Female Film Critics 24/375
Some rare, remarkable real-life stories deserve cinematic dramatization. In that esteemed group is first-time director Rachel Morrison’s The Fire Inside. Written and co-produced by the award-winning Barry Jenkins (Moonlight 2016, If Beale Street Could Talk 2018), the inspirational story captures the talent and grit of American boxer Claressa “T-Rex” Shields as she trains for the 2012 London Olympics.
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There’s nothing quite like a sports underdog movie to stir the emotions — even if you know where it’s ultimately headed, when it’s done right, there’s something about watching a “triumph against the odds” drama that makes you want to stand up and cheer, especially when it’s based on a true story. And while there are plenty of boxing films on that list, virtually none have told a story like Claressa Shields’. Rachel Morrison more than fills that gap with the stirring The Fire Inside.
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Bryan Tyree Henry makes everything he is in better. He is the expansive soul of The Fire Inside, the feature directorial debut of notable cinematographer Rachel Morrison, who shot Mudbound and Black Panther. Her film, written by Barry Jenkins, is the true story of American boxing champion Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (played by Ryan Destiny) that will be a revelation for anyone who doesn’t follow the sport. Morrison captures the decay and poverty in Flint, Michigan, home to Henry’s boxer-turned-coach Jason Crutchfield and the surly, determined kid who shows up at his grungy gym.
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