This past winter break was a great time to go to the movies. From Robert Eggers chilling take on the classic film “Nosferatu”, to James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” there was a little something for everyone to enjoy. But one film in particular really took me by surprise.
“The Fire Inside” is a film that follows the incredible life of Claressa Shields, a prolific boxer from Flint Michigan who would go on to be the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. This directorial debut by Rachel Morrison is an emotional, powerful and important story that I feel really deserves to be seen. To be fully transparent, before seeing this movie I had never even heard the name Claressa Shields. Now, I’m a fan.
The movie follows her life starting in early childhood all the way through her second Olympics. Normally I would keep my reviews “spoiler free” but because this is just a biopic about her life it feels important to talk about why I think this movie is so powerful. Up until she wins her first Olympic gold medal I was thinking that this movie was a pretty average story of overcoming the odds and fighting for your future. But it wasn’t until the second act that I really understood what this movie is all about.
After winning her Olympic gold medal Shields expected sponsorships, interviews, and really just any sort of recognition. What she got was forgotten. The whole second half of this movie follows the aftermath of her first Olympic win, and it is devastating. Shields returns home an Olympic gold medalist only to find that she is stuck in the same tragic situation that she was stuck in beforehand.
This movie serves as a wakeup call to anyone who thought that discrimination based on gender or even race was a thing of the past. Claressa Shields won her first medal in 2012, and it wasn’t until 2016 when she won her second gold medal that she even came close to getting the pay and recognition she deserved.
Ryan Destiny’s performance as a young Claressa Shields is perfect, and she really captures that angst and aggression you would expect out of a 17 year old Olympian. To me though, the standout of this film is easily Brian Tyree Henry as Jason Crutchfield, Claressa Shields’s longtime coach. Not only does he nail the role, but it really just cements him as one of the most versatile names in the business right now.
Interestingly, this movie was written and produced by Barry Jenkins, a name that might sound familiar to any “Moonlight” fans reading this review. It serves as a testament to his ability to tell grounded yet impactful stories, especially in contrast to his other recently released film “Mufasa: The Lion King”. I enjoyed almost every aspect of this film, and considering its small budget I think it easily accomplished everything it set out to do.
If you are looking for a good movie to watch, I highly recommend checking out “The Fire Inside” before it leaves theatres. Because not only is it good on a fundamental filmmaking level, but it tells a story that I feel desperately needs to be told.
