by Samuel Nichols, Contributing Writer
It must be awards season, because a movie star is de-glamorizing and playing a rough-around-the-edges tragic figure. This time, it’s Sydney Sweeney and her good jeans playing former boxing champion Christy Martin in Christy. While it is not a perfect movie, and Sweeney’s reputation and star quality will probably keep her out of award contention, I do enjoy the time I spent here. Shoot, I had just walked out of the sheer mundanity called Deliver Me From Nowhere. So going one for two on biography movies is a percentage that I can live with.
What pulled me in the most about this movie is the story of Christy. We get the underdog athlete from nowhere story a lot, but it’s often only portrayed as a sheer triumph. Christy is a tragedy. The titular boxing champ is misunderstood by her family, berated by her family, and the public to a lesser extent, and completely abused by her coach who would become her husband. The movie does not beat you over the head with misfortune, as we get to see her win fights and make a name herself. But there can be no mistake that most of Christy Martin’s life was painful and difficult. And I appreciate the movie’s honesty in that.
Sweeney’s portrayal of Martin is what carries the movie. She has moments of joy, anger, triumph, and regret. A complicated person would merit a character with many different moments. Sweeney has the goods to deliver. Since Euphoria, she has shown dramatic range. She is not quite as capable as some of her co-stars from the hit HBO show, but she does well here. Seeing her exude sheer joy or fight through brutal pain is inspiring. It’s not quite Rocky, but it’s something.
I think Sweeney is a younger version of Brad Pitt in a lot of ways. Behind the good looks that probably got her a shot in the business, she has acting skills. And after seeing Christy I believe she has range just like Pitt. What drives the comparison home is reminding you that they both may or may not be dirt bags.
But speaking of the greatest boxing franchise ever (to be honest I don’t know if there’s another one), let’s talk about the actual fighting here. It feels underproduced in the sense that there is not a lot of grandeur. The fights are simple and not choreographed well. Just a head nod or a swing here or there. There is not a long fight that is our big focus at the end, but that ultimately serves Christy’s story better. Still, we get a few cool punches that land with solid sound affects. Christy has some power behind those swings.
Also on the technical side is the score. Going hand-in-hand with the tragic themes, it has a mostly bitter feeling to it. There are moments of triumph, though, that will grab your attention, but not in the biggest way possible. Don’t expect “Gonna Fly Now” at the end of a third act.
The smaller roles are filled with great talents. Potentially Ben Foster as Christy’s coach and eventual husband could garner some awards buzz. If you read that last sentence, you probably noticed that he’s playing a disgusting creep. It feels a bit one-note at times, but Foster is so committed to the role I have to respect it. The monotone way that he talks and moves can be both creepy, and weird in a way that would move me to get about 20 feet away from him in real life. So props to Foster.
While not nearly as established as the aforementioned players, Katy O’Brien has a small role as a friend who helps Christy find out who she really is outside the ring. After seeing her in Love Lies Bleeding, where sheholds her own with Kristen Stewart and Ed Harris, a little more time with O’Brien would have been welcome.Even smaller is Naomi Graham as one of Christy’s more challenging real life opponents Laila Ali, the daughter of Mohammad Ali. I don’t think she has a single line but she emulates that Ali swagger so well. Particularly, she does this sway and fight movement that feels full of confidence. Lastly, Chad Coleman is terrific as Don King. He has the swagger and business sense. Also, he is one of the few true allies of Christy, even if he uses her to make a buck.
As this award season opens up, this is a good start to the end of the year. While I do not think that Christy stands much of a chance for honors from the major academies or guild, I could have spent my Friday night seeing worse movies. Watching talents like Sweeney and Foster work with this strong of a will get my butt in a seat.
Rating: Liked It
Christy is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Samuel Nichols, and follow him on Letterboxd