‘The Fire Inside’ Sparks Oscar Buzz for Brian Tyree Henry at TIFF; Boxer Claressa Shields and Coach Jason Crutchfield Make Surprise Appearances
variety.comClayton Davis Senior Awards Editor 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 role as Jason Crutchfield in the uplifting and inspirational drama “The Fire Inside.” Henry portrays the coach who trains Claressa Shields, the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal.
The film, produced by Amazon MGM, made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday afternoon before a sold-out crowd.
Debut director Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for cinematography with Mudbound (2017), introduced the film.
She later joined a post-screening Q&A alongside producer Elishia Holmes, writer and producer Barry Jenkins, and stars Ryan Destiny and Henry.
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