NYAD – Review

Sometimes we just need to see a flick that gets us motivated. To get us off our “duff”…after we watch it, of course. That was certainly the case with the original ROCKY series which carried over into the current CREED franchise (who hasn’t heard Bill Conti’s score as they begin a run). Yes, the sports genre can be inspiring, plus you can double that when it’s a true tale, a “sports-biopic”. But could you triple the “push” when the movie’s subject is still with us? It’s a good possibility when a couple of superb actresses combine talents with two Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers to tell the tale of the long-distance swimming legend known as NYAD.

This film begins with a montage of archival footage of the tile champion, as she competes in tournaments, breaks records, and is interviewed by the undisputed “king of late night”. Now that’s right as she attempted to swim from Cuba to Key West, Florida way back in 1978. But strong winds made for rough seas that prompted doctors to remove her from the “shark cage”, despite her passionate protests. The film then jumps ahead 31 years as Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) is embarrassed by a surprise 60th birthday party orchestrated by former swimming coach (and romantic partner) Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster). After the guests leave, Diana drops a “bombshell” on her: a return to long-distance swimming to finish the Cuba to Florida trek. Bonnie is stunned and refuses to aid Diana, insisting that the years have taken its toll. Undaunted, Diane begins her endurance training at the local pool, and eventually Bonnie drops by to see her progress…and finally agrees to this “project”. Thus begins a multi-year odyssey as the duo struggles to get sponsors, enlist a crew, plot out a strategy, and gather the necessary tools. Those being the proper swimming gear and most importantly, a “guide boat” to navigate the waves beside her. Although team Nyad has a testy first meeting, Captain John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans) agrees to be at the wheels while monitoring the weather conditions. Oh, and this time there will be no protective cage around Diana, as two men in a raft will dangle “sound wires” that emit a hum that repels sharks. They’ll be on the other side of her, but what of the other “sea menace”, the box jellyfish, whose sting can quickly kill? At least Bonnie will be there to make sure that Dyan gets her “fuel” (pasta on a pole and liquids through a very long straw). The team endures multiple setbacks as Diana strives to prove that she’s not ready to “sit it out”. But will time sap her strength and stamina?

Those two powerhouse actresses propel this film past the standard “against the odds” biopic. Naturally it all sinks or swims on the efforts of the title interpreter. As is often the case, Ms. Bening is the epitome of fierce determination as the warrior who pushes through the pain. But her take on Ms. Nyad isn’t always on a “pedestal”. In the opening scenes, we see her hesitation and discomfort in social situations. Plus there an uncertainty as she watches the “younger set” glide past her in that public pool. Then we see Bening “re-charged” as the big day nears. And there’s much more of that fighting spirit as she pushes hard against the well-meaning efforts of her crew. Most protective is Bonnie played by Ms, Foster as the very definition of a supporting role. We can see her frustration as, like Pacino in his third time as the Don, she’s “pulled back in”. Foster shows us how the hours at sea wear on Bonnie, as she tries to gauge the condition of her friend, protecting Diana even as she rebuffs her concerns. Much the same can be said of Ifans as the crusty “old salt” who breaks through his own negative space to embrace Nyad and Bonnie’s dream of beating “ole’ King Triton”. Ifans shows us how Bartlett slowly embraces his role on the team, even letting a bit of optimism into his noggin’.

It’s hard to fathom (sorry) that this is the first narrative feature for directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyl and Jimmy Chin as they make several bold narrative choices that create as much tension as their Oscar-winning doc feature FREE SOLO, a true “nail-biter”. Working from Julia Cox’s screenplay adaptation of Nyad’s book, the duo finds a way to make us feel as though we’re floating alongside Diana while navigating through her memories. She’s fighting the repetition, the cold currents, the weather, and her memories of childhood trauma. Nyad first endures the breakup of her family as she’s torn away from her beloved, nurturing Greek papa, then must deal with horrific sexual abuse from a surrogate father figure, her high school swimming coach. We piece this together via the flashes in Diana’s brain as she tries to block out weird images as the illusions creep in. Happily, the directing duo doesn’t allow the film to get bogged down in the plans and special devices and gizmos (aplenty), though some of them seemed lifted from a spy caper or a science fiction story (Diana wears an odd full face-hugging mask that makes her a resembles a blank-featured alien, much like Odo on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”). As with Bening’s last nonfiction role of screen vamp Gloria Grahame, the archival footage of the real person isn’t jarring in the least. The cast and the filmmakers realistically convey all the hardships and triumphs of these two remarkable women as they make a place in the history books (and websites) for the astounding athlete named NYAD.

3 out of 4

NYAD is now playing in select theaters