Gritty boxing drama is the realest sports biopic I've ever seen

Rachel Morrison has been a cinematographer for years and even earned a nomination for her impressive work on Stuck in the mud. With The Fire WithinMorrison is in the director's chair for the first time and it's safe to say she has a solid future ahead of her in the role. Written by Barry Jenkins, The Fire Within is based on the true story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, professional boxer and two-time Olympic gold medalist. The sports biopic also highlights how being from Flint, an often forgotten place, is a strength and its existence cannot be erased.

The fire within is as realistic as it is inspiring

The Fire Within It is unique because it gives us the truth. Claressa (a fierce Ryan Destiny) may have won her first Olympic medal, but Morrison and Jenkins give us the results of that victory. It's not sunshine and rainbows. Claressa struggles to pay her family's bills, and her boxing coach, Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry), faces obstacles in securing endorsement deals for Claressa. Racism and sexism are factors, and neither company wants to risk hiring Claressa if it means they won't make money. This disappointment is heartbreaking and contrasts with the rush and emotion of victory.

In addition to the realistic portrayal of Claressa's life before and after her first Olympic victory, The Fire Within portrays the boxer with depth and humanity. She feels like a real person - flawed, hard on herself, a self-proclaimed bully, a fighter, and a fighting teenager. Biopics are often more concerned with idolizing their subjects than investigating who they really are. Jenkins' script is the complete opposite of this. Claressa has flaws and that, more than anything, makes us root for her even more. She doesn't always make good choices, but she still deserves all her success.

The pacing of the film is excellent, as it goes all the way to Claressa's first victory before the adrenaline drops, and we get a glimpse of the adversities that continue. The Fire Within It's inspiring, but it's also deeper than the run-of-the-mill athlete success stories we're used to. Claressa's story subverts expectations of what a great sporting victory would be like. After Claressa won an Olympic medal, I wasn't emotionally prepared for the despair that followed. Morrison structures the film so that we are on a high before he is quickly whisked away. Claressa's victory, for a while, seems like a dream.

The Fire Inside features an exciting dynamic between Claressa and Jason

Brian Tyree Henry and Ryan Destiny are great together

All Flints have roots in Claressa, but The Fire WithinThe main relationship is between Henry and Destiny, who first appeared in the series Star. In her film debut as a protagonist, Destiny is surprisingly good. She balances Claressa's emotional spectrum, which ranges from anger to heartbreak, from triumphant to frustrated. Claressa refuses to act differently to gain favor, and Destiny plays this with a fiery spark that underscores her desire to remain true to herself. Not playing is difficult, but just as the film is based in reality, Claressa is firmly rooted in it.

Claressa finds stability with Jason, who not only trains her but also takes her in after her mother, Jackie (Olunike Adeliyi), kicks her out. They are two peas in a pod, and Jason acts as a coach and father figure to Claressa, believing in her ability to go far. Henry is wonderful as Jason; he is patient and kind, but he also gets infinitely irritated with Claressa when she gets a certain way. Henry knows how to balance Jason's aggressive trainer sensitivity with fatherly affection. He is gentle but firm and perfectly complements Claressa from Destiny. They are the heart and soul of the film.

The Fire Within manages to accomplish a lot in its nearly two-hour runtime. It's a sports drama that encapsulates the experience of living in Flint and a powerful, character-driven story that isn't afraid to show the gritty aspects for what they really are. Morrison and Jenkins balance both effectively, giving us a moving biopic full of humanity and depth. Come for the boxing, stay for the inspiration and the truth.

The Fire Within premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and is now playing in theaters. The film is 109 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for some strong language, thematic elements, and brief suggestive material.