User Reviews

Take a deep breath, and dive into the true story of Diana Nyad as she swims across the ocean. This inspiring biopic, overcoming athlete story, joins the ranks with so many like it before (Race, Unbroken, Secretariat, Foxcatcher, McFarland USA). The chemistry between Annette Bening and Jodie Foster is smooth, and they both bring great talent to these characters. CONTINUE READING ON LETTERBOXD: ****/60VAyZ

diana nyad is an amazing, inspirational person, and annette bening and jodie foster are great actresses, and the movie was skillfully made, BUT...when she bullied everybody into the penultimate attempt despite the terrible forecast, and the boat was taking on water as she continued to swim, it occurred to me that somebody (not me, but somebody) might have been thinking that they would not be upset if she drowned.

10/10 I wasn't sure before watching if this was a woke movie with 2 women leads, but it was not at all thank God. The movie is amazing, highest quality, amazing acting, True story blew my mind. This is the best movie I've seen all year and is a must watch for everyone! Also, do not look at these bad reviews, movie is a 10/10 and legit I was on the edge of my seat through the whole thing. Must watch!

Nice water special effects but poor plot. A jumble of themes thrown together to see what effect it has... Okay, never give up, need a team, blah blah blah, but why this obsession with something basically useless? Okay, everyone has their own personal battle, who cares about this kind of battle? You? Okay, I'm actually trying to break the soup-blower record... and the most likely answer should be: who cares!

If this biographical drama has any appeal, it is due to the performances of Foster and Benning. The story about the fruits of courage and persistence has enough to be seen on a weekend afternoon.

Nyad is an uplifting sports biopic strictly on the merits of its story, but it's the outstanding performances from Annette Bening and Jodie Foster that really keep this picture afloat

This movie is so inspiring! I really loved the portrayal of Diane and Jodie plays such a great supporting role. I would recommend everyone see this as a must-see end of the year movie; it will really get your spirit lifted and remind you of how powerful a dream can really be.

An entertaining tale, but afterwards I was disappointed to find out Nyad is a fraud: ****

(Mauro Lanari) Two actresses, one 65 and the other 60, bored millionaires, choose to star in the biopic of the sporting feat of one of their peers. The story is not significant except for the injection of triumphant self-esteem. As can be seen in the comparative photos during the credits, Bening and Foster do not have the physique at all for an athletic achievement of this magnitude, moreover never recognized, ratified, certified. The death of Diana's navigator, Rhys Ifans' John Bartlett, occurred on December 10, 2013 from heart failure and is being treated with the superficiality of a futile side effect.

Sports films that portray a person persisting despite overwhelming odds usually have a predictable outcome, so it's up the filmmakers to make it new or interesting. Even if you know how this story ends, the outstanding performances in this movie are the standouts. Diana Nyad became known for her ambitious open swims, but at 28, the 110-mile ocean swim from Cuba to Key West eluded her…until she turned 60 and decided to give it one last try. Annette Bening creates a forceful portrait of the steadfast athlete, whose determination drives her against impossible odds. Jodie Foster beautifully plays her best friend, who becomes her coach. There's no denying that these two actors have often been exceptional and this pairing is some of their best work. They create a partnership that gives the film it's core. Rhys Ifans, as the navigator, also turns in a commendable performance. Co-directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (best known for their docs on astounding athletes) have managed to keep the action interesting, adding just the right amount of challenges at the right moments. This sports story works well, thanks to Bening and Foster.

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.

Curioso que depois do filme "deepest breath", a Netflix consiga entregar mais uma experiência subaquática de qualidade, contando o incrível feito de Nyad ao atravessar de Cuba a Flórida a nado, aos 64 anos. Embora todo o desfecho seja conhecido, o filme aposta na edição e na trilha para edificar o momento, e ainda com a relação especial da protagonista com sua amiga (casal?). Aliás, o grande mérito da produção é não fazer dessa relação um elo maniqueísta, então o filme consegue se sair muito bem ao mostrar de forma equilibrada o percalço pessoal e profissional que gira em torno do feito da Nyad, com destaque também para os demais integrantes da equipe que a acompanhou. Muito interessante ver que um filme de duas horas conta com um clímax que todos nós já sabemos, mas ainda assim consegue manter o interesse, muito por contado show da edição, inclusive intercalando com cenas reais no último ato que ficaram extremamente bem reproduzidas e inseridas. Não gostei muito do excesso de flashbacks, creio que em certos momentos foram desnecessários e contaram contra o ritmo do filme, embora não necessariamente seja vazios. As animações mostrando o percurso dela, em suas múltiplas tentativas, foram simples e precisas, mostrando de fato a grandiosidade da travessia. Achei que o momento inicial da preparação dela para voltar a nadar, anos após a parada, foi rápida demais, mas pelo menos o filme não destacou aquelas cenas clássicas em que atletas se preparam, com música de superação de fundo. Foi bruscamente para o desafio, e tá tudo certo. Realmente uma história inspiradora, digna de uma façanha incrível, e muito bem documentada nessa produção. Vale a conferida, por mais irritante que as personagens sejam, mas ao menos também há um toque de humanidade por detrás do feito.

Nyad is a subtly inspiring tale that benefits greatly from having two actresses of such high caliber as Jodie Foster and Annette Bening to keep the audience engaged. Nevertheless, I believe there was a slight absence of focus and depth, which is somewhat understandable - at least how I see it - as the film's primary emphasis leans more towards the achievement itself rather than anything else.Although considering that detail, the film could have trimmed at least half an hour for a more efficient use of its running time.While it is true that to this date her crossing has not been formally ratified by any recognized marathon swimming organization, it is not as if she has been accused of cheating either.

'Nyad,' inspired by the incredible true story of sexagenarian Diana Nyad, the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage, is the typical biographical film that promises to move and inspire you. But, apart from the good performances of Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, nothing is outstanding here. Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, who deliver their first fiction feature film after a couple of great documentaries ('Free Solo' and 'The Rescue'), fail to transfer the dramatic tension of their previous works to this one, which feels artificial; many of the narrative devices they use, such as flashbacks and strange animated segments, don't quite work. 'Nyad' entertains but is far from memorable.

Foram as performances das excepcionais atrizes Annette Bening e Jodie Foster que me mantiveram 'nadando' até o final do filme, enquanto o excesso de flashbacks eram as águas-vivas.