There’s a pervasive myth in movies that struggle (financial, physical, or otherwise) makes you stronger, but the truth is that struggle makes you weaker. Adversity makes you more resilient and resourceful, sure, but it takes a lot more to be stronger. The Fire Inside, a biopic about American Olympic athlete Ressa Shields, understands that truth, so instead of being a romanticized rags-to-riches picture, it’s instead a sympathetic and thoughtful film about how Shields and her trainer, Jason Crutchfield, navigate the many hurdles and biases that they encounter as a Black and poverty-stricken athletic team. The film is a sports drama, but the excellent dialogue (written by award-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins) hits just as much as the boxing scenes. Unlike most sports movies, The Fire Inside’s story doesn’t stop at the crucial match—we get to see how Shield fares after all the hype and fanfare, which makes it all the more compelling and memorable.
"She’s a bully. She admits that. That’s not a philosophy that flies with most people, but Destiny’s performance, balancing Claressa’s grit and her heart, does plenty to make The Fire Inside audience root for it, and her."
— Kate Erbland
"The film has a spacious generosity toward all of its characters, even Shields’ parents, reflecting her commitment to her family and community, as deep as her focus on winning boxing matches."
— Nell Minow
Claressa Shields, 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 has to reckon with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and the real fight has only just begun.
Based on the true story of Olympic athlete Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny), the film is a moving portrayal of how Shields, along with her trainer Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry), advocated for herself to rise to the top.
It’s a toss-up between the boxing scenes and the back-and-forths between mentor and mentee Jason and Ressa, which mimics the boxing fights, if you think about it. Fun fact: Ice Cube was slated to play Coach Jason, but he was promptly replaced after refusing to be vaccinated. For the sake of the crew and the film overall, thank god.
Female-centered sports dramas (especially well-made ones) are few and far between, so we’re glad this film exists.
