Light pink shorts — that’s what Christy Martin wears into the ring during the 1990s. It’s a bit of a joke, because the foulmouthed, hammer-fisted Christy is no one’s idea of a traditional girl. She’s also gay, and so closeted that she marries her trainer, Jim Martin. Less of a joke is the pink gun he points at her when she tries to leave him.

"Christy," starring Sydney Sweeney in the title role and Ben Foster as Jim, tells two familiar stories: the talented woman who falls prey to a controlling man, and the gay star who finds the courage to come out. Helping the movie avoid cliche are its two leads, turning in two different but complementary performances. "Christy" also benefits from an intelligent script by Mirrah Foulkes and director David Michôd ( 2010’s "Animal Kingdom" ) that l

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