Josh Lucas

Queen of The Ring is an old-fashioned biopic of women’s wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke. Turns out watching a woman get in the ring and grapple her way to independence (when it was still mostly illegal for women to do so) is an unexpected treat at the movies. Mildred Burke is acclaimed as the first female athlete who ever earned a million dollars — and, as the movie states, she did it all as a single mother. Queen of The Ring ends with fascinating photos and footage of the real-life female wrestling pioneers, and of Billy Wolfe and the male wrestling stars of the day. The film is full of knock-down fights (in the ring and otherwise) juicy confrontations and behind-the-scenes carry-on; the storytelling is energetic and engaging and not unlike a soap opera. We mean that in the best way.