CHRISTY (2025)

November 7, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. For those who think of Sydney Sweeney as just an attractive model for blue jeans or eye-candy on the red carpet, this is a movie that will change your mind. She plays tough. OK, not as tough as boxing champ and domestic violence survivor Christy Martin, whom she portrays here … but tough, nonetheless.

In a perfect world, writer-director David Michod (ANIMAL KINGDOM, 2010) and co-wrtiers Mirrah Foulkes (also Michod’s spouse) and Katherine Fugate would tell the uplifting story of the first great female boxer of the 1990’s and the first female boxer to make the cover of “Sports Illustrated” and fight on Mike Tyson’s undercard. While they do tell that part of the story, there is also the much darker aspect of Christy’s life. It’s actually a story of survival – and honestly, since I was not a boxing fan at the time, it’s the 2010 headlines of her surviving a vicious attack by her husband that come to mind when I hear her name. Michod and his cast handle both aspects very well.

It’s 1989 in rural West Virginia. Christy gets her first taste of boxing and takes to it immediately. However, her mother (Merritt Weaver, “Godless”) and meek father (Ethan Embry, “Sneaky Pete”) are humiliated by the rumors that Christy is hanging out with Rosie (Jess Garbor “Shameless”), a lesbian. When they threaten to send her to a priest for curing, Christy seizes the chance to pursue boxing. Trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster) initially wants nothing to do with her, but he quickly realizes she could be his ticket to the big time.

The story follows Christy’s rise in boxing, while at the same time showing us the dark side of a relationship. Jim is an expert manipulator and controller, and Foster’s searing blue eyes deliver his patented icy and intimidating stare (in spite of that awful haircut) on more than one occasion. Shadowboxing in legendary promoter Don King’s (Chad Coleman, “The Wire”) office gives Christy the opportunity she needs in 1995. He labels her “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” and her pink outfits become a trademark.

Christy’s story has many parallels with the tragic Dorothy Stratten story. Her time as a Playboy model and violent fallout with her scumbag husband became the basis for Bob Fosse’s film STAR 80 (1983). In this film, when Michod finally shows the despicable act of Jim Martin on Christy, it’s stunning and memorable. We can’t help but think how unfortunate and tragic it was for Christy to battle both her husband and mother. Towards the end, we see the actual Christy Salters (she took back her maiden name) as a security guard who fist bumps the fighter on the way to the ring. It’s a nice touch. And kudos to Sydney Sweeney for taking on such a challenging role (physically and emotionally).

In theaters beginning November 7, 2025

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE ROVER (2014, Australia)

June 29, 2014

rover Greetings again from the darkness. This is Australian writer/director David Michod’s follow-up to his excellent 2010 film Animal Kingdom – one of my favorite films that year. While that film took us inside an Australian gangster family, this one is set in a dystopian Outback ten years after what the film terms “the collapse”.

Michod’s script from a Joel Edgerton story goes pretty light on the details and depends heavily on the shared scenes with Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson. Both deliver the goods, and Pattinson in particular is quite something to behold … his gun shot wound plays second fiddle to the most bizarre speech pattern and accent we have heard in awhile. Initially appearing somewhat flawed in his mental aptitude, Pattinson brings his character through a full cycle of emotions; which is the polar opposite of Pearce’s character who though quite stoic, leaves no doubt that he is angry at 3 goons for stealing his last possession – his car.

The mood of the film and the tone of the character keep us in suspense on why this blasted car is so important to Pearce, and it’s not until the final sequence that the mystery is solved. The more interesting scenes occur when Pearce and Pattinson are facing off – their relationship evolves from adversarial to something kind of oddly touching.

The usually dependable Scoot McNairy plays Pattinson’s brother, but really isn’t given much to do except for his final scene with Pattinson. The most interesting supporting role comes courtesy of screen veteran Gillian Jones as the inquisitive Grandma. She leaves the impression that a film about her would be much wilder than the minimalistic landscape and dialogue of our feature.

Michod’s latest is not at the level of Animal Kingdom but it does offer a couple of intriguing characters and vastly toned down Mad Max flavor. It’s beautifully photographed and the sparse soundtrack is the perfect compliment.

watch the trailer:

 

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Posted by David Ferguson

ANIMAL KINGDOM (2010)

August 29, 2010

 Greetings again from the darkness. An Australian movie that packs a wallop! Writer/Director David Michod delivers an unsettling look into one family’s life of crime and the corresponding order of things – the circle of life in the Animal Kingdom. Supposedly based on a true story, this is a tough family that you would not want as relatives.  These are not smooth operators like Scorcese provided in Casino or Goodfellas.  No, in fact, these guys are much worse.

The matriarch is played chillingly by Jacki Weaver. She is mother or grandmother to the guys (except for one outsider) in the band of crooks. While she messes with your mind through the story, it’s not until the final 15 minutes when she really kicks it up a notch and becomes flat out frightening in her power.

There are only a couple of actors that most people would recognize. Joel Edgerton is the outsider in the group, and the one trying to go straight by playing the stock market with his “earnings”. The other is Guy Pearce, who plays the detective trying to both solve the cases and rescue young Josh, played by newcomer James Frecheville.

Not only is this the type of story that sucks you in, it is a reminder of just how distracting movie stars can be to a film. The lack of stars allows us to really be absorbed into this family, or better, this world of crime, deceit, corruption and paranoia. There is not a single movie star – no one who can capitalize on his film history of characters and immediately generate recognition. Here, the viewer must get to know an entire family for who and what they are. This is powerful stuff for a film lover.

The winner for best psychopath is Ben Mendelsohn as Pope. His dead eyes will scare you. His demeanor will scare you. His actions will disgust you. There are two lines in the film that help us make sense of what occurs. Early on, the narrator tells us that “all crooks come undone” at some point. Later, the detective (Pearce) tells us that in the Animal Kingdom, you are either weak or strong. The lines seem pretty clear.

The focus of the film is on Josh (Frecheville) who gets plopped into this family of criminals after his mom dies of an overdose and he calls his long-lost grandmother (Weaver). Josh spends the rest of the film trying to blend in while staying clean. Of course, even his stoic mask doesn’t save him from the path of destruction created by Pope.  The only question is, can he find a way to survive or escape?

In the end, the film is about survival, adaptation and exploring what really defines strong and weak, good and bad. Are you weak or strong?  It’s not always easy to tell … and beware of the quiet ones.  If you enjoy powerful crime thrillers, this one is worth checking out … and be appreciative for the lack of Hollywood star power. That’s part of why it works!

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Posted by David Ferguson