Following in the footsteps of Oscar-nominated boxing coaches Paul Giamatti in “Cinderella Man” and Burgess Meredith in “Rocky,” Brian Tyree Henry could be making another trip to the Oscars with his breakout role as Jason Crutchfield in the inspirational drama “The Fire Within.” Henry plays the trainer who trains Claressa Shields, the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal.
The Amazon MGM production had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday afternoon to a sellout crowd. Newcomer director Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for cinematography for Mudbound (2017), introduced the film. She later joined a post-screening Q&A alongside producer Alicia Holmes, writer-producer Barry Jenkins, and stars Ryan Destiny and Henry. Actress Claressa Shields and her coach Jason Crutchfield were also in attendance.
ReadsYou can see all the Oscar predictions in all 23 categories on one page at: diverse Awards Circle: Oscars
“It was so surreal,” Shields told the audience. “I don’t know if you can imagine, but I cried my eyes out. It was so moving and so empowering. It’s just something different to watch. I’m so happy that the world was able to see my story and understand who I am and why I’m the greatest woman of all time.”
Her comments were warmly welcomed by the audience.
Henry, who received his first Oscar nomination for his role in “Causeway” in 2022, gave a performance full of wisdom and reflection. He earned at least two rounds of applause throughout the show. With a relatively small number of nominees for best supporting actor this year, Henry could be a strong contender.
Jenkins, who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the Best Picture-winning film “Moonlight,” writes a multi-layered script that goes beyond Shields’ athletic achievements to the challenges she faced after winning the medal. The film addresses issues like pay inequality and gender discrimination in sports, offering a deeper narrative of the struggles of female athletes.
For Morrison, “The Fire Within” is her first compelling feature film. She’s one of the few women expected to compete for best director this awards season. At the very least, she has a strong chance of being among the five nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for best female director for the first time.
Newcomer Ryan Destiny shines in her portrayal of Shields, delivering a physical, aggressive performance reminiscent of the stellar energy Lauryn Hill displayed in “Sister Act 2”—minus the music. Destiny’s work could lead to several leading-edge citations this season.
“The Fire Within” is expected to be well received by audiences and could become a front-runner for the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award. But its success will depend on the reception of other films premiering at the festival, such as Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night” or the musical “Emilia Perez.”
“The Fire Within,” distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, is scheduled to hit theaters on December 25.
