Christy review: Come for the boxing, stay for the shocking story
Biographical dramas are really common nowadays, particularly sports and music biopics, so it takes a lot to make them stand out from the crowd. Christy isn’t particularly memorable on the boxing front, but damn, her personal life is shocking and darkly fascinating.
This drama, directed by David Michod, stars Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin, who was once the most successful and prominent female boxer in America. Taking place from 1989 to 2012, the film charts Martin’s highs and lows as a boxer and her emotionally and physically abusive marriage to her manager Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who was 25 years her senior.
The boxing rise and fall journey is pretty familiar, conventional and by the numbers, so if that’s all the film had going for it, it would have been rather forgettable, even though the fight sequences are great and Martin’s egotistical ring persona is unexpected. But there is a reason why she is worthy of a film – her personal life is dark, shocking and fascinating.
Martin, who is shamed for liking women by her mother (Merritt Wever), reluctantly marries her significantly older manager. He is a jealous and insecure man who isolates her, doesn’t let her speak to anyone or do anything without him. He is emotionally abusive and manipulative at first, but it later becomes physical. Do not read anything about Martin before watching this because you will never guess what happens in the final act. Holy crap.
Sweeney, who spent months training for her role, is very good and gives a really committed performance, especially in the boxing sequences. She proves why she’s one of the most in-demand actresses of her generation right now. I don’t think she’s worthy of an Oscar nomination though, as she didn’t always completely dissolve into the character, as she’s so famous now. Also, there is something quite amusing about seeing a legitimately gorgeous person wearing awful wigs, clothes and make-up to make her look like a normie!
Foster is excellent as her despicable, controlling husband, and the usually lovely Wever is shocking as this awful character (you’ll want to give her a slap). Katy O’Brian always brings the goods in her small supporting roles (give her bigger parts, Hollywood) and she makes the most of playing Martin’s rival and later friend Lisa. She deserved more screentime, but that’s not the story this film tells.
Most people will come to Christy for Sweeney or the boxing sequences, and they’ll end up being blown away by Martin’s real story and realise what a fighter she actually is.
In cinemas from Friday 28th November