Sydney Sweeney‘s “Christy” Earns Mixed Reviews Following TIFF Premiere
Toronto - sydney Sweeney’s performance as boxer Christy Martin is drawing significant attention following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, though critical reception of the film itself is divided. The biopic, directed by Joseph Michôd, recounts the life of the trailblazing female boxer, and early reviews highlight Sweeney’s transformative work while questioning the film’s originality.
The film’s nov. 7 theatrical release via Black Bear comes as Sweeney actively seeks to broaden her acting range beyond romantic comedies. The buzz surrounding “Christy” is crucial for both the actress and the film’s producers – Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Teddy Schwarzman, Brent Stiefel, Justin Lothrop, Michôd, and sweeney herself – as thay aim to establish Sweeney as a serious dramatic talent and deliver a compelling sports narrative.
IndieWire’s Kate Erbland lauded Sweeney’s complete immersion in the role,noting she “disappears into the role,not just changing her hair color,eye color,accent,and way of moving,but her general air,her overall mien,the space she takes up in a room.” Similarly, Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post called Sweeney “a knockout,” stating the film represents ”a major step to showing there’s much more to her than rom and com.”
However, not all critics where convinced by the film’s overall execution. Nick Schager,writing for The Daily Beast,acknowledged Sweeney “gives a believable performance that almost transcends her role’s derivativeness,” but ultimately found the film to be “a manipulative hybrid of Rocky,Million Dollar Baby,and Monster” that lacked originality,even by A.I. standards.
TheWrap’s Chase Hutchinson offered a split assessment, writing that the film “succeeds about half the time, making for a split decision where Sweeney and Christy both emerge as champions while the film itself can’t quite go the distance.” Benjamin Lee of The Guardian was more critical, concluding that despite the real-life Christy Martin’s tumultuous life, “in her biopic, we barely feel the impact.”
