Battle of the Sexes (2017), directed by Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton

The 1970s saw some great leaps forward for feminism and equality, led by some strong characters who broke new ground for women. In tennis it was Billie Jean King, with great support from her husband Larry, who made the case for equal pay for female players. She did a lot of work over many years to achieve this, but is best known for the rather showbiz stunt of beating former pro player Bobby Riggs. The self-proclaimed chauvinist declared that even he – a 55-year-old has been - could beat the top women’s player of the day. The film is interesting and entertaining, creating King and Riggs as fully rounded characters with strengths and flaws. It focuses a little too heavily on King’s sexuality, at the expense of her tennis and business achievements and really does not do Larry’s role justice. Emma Stone is very good as King and Steve Carell makes a credible Riggs. Jess McNamee makes a rather strange cameo as Margaret Court, but at least they cast an Australian so the accent is right.