Ryan Destiny is a Bonafide Knockout in The Fire Inside

Dreams are tricky as they can sometimes become derailed by our own insecurity, a family member or the stars are aligned in the exact manner we need at any given moment.  But, when it’s your time to shine, there is nothing anyone can do to stop your star from ascending.

When a young Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny) sneaks into a boxing gym to spar with the boys. local volunteer coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry) quickly takes notice of her talent and ambition. Under Crutchfield’s  tutelage, Claressa, although fiercely gifted, inspires her coach go beyond his  duties and keep her on track as she begins to feel the glare of her  hometown of Flint, Michigan seeking hope in her resilience.

Ryan Destiny gives a spectacular performance as Shields, weaving between grounded and intense as she tries to shake off her precarious reality. You’re quickly rooting for Claressa’s ascent to the Olympics but also forced to confront the crushing disappointment when things don’t turn out. All the while,  Henry as Jason Crutchfield is charmingly comical keeping us in the fight with a performance that finds warmth and patience amid the frustrations.

Marking her directorial debut, Rachel Morrison uses her multifaceted experience as cinematographer to capture both the intimate moments of Claressa’s life and her extraordinary matchups in the ring. Morrison excels in capturing a sensitivity to abuse stories women directors handle with flair and compassion. Written and produced by Barry Jenkins, this film is a journey that takes us through the usual triumphs of the underdog and to what comes after. Where countless sports stories find their end, Claressa’s begins.

Tamar-kai’s killer soundtrack consisting of rap infused cuts instead of an overblown manipulative Rocky-type theme is appropriate especially since Destiny’s rise to stardom began with the Lee Daniel’s hit FOX drama ‘Star’ and captures the energy of Flint, Michigan.

Witnessing a montage of mostly Black and Brown Flint, Michigan natives place their hand over heart during the National Anthem right before Clareesa’s match hit home.  Here is a city that has been stomped with adversity and can still find love in their heart for a country that didn’t do them fair justice in more ways than one.  This one moment illustrates the power of the American spirit regardless of color.

As inspirational as Shield’s journey has been, it was not all paved in gold.  It will do audiences well to witness that not ALL Olympians are set for life with endorsement deals.  A moment solidified on film as we watch Shields glance at Gold Medalist Michael Phelps on the cover of a Wheaties cereal box, while she struggles to make ends meet for her and her family.

Let’s also note that although Claressa fought for equal pay for women in the games, the battle for women athletes was still being fought when in 2022,  the world-champion U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) sued for equal pay.  It was only then that Congress passed the Equal Pay for Team USA law, ensuring that women playing for international teams must make the same as men.  Shortly followed in 2023, by the Women’s Tennis Association announcing there would be equal prize money offered to both male and female athletes at more competitions, including the grand slam tournaments and the WNBA fighting for for equal pay since the NBA players full of men made significantly more per game, per season and per year in salary.

Clareesa Shields is a groundbreaker by becoming the first and only male or female boxing champion to win back to back Gold Medals.  While a medal doesn’t define who she is, her determination and character defines her as woman, a human being and someone who has repeatedly proven one can lose a fight, but won’t ever let anyone take your heart.

The Fire Inside will light a flame within anyone with hope to fulfill a dream by never giving up even when everything around you screams for you to stop.  Never stop believing and most of all never stop believing in YOU!