Claressa “T-Rex” Shields is the first woman in the US to win an Olympic gold for boxing. She rose from a struggling, unhappy family in Flint, Michigan to winning the medal at 17. That’s the first half of this movie. After her win, she can’t get any endorsements and her life remains a challenge. Ryan Destiny plays the role with steely determination. Brian Tyree Henry holds her life and the movie together in his role as her determined coach. Barry Jenkins (director of “Moonlight” & “Mufasa: The Lion King”) has penned a script that emphasizes the emotional angles of this story. In her directing debut, Rachael Morrison (cinematophapher for “Black Panther” and “Fruitvale Station) has kept the trajectory on course with solid visual and expressive choices. The fight scenes are fast, well-choreographed and short. This film goes beyond the typical sports story to examine the effects success can have after the big win. It’s told with solid skill. 
(3 / 5)
