The Fire Inside is a great directorial debut from director Rachel Morrison, only elevated by strong performances by newcomer Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry.
About The Fire Inside
Synopsis: Based on a true story, The Fire Inside follows the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, performed by Ryan Destiny. Shields is a 17 year boxer from Flint, Michigan who later becomes the first woman boxer to win two Olympic gold medals. But as a teen working to obtain her medal, Claressa must balance Olympic aspirations with trying to be an ordinary teenager. Her story becomes an inspirational to not only her community, but to woman’s boxing in general.
A Boxing Titan Rises in The Fire Inside
When it comes to The Fire Inside, director Rachel Morrison and company craft an excellent re-telling of Olympic gold medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields’ story. Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) aids the film with a strong script. The film dives deep into the world of woman’s boxing. Combined with that, they juxtapose it with Claressa’s home life back in Flint. Plus, they show the influence she begins to have there.
Morrison and Jenkins focus on Claressa’s relationship with her mentor Jason, performed by Brian Tyree Henry (Transformers One). They craft a father-daughter-like relationship within a mentor/mentee relationship. Morrison manages to subvert expectations from other boxing movies. She achieves this by delving into the industrial complex of sports entertainment—one that skews based on gender and race.
Different Worlds
Director of photography Rhea Yang complements the harsh tone by melding the cinematography into a gritty-like stasis. Yet all the while there exists a dream-like quality to it. Furthermore, Yang shoots these scenes with a visceral and clear quality. That, in tandem, works with the handheld present in some shots. The use of colors, mainly reds and blues, gives the boxing sequences a distinct style.
This is further present in the production, courtesy of production designer Zosin Mackenzie. Mackenzie narrows down on the grit of Flint, Michigan. Specifically, in regards to Jason’s home and Claressa’s home. In turn, this complements Yang’s cinematography. It contrasts with Claressa’s reality versus her dreams.
Likewise, costume designer Marcia Scott keeps the costumes practical, yet structural. She does so by keeping it within the time period of early to mid 2010s. Scott highlights the contrasts between the worlds Claressa straddles. The boxing world is bright designs and features. And the real world is worn-out designs and muted colors.
Meanwhile, composer Tamari-tali displays a melancholy surreal-like quality with the score. It rises during the boxing sequences when it switches to a more traditional, yet triumphant beat. Running at an hour and forty-nine minutes, editor Harry Yoon edits the film down with a relentless, but menacing pace. Yoon also focuses on the main story, making character moments breathe and survive. So, he lets the film breathe in-between all of the boxing.
Performances in The Fire Inside
When it comes to the performances, newcomer Ryan Destiny leads the cast. As Shields, Destiny excels in bringing dimension and personality to the role. Additionally, Destiny excels with the boxing sequences, becoming a presence in the ring. However, her chemistry with Brian Tyree Henry’s Jason Crutchfield is the real highlight. From the first scene onwards, the mentor/mentee relationship becomes more akin to a father/daughter relationship.
As Jason, Henry manages to balance that push and pull between being a mentor and supportive figure. For the rest of the cast, they all fare well with good performances. One standout is Olunike Adeliyi (Saw 3D) as Jackie, Claressa’s mother. Adeliyi brings a visceral rawness to her performance. She exists mostly as a reflection of what Clarissa doesn’t want to be. That said, the character only has a limited amount of screen time.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to The Fire Inside, the film succeeds in telling the story of Claressa Shields. The film possesses a tight script, courtesy of Jenkins. Additionally, newcomer Destiny shines as Shields, giving a standout performance. Combined with her chemistry with Henry, Claressa’s journey becomes more compelling. Overall, The Fire Inside is a knockout debut from Morrison, filled with award-worthy performances from Destiny and Henry.
