Rooting for Sydney Sweeney was not on my 2025 bingo card — especially in a performance where she wears cornrows!
Sweeney’s portrayal of boxer Christy Martin comes at a complex time in her career. Sweeney’s earlier performance as Cassie Howard in HBO’s Euphoria earned her major street cred for Gen Z audiences, with roles in Anyone But You and The Voyeurs solidifying her as a fan favorite. Those days feel long gone though, as the actress was recently caught in controversy over an American Eagle jeans ad some thought gave a subtle nod to eugenics.
A biopic about a small-town basketball player turned powerhouse women’s boxer may be out of the norm for the actress. But as the title card vanishes and Sweeney stands in the corner in a quintessential ’80s mullet, you’d never think so.
Directed by The Rover’s David Michôd, Christy tells the story of renowned female boxer Christy Martin (née Salters). Within the first five minutes of the film, we’re thrown directly into the world of Christy Salters, a West Virginia-born woman, who just won her first boxing match on a dare from her teammates. Donning a champion jacket, her jubilation is disrupted at a family dinner where her mother brings up rumors of a secret relationship between Christy and her girlfriend Rosie (Jess Gabor).
The taboo of this relationship lingers in the background as Christy’s talent catches the eye of boxing coach James Martin (Ben Foster). Though apprehensive at first, her tenacity and her natural knack for knocking heads inspire him to continue training her.
Christy and Rosie’s relationship eventually falls apart due to distance, with an attraction between Christy and James developing in its wake. The couple get married, still assuming the roles of trainer and boxer. As female boxing had not yet become a lucrative sport at the time, the pair faced financial problems — on top of James’ controlling and violent tendencies and Christy’s fluid sexuality.
After several failed attempts to capitalize on Christy’s talent, the Martins land a meeting with famed boxing promoter Don King (Chad Coleman). Impressed by Christy’s charm and aptitude, King agrees to take her as his first female boxer. Under his management, she becomes known as the Coal Miner’s Daughter, a feared opponent whose pre-arena jawing mirrored her in-match jabs.
As Christy rises through the ranks and in popularity, we’re taken along on her meteoric success journey. But unfortunately, every celebratory win is cinematically and figuratively cut short with the presence of James. Scenes of Christy basking in her victory are quickly ushered out by shots of her vile husband.
Words can’t describe how truly evil the monster known as James Martin is. The most sinister manufactured villains don’t seem to level up to Christy’s real-life antagonist, who happened to also be her husband. This disdain is further intensified when you realize the movie isn’t a work of fiction.
The vividly cinematic sport of boxing would have served as a haunting allegory for the trauma and abuse Christy suffered behind the scenes of her professional life. However, the film is a biopic, making these parallels even more harrowing. Christy’s most formidable opponent in the boxing ring was Laila Ali (Naomi Graham), daughter of Muhammad Ali. But what was going on behind the scenes proved to be much scarier than a prize fight.
I was unfamiliar with Christy’s story, and I refrained from doing research prior to seeing the film. So as I’m rooting for her to leave her abusive husband, and see James’ violence hit a peak, I’m quickly reminded that this is the protagonist’s true story. This meant there wouldn’t be any clean or happy ending.
This adds to the effectiveness of the film, though. Oftentimes when we’re watching a biopic, we can become so enamored by the storytelling and cinematography that we have to remind ourselves it is someone’s life, even if it makes a good story.
I did go in with skepticism about Sweeney’s performance. An actress who’s been praised for her aesthetic appeal taking on a role that doesn’t rely on a balance of humor and beauty could have been a recipe for disaster. However, I must give it to her: Her commitment to the role was admirable. While at first a bit off-putting, she grows into the character for a believable portrayal.
Christy Martin is a fighter — both inside and outside of the ring — and Sweeney did a remarkable job of bringing her story to life. The opening box office numbers may show otherwise, but that’s probably a problem with Sweeney’s jeans, not a reflection of the quality of this film.
Christy
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