For instance, I didn't know that Nyad's main dream in life was to swim the 110 mile open ocean distance between Cuba and Florida. It's virtually impossible to do and that's a good thing. Otherwise, we'd have a lot more illegal immigrants in this country than we already do.
But I digress...
Nyad tried to do this swim when she was 28 and failed. Along with childhood memories of being molested by her coach, she is constantly reminded that she didn't succeed with this swim. And decides to try one more time despite the fact that, in 2010, she was 60 years old.
So, coupled with her coach and best friend Bonnie, she sets out to do just that. The first four attempts are a potpourri of disasters from battling currents to being stung by poisonous jelly fish. One such sting actually stops her heart. But she presses on...almost annoyingly. Talk about your bucket list.
Given that Nyad is still alive and they made a movie out of this, even the uneducated like me can figure that she does eventually succeed. And it all makes for quite a compelling movie.
The yin and yang of it all is Nyad herself. Played by Annette Bening, the performance is marvelous. But, if Bening is being authentic to the real person, Diana comes off as quite the self-centered bitch. She's so mean to people that I'm surprised they didn't leave her to drown.
That said, the real sparkler in this movie is the always welcome Jodie Foster as Bonnie. She responds to Nyad as much of the audience does and there are times where you want to hug the swimmer and there are times when you want to root for a shark or a jelly fish.
But, I learned something through this film and it is quite good entertainment. See it for Jodie's performance alone.
Available in theaters and on Netflix.
LEN'S RATING: Three-and-a-half stars.
Dinner last night: Lasagna from my freezer.
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