"Nyad"

So, I thought the downgrading of this film during award season was like the downgrading of Nyad's actual amazing achievement.  Because no one wanted an egotistical old gay woman to create world records.  Add in Diane Nyad's penchant for tall tales and the questions ... a lot of questions ... about whether she actually swam from Cuba to Key West unassisted, and you have a film no one wants to touch.  I admit, the GPS data of the real swim does give one pause (for a few hours she was moving at 2-3 miles per hour instead of 1.5 miles per hour, which is more realistic), my bottom line is that there were 40 people, on four boats, around her.  If there was a "cheat", as many say, someone would have talked by now.  None have.  So I choose to believe what was said at the time.  That she caught, for a brief time, a strong current.  As a kayaker and swimmer, that's something I get.  In any case, this is a film, not a documentary.  The acting is great (given the leads, how could it not be?)  The production is terrific, doing some great work at showing the glory of open ocean swimming (been there, love it).  Where the film falters, a bit, is that they can't escape the inevitability of your average sports movie.  A dream, followed by determination, followed by failure, followed by despair -- wash, rinse, repeat until you get to success.  In other words, the story covers an event we are familiar with and doesn't make it particularly fresh.  Which is not to say it isn't good.  It just isn't something which holds your attention every minute.  Where it succeeded, for me, was in the message.  Never give up.  Never allow age hold you back.  With determination, you CAN do it.  And yes, if this was about a man (think "King Richard"), it would be getting a lot more attention than it is getting.