Following in the footsteps of Oscar-nominated boxing coaches like Paul Giamatti in ‘Cinderella Man’ and Burgess Meredith in ‘Rocky’, Brian Tyree Henry could make another trip to the Oscars for his standout performance as Jason Crutchfield in the uplifting and inspiring drama ‘It fire within.” Henry plays the coach who trains Claressa Shields, the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal.
The film, produced by Amazon MGM, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday afternoon to a sold-out crowd. Debut director Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Cinematography with Mudbound (2017), introduced the film. She later participated in a post-screening Q&A alongside producer Elishia Holmes, writer and producer Barry Jenkins, and starring Ryan Destiny and Henry. Also in attendance were the actual Claressa Shields and her coach, Jason Crutchfield.
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“It was very surreal,” Shields told the crowd. ‘I don’t know if you knew, but I was crying my eyes out. It was very moving and very motivating. When you look at it, it’s different. I’m happy that the world sees my story and understands who I am and why I am the greatest woman of all time.”
Her comments were met with cheers from the audience.
Henry, who received his first Oscar nomination in 2022 for ‘Causeway’, delivers a performance full of wisdom and introspection. He received at least two rounds of applause during the screening. With a relatively thin field in this year’s supporting actor race, Henry could be a strong contender.
Jenkins, who won an Oscar for adapted screenplay for best picture winner “Moonlight,” writes a layered script that goes beyond Shields’ athletic achievements and addresses the challenges she faced after winning her medal. The film addresses issues of pay inequality and gender discrimination in sports and offers a deeper story about the struggles of female athletes.
For Morrison, ‘The Fire Inside’ is a compelling filmmaker debut. She is one of a handful of women expected to be in the running for best director this season. There’s at least a good chance she’ll be among the five nominees for the Directors Guild of America award for best first-time director.
Newcomer Ryan Destiny shines in her portrayal of Shields, delivering a physical and intense performance reminiscent of Lauryn Hill’s breakthrough energy in “Sister Act 2” – minus the music. Destiny’s work could lead to countless breakthrough quotes this season.
“The Fire Inside” is poised to be a crowd pleaser and could well become one of the top contenders for TIFF’s coveted People’s Choice Award. However, its success will depend on the reception of other films debuting at the fest, such as Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night” or the musical “Emilia Perez.”
Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, “The Fire Inside” will be released in theaters on December 25.
