding performances
bobshef17 April 2001
Holly Hunter as Billie Jean King gives her usual great performance, and Ron Silver is absolutely brilliant as Bobby Riggs. The story told me a lot I didn't know about the things that went on leading up to the match. One major revelation was what Bobby Riggs inadvertently did for women's tennis and women's liberation.
Great casting of the star players
ginnyvicki16 April 2001
Holly Hunter and Ron Silver were great choices for Billie and Bobby. I saw the real match as a kid and it was fun to see such a close match in looks and personality of the two main characters. The movie captured the mood and significance of the match while keeping it light and interesting. I was not very impressed with the Howard Cosell imitator. With all of the impersonators that do HC so wonderfully, this actor did not successfully carry it off for someone like me who remembers Cosell so vividly. This, however, did not take away from the movie. I still found it extremely entertaining!
Great retelling of a pop culture event
bettycjung28 January 2018
An enjoyable dramatization of this famous battle of the sexes. Hunter and Silver were wonderful as King and Riggs. Worth catching. If you liked this movie, then catch a more current retelling in the Battle of the Sexes with Stone and Carell.
Surprisingly Funny/Poignant "documentary"-except for Willard...
Popeye-821 April 2006
This movie (which I bought on DVD, having missed the initial TV run) takes a decidedly tongue-in-cheek approach to the legendary King/Riggs "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match...which is totally appropriate! Silver and Hunter do a magnificent job of portraying the combatants, who actually cared for each other and had no ill will towards the other. The movie does a fine job of showing that their "battle" was co-opted by others, rather than by anything they actually did (though both rode the hype to their own successes).
In addition, the movie is a hoot. King's nightmare sequences are absolutely comical, and you can actually feel Riggs' bewilderment with his "hustle" that has gone completely beyond his wildest dreams, as well as spun out of his control. And, the tennis playing is quite 'serviceable', to excuse the poorly adapted pun. Also, the historical accuracy is commendable (many forget that Riggs thumped Margaret Court before playing King--an event well adapted here, as well), and ABC file footage of the event is inter-spaced nicely.
The ONLY real criticism is the use of Fred Willard as Howard Cosell. He makes NO attempt to be anything except good ol' Fred with plastic hair (not even Howard's rug looked THAT bad), and every appearance of him on screen leaves one wondering, "WHY??" A definite drag on what was otherwise an excellent production.
In addition, the movie is a hoot. King's nightmare sequences are absolutely comical, and you can actually feel Riggs' bewilderment with his "hustle" that has gone completely beyond his wildest dreams, as well as spun out of his control. And, the tennis playing is quite 'serviceable', to excuse the poorly adapted pun. Also, the historical accuracy is commendable (many forget that Riggs thumped Margaret Court before playing King--an event well adapted here, as well), and ABC file footage of the event is inter-spaced nicely.
The ONLY real criticism is the use of Fred Willard as Howard Cosell. He makes NO attempt to be anything except good ol' Fred with plastic hair (not even Howard's rug looked THAT bad), and every appearance of him on screen leaves one wondering, "WHY??" A definite drag on what was otherwise an excellent production.
Was it really this big a deal?
Gromit218 April 2001
I suppose it was. not a horrible film, but it wasn't the best film of the year. It made me recall the real battle of the sexes and the circus surrounding it. My only real comment on the film would be, who the heck thought Fred Willard would make a good Howard Cosell?
perfectly TV
SnoopyStyle21 July 2018
It's the 1973 "The Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Billie Jean King (Holly Hunter) and Bobby Riggs (Ron Silver). This concentrates mostly on the year before the iconic match. Billie Jean had never been lady-like and her parents forced her to play tennis instead of playing sports with the boys. She tries to set up a ladies tour and fight for equal pay to the men. She organizes the ladies but number one player Margaret Court (Jacqueline McKenzie) is not cooperating. Bobby is a degenerate gambler and a loudmouth hustler. He keeps challenging Billie Jean to play for the new women's lib movement. Margaret accepts the payday and quickly loses. Billie Jean is forced to accept for the honor of the women's game.
This is a perfectly TV movie and there is poetic justice with the original being an iconic TV event. There are some simplification with history that makes this an easy underdog sports story. It treats both Billie Jean and Bobby rather well. The two performances are great. Bobby comes off as a loveable lout and his respect for Billie Jean's game is a great asset to his character. His connections to the darker side of gambling is papered over and the theory that he threw the match is never mentioned. Billie Jean is of course the heroine but her lesbianism is never mentioned. The simplification highlights the bigger woman's liberation ideas and makes for an easy good sports movie. The tennis action could use a little help. This is a great story and this is perfect for the TV treatment.
This is a perfectly TV movie and there is poetic justice with the original being an iconic TV event. There are some simplification with history that makes this an easy underdog sports story. It treats both Billie Jean and Bobby rather well. The two performances are great. Bobby comes off as a loveable lout and his respect for Billie Jean's game is a great asset to his character. His connections to the darker side of gambling is papered over and the theory that he threw the match is never mentioned. Billie Jean is of course the heroine but her lesbianism is never mentioned. The simplification highlights the bigger woman's liberation ideas and makes for an easy good sports movie. The tennis action could use a little help. This is a great story and this is perfect for the TV treatment.
Very well done movie of a historic gender-bending tennis match.
TxMike23 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It was 1973 and I was 4 years into my career. I remember it well, when Bobby Riggs beat Margaret Court in a 'challenge' tennis match. Riggs, never much of a pro tennis player, now 55 and making his living at hustling. No matter who won, the gate and publicity was the big attraction. Plus, men in general still looked down upon women in sports. So Riggs also wanted to prove that point, even an old washed-up tennis pro could beat the best woman pro.
Which brings us to this movie. Initially Billie Jean King wanted nothing to do with Riggs. Her focus was to level the playing field in professional tennis, with tough talk and negotiations to get equal pay for the women pros. But when Court lost, and so many were bad-mouthing women's tennis, she not only took the challenge, she took it very seriously. Being an opposite personality of Margaret Court, she was able to handle the antics of Riggs, and give it right back, presenting him with a gift of a small pig at center court right before their match.
Holly Hunter doesn't look or talk much like Billie Jean King did back in the 1970s, but she does a remarkably good job as her. And, while Ron Silver doesn't look at all like Bobby Riggs, in makeup and with his delivery, was a very good choice to play him. (Matt Letscher who was so good as the dastardly military man in 'Mask of Zorro' is good as Billie's gentle husband Larry King.)
The match itself would not have made a 90-minute movie, so the film also covers the Court match, much of the behind scenes talk on the pro tour, and quite a bit of preparation leaning up to the actual Billie/Bobby match. The ending is cute, where a number of girls and women are shown with script showing what they later became -- doctors, lawyers, CEOs, astronauts, etc. And, I suppose the Billie Jean King triumphs really did help motivate some young women to accomplish things that may have been out of their reach before.
However, I don't think I want to attach that much significance to the Billie/Bobby match. But it was a very visible event back 30+ years ago, and this is a very well done movie of it. Also very entertaining! On DVD.
Which brings us to this movie. Initially Billie Jean King wanted nothing to do with Riggs. Her focus was to level the playing field in professional tennis, with tough talk and negotiations to get equal pay for the women pros. But when Court lost, and so many were bad-mouthing women's tennis, she not only took the challenge, she took it very seriously. Being an opposite personality of Margaret Court, she was able to handle the antics of Riggs, and give it right back, presenting him with a gift of a small pig at center court right before their match.
Holly Hunter doesn't look or talk much like Billie Jean King did back in the 1970s, but she does a remarkably good job as her. And, while Ron Silver doesn't look at all like Bobby Riggs, in makeup and with his delivery, was a very good choice to play him. (Matt Letscher who was so good as the dastardly military man in 'Mask of Zorro' is good as Billie's gentle husband Larry King.)
The match itself would not have made a 90-minute movie, so the film also covers the Court match, much of the behind scenes talk on the pro tour, and quite a bit of preparation leaning up to the actual Billie/Bobby match. The ending is cute, where a number of girls and women are shown with script showing what they later became -- doctors, lawyers, CEOs, astronauts, etc. And, I suppose the Billie Jean King triumphs really did help motivate some young women to accomplish things that may have been out of their reach before.
However, I don't think I want to attach that much significance to the Billie/Bobby match. But it was a very visible event back 30+ years ago, and this is a very well done movie of it. Also very entertaining! On DVD.
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