"The Fire Inside" Depicts the Intensity of Olympic Athleticism, Earns Four Stars

The Fire Inside is an inspiring Olympics boxing movie that captures the grit, determination, and challenges faced by athletes on their path to greatness.

Courtesy Amazon MGM Studios

The Fire Inside portrays the grueling training, sacrifices, and unwavering dedication required to compete at the highest level.

I very much enjoy the Olympics and I watch them every time they come around. I probably watched this boxer but I have no personal memory of it.

Directed by Rachel Morrison and starring Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry, the film tells the story of Claressa "T-Rex" Shields, a young woman from Flint, Michigan, with a difficult home life. Seeking refuge in the gym, she discovers a passion for boxing. Her coach, Jason Crutchfield, initially hesitant about training a female boxer, recognizes her talent and begins training her.

Claressa rises to stardom, ultimately winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. However, despite her triumphs, she grapples with the harsh realities of limited endorsement opportunities compared to other star athletes, exposing the inequities in how our country supports its Olympians.

As a longtime fan of the Olympics, I found this movie especially compelling. It expertly depicts the grueling training, sacrifices, and unwavering dedication required to compete at the highest level. At the same time, it sheds light on the systemic lack of support for U.S. athletes, a glaring issue that deserves more attention.

The acting, directing, and cinematography were outstanding, bringing depth and authenticity to the story. Claressa's resilience both in and out of the ring was inspiring, and I admired her determination to demand fair recognition for her contributions.

One scene, in particular, stood out: Claressa is told she should act "more feminine." My reaction? She's a boxer! She should be celebrated for being exactly who she is, unapologetically.

This was an inspiring story. I very much enjoyed this character driven tale. I loved the coach and everything he tried to do for his star athlete. And I am amazed at Clarissa for all she achieved despite the challenges she faced.

The Fire Inside is a powerful, inspiring movie that I wholeheartedly recommend. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.