Well, it seems as though we’ve arrived at another end-of-the-year inspirational true-life sports story award contender. Last year it was THE BOYS IN THE BOAT and THE IRON CLAW. And both of them have an Olympic connection to this new film (the latter just touched on the gold in its first act). But that’s where the comparisons end as this story happened less than twenty years ago. Oh, and the “biggie”, is that this film concerns a young (mostly high school-age) African-American woman. Now her coach plays a big role here, though it is in support of her journey. But the biggest difference is that that journey doesn’t end with the medal ceremony, all wrapped up nicely with the star-spangled ribbon. No, she forges ahead due to her courage, skills, and determination fueled by THE FIRE WITHIN.
The film begins with a flashback to a few years after the start of the 21st century. A pre-teen girl dashes through the snowy, mean streets of Flint, Michigan until she reaches her destination, the boys’ athletic club. Former pro-fighter Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry) is teaching the fundamentals of boxing to a group of rowdy young men. He sees the quiet young girl, who has shown up before and tried to step into the ring. Jason implores her to leave to no avail. Okay, maybe a little time lying on the canvas will send her home. The boys are hesitant until Jason convinces one named Lil’ Zay to spar with her. And to Jason’s shock, she lands a few solid hits. Later that night he drops her off at home where she’s the main caregiver to her little brother and sister while Mom parties, and Papa’s in prison. The years pass and Jason continues to coach her as Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny) gains a fierce reputation and a nickname, “T-Rex”. Oh, and a secret boyfriend, now teenage Zay (Idrissa Sanogo). She confides in him, telling of being touched by one of her many “uncles”. Things explode when she returns home while Mom is entertaining. A “playa” gets aggressive and she decks him prompting Mom to send her out into the streets. Luckily Jason finds her and gets his wife Mickey (De’ Adre Aziza) to set her up in one of their old empty bedrooms (the kids have long flown from the next). Jason spends every minute he’s not installing cable lines to train her for a local competition, which leads to an Olympic tryout. Soon Claressa is off to compete in China without him as he’s not officially sanctioned. After she barely makes the “cut”, working with a new coach, Jason gets the funds to join her at the 2012 London Olympics as a sideline “supporter”. The real trials and struggles for Clarissa begin after the torch is snuffed and she must try and help her family when the limelight fades.
The film’s success really relies on the shoulders of the lead actress. Happily, the very talented Ms. Destiny is more than up to the task. Yes, she has sass and ferocity to spare, but she also has the talent to make Claressa a fully rounded human being rather than a symbol on a pedestal. She defies the groomers, bristling at the ‘suggestions to tone down her interview replies (“It’s true, I like to knock people out”) and their pleas to “glam’ herself up (she’s stunned to see another boxer doing a fighting stance while looking like she’s “made up” for a fashion magazine cover). But we also see her vulnerable side as she tells Zay of her painful abuse trauma past and later as she tries to ease her inner pain by bonding with her surrogate family. It’s truly a star-making turn, enhanced by pairing her with a stage and screen vet, Henry. As Jason, he’s the warm, caring fatherly figure that Claressa so needs, though he’s no cuddly pushover. He knows when she’s “playing’ and doesn’t hesitate to call her out. Henry shows us that he’s got a deep respect and love for his protege, while also trying to temper his frustrations with her stubborn spirit (perhaps he sees a lot of his own qualities in her). Plus we get the impression that he also believes this is a shot at glory, as we see him wistfully looking at a grainy VHS tape of his past bouts. This truly dynamic duo elevates the film above and beyond the standard “fight picture”.
Of course their work would mean little without the expert guidance of Rachel Morrison, in (and this is surprising) her feature film directing debut (after several TV dramas). She captures the grimy dangerous and desperate vibe of Flint (not much has changed in the 35 years since ROGER AND ME) especially the dire home life of the Shields household (filthy dishes and an always empty fridge). Morrison switches from the urban drama to the shiny glitz of Olympic competition, putting us right alongside the fighters as their sweat splashes against the lens. As I mentioned earlier, while other sports flicks would finish with the big bout, Morrison is back on those Michigan streets to show us that happy endings require continued passion, Credit must also go to the script by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins providing some thought-provoking commentary on the battle against sexism (the female athletes get a third of the “stipend” that the males get) in the world of amateur and pro sports. My only complaint is that the final minutes feel a tad truncated as the pre-end title info cards must do a lot of “heavy lifting’ to round out the second shot of glory for Claressa, and her most recent endeavors. But the tale presented here is most engaging. avoiding many cliches of the genre but still delivering an inspiring denouncement. Perhaps for others seeking a near unattainable goal it will light THE FIRE INSIDE.
3 out of 4
THE FIRE INSIDE opens in theatres everywhere on Christmas day, 2024
