The story of Claressa ‘T-Rex’ Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan, who trained to become the first woman in her country’s history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.
Cinematographer Rachel Morrison makes her feature film directorial debut with “The Fire Inside.” Starting out, the film appears to be nothing more than a pastiche of the many other sports movies we’ve seen over the years. At least in its first half, the movie focuses on teenage female boxer Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny) and her coach, Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry), and does little to differentiate itself from the pack.
Within the first half of the film, Morrison, working from a script by Barry Jenkins, briefly covers Jason’s reluctant acceptance of Shields as a member of his boxing class before jumping several years to the 2012 season in which Shields progresses to compete in the summer Olympics. Although the movie doesn’t focus much on Shields’ training, we are still given an understanding of her perseverance and commitment through her juggling her home life and school commitments.
The events leading up to the Olympics and even the Olympics themselves are streamlined. This film isn’t entirely interested in chronicling Shields’ rise in the world of female boxing, making you cheer at her wins or cry at her losses. Even without these, Morrison gets the viewer invested in Shields’ story.
Most sports movies are interested in capturing the thrill of the underdog winning. Here, the filmmakers give us a different angle — the struggles after the win. It is a unique spin on the genre and a welcome change in pace, creating an intriguing second half. There are elements essential to this half sprinkled throughout the first, the most obvious of which is that boxing is viewed as a male sport. The film highlights the ridiculous standards women in the sport have to face. At one point, a female boxer is seen in an evening gown while photographed to promote the sport. Beauty standards, unfortunately, apply even in a sport that focuses on punching your opponent.
I do have some minor issues with this movie. These issues aren’t glaringly bad, but they momentarily take you out of the world the filmmakers are building. Thanks to poorly worded dialogue, there is a ham-fisted moment or two. There are also elements in the story that show what Shields was balancing throughout her training, but they are not resolved. However, neither issue detracts much from the overall film.
Apart from these minor grievances, “The Fire Inside” handles itself well. The leads’ performances are fantastic. Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry work together to create a compelling dynamic. The camerawork is excellent, with plenty of long, smooth, beautifully framed, and lit takes. After viewing the film, it was no surprise that Morrison has worked as a cinematographer.
As a whole, “The Fire Inside” is an excellent movie. It starts as your typical sports film before challenging the ‘happily ever after’ illusion most of these movies deliver. While there are a few minor setbacks along the way, this one is worth seeking out.
In Theaters Wednesday, December 25th
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