{"id":151877,"date":"2024-12-24T01:09:12","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T01:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hollywoodintoto.com\/?p=2042155"},"modified":"2024-12-24T01:09:12","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T01:09:12","slug":"the-fire-inside-avoids-rocky-template-at-every-turn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/24\/the-fire-inside-avoids-rocky-template-at-every-turn\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The Fire Inside\u2019 Avoids \u2018Rocky\u2019 Template at Every Turn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rachel Morrison\u2019s \u201cThe Fire Inside\u201d arrives at the same time as the smaller but also accomplished boxing sleeper, \u201cDay of the Fight<\/a>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morrison\u2019s film takes the opposite approach to that film in terms of presenting its big matches – whereas \u201cDay of the Fight\u201d is a long build up to a great boxing match, \u201cThe Fire Inside\u201d front-loads all the training and fight scenes, which are fierce and well staged, but then goes in a surprising direction by portraying the aftermath of a big match.<\/p>\n

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In this true story, Ryan Destiny stars as Clarissa \u201cT-Rex\u201d Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who shows promise as a young child, works her way up in the ranks and gives her all to training for the Olympics. Clarissa\u2019s trainer, Jason (a movie-stealing Brian Tyree Henry) knows how powerful his athlete is and that her achievement in the ring contrasts the hardships she faces in her life, which only presents dead ends.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fire Inside\u201d is tough, quiet, character-driven and gritty. It reminded me not of \u201cRocky\u201d (1976) or even \u201cGirlfight\u201d (2000) but Clint Eastwood\u2019s \u201cMillion Dollar Baby\u201d (2004).<\/p>\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d director Barry Jenkins wrote the screenplay and produced, presenting a story that could have felt like an inevitable, feel-good drama or simply an ESPN-ready bio. Instead, there\u2019s a harsh gravity to this that extends to the Flint setting.<\/p>\n

I first became aware of the town when it was featured in Michael Moore\u2019s landmark documentary, \u201cRoger & Me\u201d (1989). The Flint on view here is full of poverty and little options for the citizens who live there. Rather than allow \u201cThe Fire Inside\u201d to become heavy-handed, political and or allow social commentary, Jenkin and Morrison keep the focus on their protagonist.<\/p>\n

A scene that truly floored me is when Clarissa is sharing an intimate moment with her boyfriend, then tells him something she has never told another soul. It\u2019s a heartbreaking confession and one of the many ways the film goes right – \u201cThe Fire Inside\u201d is about character and resists sports movie cliches.<\/p>\n

Morrison\u2019s film is unsentimental and does everything it can to counter expectations by telling the story in a gloss-free, straightforward manner.<\/p>\n

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Tyree Henry first caught my eye with his unsettling, intimidating villain turn in Steve McQueen\u2019s terrific \u201cWidows\u201d and has been a scene-stealer in so many subsequent films and television roles. While Destiny\u2019s star-making turn is newsworthy (she connects to the complex inner pain of the character) Tyree Henry anchors the film and gives one of the year’s best performances.<\/p>\n

Despite how strong the first two acts are, Morrison\u2019s film can\u2019t sustain the energy of the first half and loses momentum in the third act. Yet there is dramatic power in the final confrontation between Clarissa and Jason, which could have been played in a very Hollywood manner.<\/p>\n

Instead, it’s as straight forward, tough and understated as the rest of the film.<\/p>\n

A tough question “The Fire Inside” addresses: What does it mean to compete in the world\u2019s greatest international multi-sport event, win a gold medal, and then return to your hometown broke and with no career momentum?<\/p>\n

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How Ryan Destiny Managed to Keep \u2018The Fire Inside\u2019 https:\/\/t.co\/s3OLRYL9NB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 IndieWire (@IndieWire) December 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n