2/25/24 - Nyad (2023) - 5/10

A film that resembles its own story: an interesting and enthusiastic beginning, faltering middle where you may consider giving up or if it is worth it, but perseverance pays off as it gets there and those involved really shine as to how extraordinary they are. I think having the arduousness of the task and questioning its doing end up working for this film and express what is at the story’s core, but the structure would undoubtedly collapse without the strong work of both Benning and Foster. Benning’s Nyad protagonist comes off as one of the most difficult protagonists, real or fictional, in a long time but she is able to carve some empathetic response into the viewer’s quickly growing chasm of antipathy. Foster held the screen for me though , really making me feel for her and her character like I haven’t in a while with one of her performances. I really like her here and thought she sold the emotional core without overdoing it. I would also like to point out Rhys Ifans here, delivering some “damn he’s good…why isn’t he in more stuff?” kind of work.

A solid sports film about will and tenacity conquering all, sometimes for better and worse.