The Fire Inside (dir. Rachel Morrison)

By: Adam Freed

There are many fights far more important than those that exist within the confines of a boxing ring.  For Olympian Claressa “T-Rex” Shields however, prying her family from poverty’s cruel and indifferent grasp isn’t possible without first proving herself elite with her fists.  Amazon MGM Studios and director Rachel Morrison partner to present The Fire Inside, the true to life story of a young lady very much like the town from which she hails.  From birth there is very little expected of Claressa Shields, a product of Flint, Michigan, a once thriving city that has fallen victim to the dark shroud of economic recession.  It is only through the young survivor’s pugilistic prowess that she begins to fathom a future in which her daily bread is a given.  The Fire Inside isn’t so much a film about boxing as it is about the painful structural pitfalls put in place to prevent upward mobility, especially for gifted athletes who happen to be women.

While Rachel Morrison’s film has all of the makings of a surefire underdog hit, the cinematographer turned director, proves that there is a great deal more to making a compelling film, than creating memorable visual appeal.  Morrison is best known for her keen eye as a cinematographer for major productions like Black Panther (2018) and Mudbound (2017), a gift that is apparent here, but underutilized though large swaths of the film’s dramatic narrative.  The Fire Inside stars Ryan Destiny (Oracle) as the titular heroine and the immensely talented Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Bullet Train) as her well meaning coach Jason Crutchfield.  There is a difficult imbalance at play within the performances of the film’s co-leads as Henry exudes an aptitude for far more complex material than he is provided.  The result is a film that ironically feels as if it is boxing one handed.  Destiny certainly looks the part of the 17 year-old phenom, but when asked to match emotional blows with Brian Tyree Henry, the two performers appear to be fighting in different classes.  

The Fire Inside is a palatable story that will certainly gain market share this holiday season, particularly due to its inviting PG-13 rating.  Morrison’s film never quite feels as big as the events that it depicts, a result mostly due to the film passing over large chunks of time in order to fully capture the 6 year quest the young pugilist is asked to endure.  While the boxing scenes feel underwritten and unsteadily presented, the tumultuous family dynamic that Shields is asked to battle is compelling from a humanistic and empathetic perspective.  The Fire Inside is likely to be defeated by unanimous decision when weighed against the looming shadow of history’s best boxing films, but as a pound for pound domestic drama it certainly punches above its weight class.   

Target Score: 5.5/10 - Rachel Morrison’s The Fire Inside underdelivers as a boxing film yet poses some interesting questions within the framework of a domestic drama.  The true story of Olympian Claressa “T-Rex” Shields is far more compelling and heroic than is framed within this rote Amazon MGM produced biopic.