Introduction to Christy Martin
Sports fans of a certain age will remember the name of boxer Christy Martin, who became one of the first big female names in the sport in the 1990s. Her moment in the sun resulted in a lot of wins, but her legacy has not been as lasting as some other female sports pioneers. A new biopic attempts to change that, as well as tell a fuller account of her life.
Early Life and Career
As we meet Christy in 1989, she’s in her early twenties and still living in her hometown in rural West Virginia with her family. After developing a reputation in local “toughman” contests, promoter Larry Carrier recruits her for small-time boxing matches. Success there leads to her starting to be trained under Jim Martin, who initially resists coaching a woman. As Christy starts to prove her worth against almost all-comers, Jim starts to believe more in her talent, although that belief also includes a side of control issues and jealousy.
Rise to Fame
As Christy rises up the ranks, including getting promoted by Don King himself, her relationship with the much older Jim remains fraught even after they get married. Her winning wins her the respect of the public, but her private life stands in stark contrast with the feeling of victory. The filmmakers do a decent job of navigating through the tropes, although early fight scenes lean hard into the idea that Christy is a rare talent who can knock out people of both sexes with ease. Still, the fight scenes themselves are staged well, with the actors ably embodying the athleticism of pro boxers.
Personal Life and Struggles
The depiction of Christy’s personal life is similarly up-and-down. Struggles with a controlling and/or abusive partner and substance addiction issues are regrettably common in these types of stories, and so it’s up to the filmmakers to show them in a way that doesn’t feel trite. While the film does a decent job of digging into why Christy makes the choices she does, it never reaches the level of being completely compelling. Christy’s sexuality plays a relatively big part in the story, as she’s forced to tamp down her being gay in order to please others in her life and to further her career.
Acting and Performance
The main actress, Sydney Sweeney, follows the playbook of other actors like Charlize Theron in Monster and Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry, making herself less glamorous to play up the drama of the role. She succeeds for the most part, with her best scenes coming during the multiple fights. Ben Foster has played similar slimeballs before, and — with the help of a heinous haircut and more — he inhabits the role completely. It’s a little disappointing to see Merritt Wever reduced to a one-note part, however.
Conclusion
The story of Christy Martin is one filled with everything you could want for an engrossing sports movie, but even though it has its high moments, it ultimately fails to deliver the knockout punch it needed. Sweeney deserves credit for portraying the boxer in an interesting way, but the story around her could have used some more oomph. The biopic opens in theaters on November 7, giving audiences a chance to learn more about this pioneering female boxer and her remarkable story.
