Even those outside of the MMA world recognize the meteoric rise of Israel “Izzy” Adesanya, self-branded as “The Last Stylebender.” The UFC Middleweight Champion has become a cultural icon, sporting a fiery, competitive confidence that will either charm you or offend you – the athlete has made more than one faux pas trash-talking. However, it is this brazen persona that director Zoe McIntosh is looking to directly interrogate. Most sports documentaries would capitalize on the provocation, maybe incorporate hype-worthy montages wrapped around vignettes of cold-blooded competition. Instead, McIntosh begins with Adesanya in therapy, directly confronting his vulnerability before a single punch is thrown.
In fact, we see a lot about Adesanya before a single fight: we see him dance, we see him get his nails done, we see him calmly assert daily affirmations in a fogged-up mirror. By the time the archival footage parade does begin, an undeniably impressive showcase, each knock-out is only made more satisfying because of the personality behind them. If the sports-subject documentary’s goal is to peel back the layers behind an athlete’s legendary status, McIntosh accomplishes what she sets out for by the opening title card alone. It’s a stellar setup for what then becomes a stellar documentary, a moving and at times unflinching exploration of Izzy’s life and times that welcomes both fans and newcomers alike into his world.
Adesanya is, himself, a compulsively watchable figure: endlessly ambitious with the talent to back it up, blatantly honest even when it hurts, quick with a joke accompanied by an infectious laugh. He’s the perfect subject for a documentary of this style, enigmatic in his messiness but soulful where it counts. Through just a few short off-screen moments, you can tell the filmmakers have cultivated enough of a relationship with Adesanya that he is entirely comfortable with the cameras following him, making the film feel about as honest a portrayal of him as you can get. With near-unfiltered access to his world, McIntosh and her team of cinematographers capture the athlete’s highs and lows, refusing to shy away from what most filmmakers would attempt to clean up.
The film explicitly covers a wide range of Adesanya’s struggles, from the bullying he experienced in his youth to feeling comfortable with his own masculinity in the present, but the film’s most palpable moments speak for themselves. Most notably is the athlete’s social media controversy, in which he was criticized for making light of rape culture in a video on Instagram talking trash to his then-upcoming opponent Kevin Holland. Initially, Adesanya outright refuses to acknowledge his own mistake. In one scene, the camera sits beside Adesanya in his car as he lets out a frustrated tirade about people misunderstanding his competitive headspace. Regrettable vulgarities are tossed around, the kind of hateful language he is directly being criticized for.
It’s a thoroughly unflattering moment, regardless of his eventual apology and remorsefulness. But what it shows is a human being who is growing, a young man with an international spotlight on him learning how to cultivate humility. And really, growth is the name of the game here; whether it be through intense therapy sessions, or in the wake of training partner Fau Vake’s tragic death, several important events see Adesanya growing before our very eyes. We, subjectively, experience it scene by scene, but we also see it through his family, his teammates, and his head coach, Eugene Bareman. Each character feels vital in Adesanya’s abstract character web, not only influencing Adesanya’s own growth but influenced by how they see him mature.
However, strong material can only take a documentary so far. Credit must be paid to McIntosh’s superb directorial style, balancing both effective verite and the occasional cinematic flourish. Shot in an anamorphic aspect ratio, the film’s look stands apart from something along a streamer’s assembly line; observational handheld camerawork is made more immersive, but it’s Adesanya’s wonderful dance sequences that benefit the most from this choice. Shot in slow-motion and put against an evocative score, this infectiously fun side of the athlete’s personality gets a more meaningful gravitas. It’s more than just dancing – it’s a way he expresses his own fluidity, an alternative mode of movement that is just as valuable, if not more, than his martial arts.
Aside from a few bumps in the film’s pacing, Stylebender is a compelling journey that gives one of sports’ biggest stars a canvas to be vulnerable on screen and in life. Plenty of documentaries can break down skill or ability, but far fewer can break down not only what goes into honing those things, but the consequences of so deeply immersing oneself in athleticism that it begins to take a toll on their personal development. McIntosh’s meaningful portrayal is just one version of what can come from exploring that narrative, yet it feels one-of-a-kind, a beautiful time capsule of modern masculinity and acceptance of identity. By all accounts, it’s one of the strongest sports documentaries to come out in recent years and not to be missed.
Stylebender had its World Premiere as part of the Documentary Competition section of the 2023 Tribeca Festival.
Zoe McIntosh’s strong visual direction paired with Israel Adesanya’s transparency as a subject makes for a compelling and unflinching sports documentary.
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GVN Rating 9
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User Ratings (2 Votes)
9.9
Larry Fried is a filmmaker, writer, and podcaster based in New Jersey. He is the host and creator of the podcast “My Favorite Movie is…,” a podcast dedicated to helping filmmakers make somebody’s next favorite movie. He is also the Visual Content Manager for Special Olympics New Jersey, an organization dedicated to competition and training opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities across the Garden State.