Nyad (2023) tells the story of Diana Nyad’s (Annette Bening) multiple attempts and failures to swim unassisted from Cuba to the Florida Keys. Having already held multiple world records from her other swims, but this particular route was her white whale – it had eluded her since her first attempt in 1978. 33 years later, at the age of 61, Diana began the next of what would ultimately be five total attempts at the record.

Nyad is a story of perseverance, but in telling that story, the plot gets cyclical – try, fail, make adjustments, try, fail, make adjustments, and so on. It’s the natural progression of attempting something never before accomplished, but in a narrative, it lacks a propulsive interest that keeps the plot engaging. Luckily, Annette Bening and Jodi Foster have an incredibly interesting chemistry as a pair of aging lesbians that once had a fling long ago, but are now lifelong friends. They’ve been nominated for Best Actress and Best Featured Actress respectively, and while I think there’s a magic in the combination of the two, individually, their performances are relatively run-of-the-mill. Bening’s portrayal of Nyad’s complete physical surrender to the purpose of making the impossible possible is impressive, but it’s difficult to get absorbed in the performance when she spends half of the movie face-down in the ocean. I actually remember more of Foster’s performance, given that we spend most of Bening’s time in the water with Foster on the boat. The movie is, for the most part, fine. However, in Nyad’s final attempt at the swim, there is a sequence where the electronic shark repellant devices go dead as a large mako approaches, and the device is, of course, restarted just in time to deter it from attacking. Nothing I can find indicates that this actually happened, and the inclusion of the scene robs the movie of any realism it had going for it. The term “jumping the shark” comes to mind – a last gasp that’s blatantly meant to stir up some semblance of dramatic action.

The film "Nyad" is about long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad's attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida—an endeavor that lends itself perfectly to a film adaptation. If you look at the controversy surrounding the successful last attempt, you might say "too good to be true", but that shouldn't play a major role in the movie's rating. In any case, the movie follows a predictable formula that works well here. The direction is good, and above all, it conveys very well what a mammoth task this is.

However, Nyad only becomes a real success thanks to the acting. Annette Bening is particularly strong in the lead role. She plays the swimmer with many different layers; there are moments when she comes across as likeable, but she often seems narcissistic and egotistical. She obviously has a difficult personality. I'm not quite so sure what to make of Jodie Foster's performance. Her character is certainly the more sympathetic one, but I found the acting odd at times. Foster definitely has some really strong moments, though. Either way, Bening and Foster have great chemistry. Since the relationship between their two characters is also a core element of the movie, that's obviously a big plus.

All in all, I would describe "Nyad" as a movie that fits very well into the Oscar season. Ultimately, good actors are paired with a rather formulaic story. It's certainly not a masterpiece, but overall, it's solid entertainment throughout.

It’s been said that it’s never too late to pursue one’s dream. But how many of us who are getting on in years actually make the effort to accomplish that? As time passes by, we may begin to feel like life is passing us by, too, sweeping away the opportunities to fulfill those aspirations and leading to relentless disappointment, frustration and depression. So it was for famed marathon swimmer Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) as she entered her senior years. Having accomplished much as a long-distance open water swimmer as a young adult, she subsequently became a broadcaster for ABC Sports, serving as an expert on the subject. But that work didn’t provide the same satisfaction as what she was born to do, an undertaking that made her feel like she had taken a 30-year detour in her destiny. That changed, however, when she decided to get back in the water and attempt to make the 103-mile swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West, FL, a long-cherished dream she tried but failed at when she was 28. At 60, however, she believed she could still do it, and so she set off on a quest to complete it, a pursuit that everyone said was unrealistic and impossible at her age. As a headstrong, never-say-die force to reckon with, though, Nyad forged ahead with her best friend, Bonnie (Jodie Foster), serving as her often-beleaguered coach. Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi bring this fact-based story to life in this engaging biopic, chronicling Nyad’s odyssey and, in the process, never shying away from portraying the fabled swimmer from all angles, both as a heroic, determined role model and as an off-putting, obstinate pain in the butt. The storytelling approach is admittedly somewhat formulaic and a tad overlong, but the picture’s overall execution provides an authentic depiction of the grueling ordeal Nyad and her crew underwent, all effectively brought to life by the star power of Bening and Foster in their respective roles. The film also provides Nyad’s childhood back story, illustrating how she steeled her lifelong resolve for success and refused to play the part of a victim when the going got tough. It’s also refreshing to see a release that’s not afraid to showcase the story of an older woman, an often-overlooked demographic in contemporary cinema about a character who just might have something worth saying. “Nyad” probably doesn’t qualify as epic filmmaking, but it certainly makes the most of everything it has to work with, presenting viewers with an entertaining and inspiring watch, especially for those who feel cast aside and reconciled to their circumstances but who still have a burning desire for excellence aflame within them.

MORE SPOILER-FREE MINI-REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/mini-reviews-2023-edition

"NYAD is anchored by powerhouse performances, with Annette Bening and Jodie Foster delivering award-worthy portrayals in a film that draws inspiration from Diana Nyad's 53-hour open-water swim at the age of 64. Based on Nyad's book, this adaptation unfolds with heartfelt, authentic dialogue that enthralls the audience in the emotional journey of the protagonist's remarkable achievement. However, the movie falls into the typical pitfalls of biopics, sidestepping real-life controversies, such as the uncertified nature of the swim - a notable omission that doesn't help the credibility of the extraordinary feat. In addition to this, the film also succumbs to the formulaic constraints of Oscar-bait flicks, lacking creativity, and eventually becoming repetitive. Despite its shortcomings, it remains a compelling watch, driven by outstanding displays and an inspiring story at its core."

Rating: B-