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In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 49 m
- 2024
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 49 m
Summary Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny), a high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry), 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 dre...
Directed By: Rachel Morrison
Written By: Barry Jenkins
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 49 m
- 2024
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 49 m
The Fire Inside
79
6.8
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Summary Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny), a high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry), 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 dre...
Directed By: Rachel Morrison
Written By: Barry Jenkins
Where to Watch
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
79
92% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
8% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
79
92% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
8% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Women’s sports owes a debt to Shields. She finally has a movie that gives her deserved flowers.
As its restless protagonist navigates the road to ultimate personal victory, director Morrison is right there with her, maintaining a propulsive momentum accentuated by editor Harry Yoon’s rhythmic cuts and composer Tamar-Kali’s elegant, percolating score. And so are we.
Altogether, The Fire Inside is a strong directorial debut for Rachel Morrison, boasting excellent performances from Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry.
Morrison is a celebrated cinematographer known for “Black Panther,” “Fruitvale Station” and “Mudbound,” making her feature debut as a director. And it’s a promising one, full of beautiful shots, unexpected choices and rousing fights inside the ring, anchored by a thoughtful, engaging script and compelling lead performances.
The Fire Inside is a feel-good picture that feeds off our disappointment that not everybody who succeeds against the odds wholly “succeeds” against those odds, and makes us wonder if this will ever change.
Mr. Henry’s performance, by turns firm and funny, is the highlight of the movie.
There’s an important message in here, especially when it comes to the financial inequality between men and women in sports. But rather than using the 17-year-old Shields’ pugnacious attitude to really explore how she landed body blows on the sexist establishment, The Fire Inside just ends up shadow boxing.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
6.8
65% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
20% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
15% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
6.8
65% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
20% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
15% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
"The Fire Inside" is an excellent movie about commitment, strength and honor for the sport you love.
Report
Claressa "T-Rex" Shields is the first woman in the US to win an Olympic gold for boxing. She rose from a struggling, unhappy family in Flint, Michigan to winning the medal at 17. That's the first half of this movie. After her win, she can't get any endorsements and her life remains a challenge. Ryan Destiny plays the role with steely determination. Brian Tyree Henry holds her life and the movie together in his role as her determined coach. Barry Jenkins (director of "Moonlight" & "Mufasa: The Lion King") has penned a script that emphasizes the emotional angles of this story. In her directing debut, Rachael Morrison (cinematophapher for "Black Panther" and "Fruitvale Station) has kept the trajectory on course with solid visual and expressive choices. The fight scenes are fast, well-choreographed and short. This film goes beyond the typical sports story to examine the effects success can have after the big win. It's told with solid skill.
Report
Production Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),
Michael De Luca Productions,
PASTEL
Release Date Dec 25, 2024
Duration 1 h 49 m
Rating PG-13
Awards
Black Reel Awards
• 5 Nominations
Image Awards (NAACP)
• 3 Nominations
Gotham Awards
• 2 Nominations