She was born to swim. In Greek mythology, a naiad is a water nymph said to inhabit a river, spring, or waterfall. Diana Nyad recollects that her father connects their last name to aquatic pursuits. She fondly recalls his words: “This is your destiny!”
This sports biopic of American long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad is based on her autobiography Find a Way. She rose to fame in 1975 when she swam around Manhattan (28 miles or 45 kilometers) in record time, and again in 1979 when she swam from The Bahamas to Florida. She semi-retired from swimming after that. Now it’s 2010, and she decides at 60 to attempt the epic Atlantic trek from Cuba to Florida, a span of 110 miles (177 kilometers). She begins training. Close confidant Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster) becomes her coach. Additional assistance is provided by navigator John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans).
Nyad features a compelling performance from Annette Bening. Diana is a cantankerous personality, and her friend Bonnie is presented as her long-suffering supporter. They are good friends, but they also argue a lot about the logistics of this dangerous endeavor. Notably, Diana is attempting this swim without using a shark cage for protection, the first person ever to do so.
What sets this profile apart is the characterizations from Annette Bening and Jodie Foster. Diana is a determined but stubborn individual. She has a big ego and likes to talk about herself. Bonnie amusingly calls her out on it. I enjoyed watching two great actresses portray these “tough old broads.” I mean that in the most respectful spirit of the phrase. It’s a glamor-free achievement, sans makeup, and very natural. Nyad, the movie, is pretty standard in terms of being a typical uplifting portrait. However, their chemistry together is undeniable. That’s what drew me into this entertaining film.
11-04-23
4 Responses
It’s one of those movies where you know how it’s gonna turn out, but enjoy anyways. Acting was superb. 60 yrs old. I’d better step it up. 3 1/2 ⭐️
It’s the comfort food of biopics.
Glad to see a positive score for this. Nyad is getting pounded by some reviewers I’m reading. What actually draws me to this is the fact Jimmy Chin and his partner Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi are venturing into dramatic narratives. I really enjoyed their documentaries so this should be something I’ll like
The chemistry between Jodie Foster and Annette Bening makes this worth watching. They’re even garnering some Oscar talk.