Nyad (2023)

Bening, Foster & Ifans shine in a bold but fairly formulaic, feel-good underdog story - Nyad review by TB

Annette Bening. Jodie Foster. Two of the most magnetic actresses of their generation. Between them, the work they have created has been masterful & at times groundbreaking. And in many ways, there couldn't have been a more perfect story for them to tell together: two fiercely strong & independent women, who have spent the vast majority of their lives supporting each other. But for me, despite this subject matter, along with a brilliantly understated & sympathetic performance from Rhys Ifans, the result is fairly mixed.

Diana Nyad was a champion open water swimmer who in her youth broke multiple records. However, the one challenge she failed to complete was the journey from Cuba to Florida. Despite a valiant attempt, a combination of bad weather & poor planning from the navigator meant she never stood a chance. However, decades later and in her 60's, she decides she is going to try again & finally complete it.

We follow her as she, alongside her best friend & eventual trainer Bonnie, tackle getting sponsorship, securing a decent navigator (Ifans,) & the serious dangers which are waiting for her in the open water. And whilst this is done with care & trying to keep things fresh, to use a swimming metaphor, sadly we as the viewer are drowned in clichés. I fully accept that the sports movie & the journey to victory have been done a million times already in different media, but there have also been many successes where the writing has freshened this storyline up.

Unfortunately, the script is at times very poor, as well as becoming unbelievably soapy in terms of the storyline. But thankfully, Foster & Bening never give anything less than committed & brilliant performances. They absolutely save what could have been another mediocre & clichéd mess. Their chemistry is note-perfect, plus it shocked me to discover that they were not close friends before making this film, again a tribute to their connection.

The biggest issue I have with this film is also a random one, but was for me another reason why this film only gets 3 stars: the CGI is, at times, absolutely atrocious. As in, there will be one shot where the water will look absolutely great & life-like, then in the next look so out of place it takes you out of the narrative. And this isn't helped by the movie repeatedly cutting to actual footage of the swim, then cutting back to the film footage & the garish, unreal water. There are Playstation 3 games from the mid 2000's with better water animation than this film...

The other extremely strange thing with this film is why it is rated 15. Whilst there is discussion of horrific child abuse suffered by Nyad & the other swimmers in her squad, alongside brief glimpses, this is all done extremely carefully & is in no way deserving of a 15 certificate.