★ 8 / 10
A Knockout
JoshuaMercott
An eye-opening documentary that did not shy from any of the details pertaining to the life and times of (American) women's boxing champion (nay, superstar)…
An eye-opening documentary that did not shy from any of the details pertaining to the life and times of (American) women's boxing champion (nay, superstar) Christy Martin. This is what documentaries are all about, the depth, the revelations, the truth...
"Untold Vol 1: Deal with the Devil" on Netflix was a match in its own right. Christy's story is many a woman's story - be it inside or outside a ring. It was physical and verbal abuse, plain and simple, yet complex in its own ways.
Women, despite their dreams and achievements, are (sometimes) unjustly threatened by the people closest to them. And this story features not just any woman, but a famous one who could throw a serious punch and take more than a few. Christy was also well within the proverbial closet about her partner preferences. Then there was her drug (cocaine) addiction to consider.
This documentary special on Netflix brought so much to light regarding Christy Martin's case, and the years of silence she had to endure knowing that she would find no justice or understanding if she spoke up. It wasn't lack of courage on her part but lack of opportunities that could have helped her resolve her professional/marital issues with trainer/husband Jim Martin.
The man was selfish, controlling, and looking out for Christy Martin's best interests only so long as they aligned with his own. He took advantage of her in strange, revengeful, and manipulative ways, using her like a cash cow, and oftentimes misusing her same-sex preferences to caress his own kinks.
It was all spread out in neat and clear fashion in this docu for anyone to see and make up their minds about Jim's actions and decisions. He was an insufferable egoist and abusive blackmailer with vengeful murderous tendencies. He took her unawares, stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife, and shot her with a gun a while after she was down (!). And those are just the highlights (for lack of a better word) of how that tussle went down.
All this, if the documentary (which has no contradictory evidence so far) is anything to judge by. Jim Martin had little to no redeeming points, to be honest. It all sounded too fantastic to be true, but you know what they say about fact being stranger than fiction.
The female world boxing lightweight champion survived into a day and age - as opposed to the relatively exploitative, secretive, and silencing 80s - where she felt she could voice her truth and the world would listen. To be fair to Christy, she actually came out of the proverbial closet at a time when it was 'frowned upon'.
This docu has the potential to make lasting and legal change for women in similar situations. It may well warrant the need for new policies in countries around the world. This is an 'untold' story that most definitely needed to be told. Laura Brownson (director) and the rest of the team did admirable work on this. Brave effort on the part of Netflix to have seen this documentary through to the last bell. I am eagerly waiting what they come up with next under their "Untold" collection banner.
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★ 7 / 10
A thrilling addition to the Untold series! [+69%]
arungeorge13
The second entry in the Untold series - about boxing sensation Christy Martin and the lesser known happenings in her life - had me hooked all the way. All the…
The second entry in the Untold series - about boxing sensation Christy Martin and the lesser known happenings in her life - had me hooked all the way. All the right folks were interviewed and their responses surprisingly more candid than you'd expect them to be. I liked how Christy remained the center-piece of the story even when it could have faltered in many instances. Also, her life calls for a full-blown biopic in the future. There's everything from fame, wealth, and the adrenaline rush from the sport of boxing to gaslighting, coming out (as gay), twisted revelations, and even an extremely gruesome crime that'd make for an enthralling film experience. The background score in this one is slightly distracting, however, it doesn't take away what is undoubtedly an inspiring, engaging, and shocking story.
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7.3/10
3.1K
