The Fire Inside
review by Bobby Blakey
There are so many boxing films that come along that offer up more inspiration than most sports films. The latest film, The Fire Inside, takes on the real life of boxer Claressa Shields from writer Barry Jenkins and director Rachel Morrison. The film stars Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry, but does it have the drive to deliver the knockout blow, or will it be down for the count?
The Fire Inside follows the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Claressa, a high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield, pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. But even at the pinnacle of success, Claressa must reckon with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and the real fight has only just begun.
Going into this movie I knew a little of Shields story and the issues with casting of Ice Cube being replaced by Henry if I am not mistaken, but not much else. I always hope these films will hit that right note to inspire and do the subject justice and this one does that well. The story is filled with all the elements that deliver a powerful story, and her life and career is ripe for the inspirational treatment.
Very much like a real life Rocky, Shields story from nothing to Olympic Champion and beyond is a powerful one. I love that this film doesn’t shy away from the struggles of her home life and her own attitude issues that were big reasons she was looked down upon despite her skills in the ring. She did so much with her success that it makes the often cliched elements of this story all the more important. To be clear when I say cliched, I referring to the holiday sports drama elements that we have seen time and again, but for Shields she
lived this and not only knocked it out, elevated herself and women’s sports with it.
The cast are all great with Destiny carrying the weight of it all to perfection. She has so many emotional and physical elements to push through and does them all with grace and depth. For a film in the boxing genre to work you can’t just rely on the characters, but even more so on the fights themselves. You have to believe in these fights and the struggles the fighters go through to win or lose. They are all well shot, choreographed and executed in a way that gets you excited for the outcome and wondering how it will end.
The film isn’t breaking down any walls in the sport or genre, but it does successfully tell a compelling story about Shields’ life and career that deserves to be seen. Whether you are familiar with Claressa Shields and her iconic career and change in women’s sports or just a fan of boxing films this is one worth checking out.
Decide for yourself and check out The Fire Inside in theaters on Christmas Day.