Borg McEnroe review: Filmmaker Janus Metz serves up Sverrig Gudnason and Shia LaBeouf as the tow legendary tennis players in the film which opens the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.
Borg McEnroe review, by Paul Heath.
The choice to screen Borg McEnroe as the opening film of the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival is certainly an odd one, especially following last year’s star-studded The Magnificent 7, but after viewing this part-biopic sports drama for the first time, all becomes clear. A definite crowd-pleaser, this Scandinavian production is well crafted and ticks all of the right boxes, but when the viewer has knowledge of the outcome of the famous rivalry from the 1980s, does one’s satisfaction level fall short of the mark?
There are two names in the title of this drama, but the story certainly favours the former tennis legend more heavily than the latter. Sverrig Gudnason assumes the role of Bjorn Borg, the actor bearing an uncanny resemblance to his fellow countryman who actually delivers a convincing performance throughout. Joining him as John McEnroe is Shia LaBeouf, who also performs well as the volatile sports star. The film does focus most of its attention on Borg’s professional life, an innovative structure present as the film opens on the 1980 Wimbledon final, then flicking back to his early sporting career, a time when his attitude towards the game almost mirrors that of a young McEnroe.
Stellan Skarsgård gets a rare opportunity to act in a big movie in his native language. The screen veteran plays Borg’s tennis coach and mentor Lennart Bergalin, the man responsible for calming his game and focusing his mind on becoming the best in the world, an achievement that he fast became in his early late teens/ early twenties. There’s also very goof support from fellow Swedish actress Tuva Novotny, who plays the role of Romanian tennis player, and future wife of Borg, Mariana Simionescu.
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The film is certainly engrossing and indeed a very easy watch, the narrative always engaging. TV and documentary filmmaker Janus Metz clearly knows what he’s doing here, and with cinematographer Niels Thastum and editors Per K. Kirkegaard and Per Sandholt. make this not only a pleasing to the eye experience, but one with plenty of style.
Borg McEnroe is at its best towards the end when the action focuses more on the Wimbledon final, the filmmakers nailing the mammoth task of making this a thrilling experience for those who clearly know the outcome, and those who do not. It captures the essence of that match perfectly, and is ultimately rewarding come the end credits.
It is absolutely disposable enthralment though, very much like a typical sporting occasion, one where you’re very much gripped at the time, but can easily move away from your memory once it has all played out, and while a reply of the actual match on an online streaming service of your choice may have been as much fun, there’s still a lot to get from this experience. I just would have loved to have seen more from the McEnroe side of the story, which the film certainly lacks.
Borg McEnroe serves up enough to warrant its existence, and is definitely worthy of your attention because of the spot-on performances from its central cast, it’s superb recreation of the 1980s Wimbledon tennis finals and some prime direction from one-to-watch Metz.
Borg McEnroe review by Paul Heath, September 2017.
Borg McEnroe opens the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, and opens across the UK from 22nd September, 2017.
