“Christy” at TIFF: Sydney Sweeney's Gloves Are Off
Let's get this out of the way: I rolled my eyes when I first heard Sydney Sweeney was playing a legendary boxer. Not because she isn't talented—she is—but because the idea reeked of Oscar bait. Cue the transformation montage. Cue the sweaty, grayscale trailer with a swelling score. You know the drill.
But then TIFF dropped the first image from Christy, and… well, damn.
It's not just that Sweeney looks physically transformed—though she does. It's the vibe. There's this raw, coiled tension in the shot, like she's not just acting tough, but is tough. Like she's not trying to sell you the “female Rocky” pitch—she's daring you to doubt her.
Welcome to TIFF 2025 (Gloves Optional)
The Toronto International Film Festival, celebrating its 50th edition this September, just announced its initial batch of special presentations. Among the titles: Frankenstein, Good Fortune, and—sucker punch incoming—Christy, the David Michôd-directed biopic about 1990s boxing trailblazer Christy Martin.
Michôd, who co-wrote the script with Mirrah Foulkes, isn't exactly known for light fare. This is the guy behind Animal Kingdom and The King. He thrives in grit. And this story? It's got plenty. The rise of the first female boxer to snag mainstream fame—and the brutal 2010 attack by her husband that nearly killed her.
That's not a comeback arc. That's a survival saga.
The Look, the Body, the Toll
So about that transformation.
Sweeney trained like a lunatic, apparently. Weights, kickboxing, a strict regimen that ballooned her muscle mass. In her own words:
“I didn't fit in any of my clothes. I'm usually a size 23 in jeans, and I was wearing a size 27. My boobs got bigger. And my butt got huge. It was crazy… But it was amazing: I was so strong, like crazy strong.”
Sure, that's a quote ripped straight from the kind of interview Vanity Fair would drool over, but it tracks. The physical change isn't just cosmetic—it's functional. Sweeney had to look like someone who could take a punch and give one back twice as hard.
The photo backs it up. Inside the ring, gloves up, stare locked—it's not Cassie from Euphoria. It's Christy. No glitter. No gloss. Just impact.
The Cast and the Context
Sweeney's joined by Ben Foster (playing Christy's husband, James Martin), along with Merritt Weaver, Katy O'Brian, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, Chad L. Coleman, and Tony Cavalero.
But let's be honest: this is Sweeney's show.
Foster's a beast, sure, and Weaver never phones it in—but if Christy lands, it'll be because Sweeney finally cracked the code on that elusive “serious actress” title. And she's been trying. Reality got her halfway there. This? Might be the full leap.
Still… no one's seen the full film yet. TIFF will host its world premiere this September, and that's where the gloves come off—figuratively and maybe literally.
Why This Might Matter (Or Might Not)
Let's not pretend this movie's existence isn't a play for awards season. TIFF's lineup is always full of hopefuls itching for a statue. But Christy could dodge the usual biopic pitfalls if it leans into the real messiness of Martin's life—her battles inside the ring and out, her sexuality, the abuse, the survival, the sheer defiance.
Will it go deep? Or will it just jab at the surface?
Too early to say. But if that first image is any clue, Sweeney's swinging for something real.
So… Is This One Worth Watching?
Look, I've been burned before. Biopics that promise blood and guts and end up with piano-heavy montages and tidy resolutions. But this one has bite. Or at least, it wants to.
And honestly? I kinda want to believe it.
