There’s no denying that sexism has been a part of our society ever since the dawn of man. And the fact that I called it ‘the dawn of man’ is proof of my statement. And it’s a problem that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. But the first step to solving a problem is to address that it needs to be solved, and that is what Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris have done with Battle Of The Sexes.

Whether or not you are familiar with the true story that the film is based on, you probably won’t find it very difficult to relate to Billie Jean King and the struggle that she faced. The film is just lighthearted enough to qualify as a comedy for the Golden Globes, but make no mistake, it has many emotional moments that are surprisingly effective.

If Emma Stone had not won an Oscar last year, she would be a shoo-in to win this year. Not only does she de-glam herself for the role, she also manages to convincingly portray a professional tennis player. Both the big and small moments are very well conveyed. Steve Carell also does a very good job, although I feel that it’s a mistake to campaign him for Lead Actor.

While it’s not one of my favorite movies this year, Battle Of The Sexes knows what it wants to do and does its job very well. It’s a sports movie that isn’t really about sports at all, it has great performances, and it’s a true, inspirational story with a feel-good message. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but at the very least, it’s pure Oscar catnip.

***1/2