I know very little about wrestling as a sport, but from beginning to end, Queen of the Ring provides ample entertainment for the specific sport. There’s also something to be said about the movie releasing during Women’s Month and how we view women’s sports.
The story bounces between tender points and beats full of female rage, which brilliantly evokes the very sense of womanhood in a deeply relatable way — this is essentially where the film’s strength lies. Yet, it’s the film’s pacing that struggles, mangling between key moments that will leave viewers wanting to know more about the titular character than we get. I don’t know anything about Mildred Burke, and by the end of the film, I only know a fraction about her.
Still, Queen of the Ring is full of extraordinary performances, with Emily Bett Rickards at the top of the list, delivering one of the finest performances in her career. Between the accent work and the moments of vulnerability coupled with necessary rage, the film is a clear showcase that there’s nothing Rickards can’t do. The same can also be said for Francesca Eastwood, Cara Buono, Deborah Ann WollKelli Berglund, Marie Avgeropoulos, Toni Storm, and more, all of whom deliver exceptional performances every time they’re on screen.
It’s not often that films like this are produced to center the women in the field, so it’s also worth noting how gorgeous some of the cinematography is. Though some frames feel like they need more alignment, it’s still a stunning way to frame the oppression, heartache, and pain women often feel. It reflects off the screen like an account of history, which isn’t always the case for biopics, and in that case, there’s no critique to say.
It’s in the final quarter where a majority of the pacing picks up, but it still feels like by the time we get here, the film could’ve been approximately twenty minutes shorter if the focus was on Millie more. The pacing in the middle half makes it hard to continue holding interest, even while we can grasp where the final match is going. And it’s ultimately that final match that makes the film one worth watching.
Ultimately, while an imperfect film, Queen of the Ring is full of compelling scenes that unquestionably allow the characters (and real people to shine). It’s easy to imagine what parts of it would’ve been like if we’d gotten the chance to understand deeper facets of the sport and the legacy, but that’s not a deal breaker. However, for those who might be searching for more nuance and accuracy, it’s hard to note exactly where the film goes wrong.
In addition, while the relationships are part of the story, it would’ve been far more effective to get bits through a montage to showcase still where Millie’s growth comes from. It would’ve allowed us to focus more intimately on wrestling and the other women. It would’ve also allowed more room to exhibit how Millie’s determination is a tremendous inspiration to those around her and women everywhere.
Queen of the Ring is now playing in theatres.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Sumerian Pictures; Intrinsic Value Films