Capsule reviews for Dec. 25

The Fire Inside

Despite adhering too closely to underdog formula, this uplifting true-life drama is a gritty and well-acted tribute to a pioneering athlete who is overdue for widespread recognition. Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (Ryan Destiny) is a teenage boxer from blue-collar Flint, Michigan, whose journey to stardom alongside her dedicated trainer (Brian Tyree Henry) included multiple Olympics. However, she has more battles to fight outside the ring, from her troubled family life to her downtrodden community to equitable sponsorship and stipend opportunities. The stylish directorial debut of editor Rachel Morrison finds layers in Claressa’s story of perseverance against the odds, with Destiny’s knockout performance balancing rage and triumph. (Rated PG-13, 109 minutes).

It Is In Us All

The delicate balance between macho masculinity and profound grief forms the emotional core of this powerful Irish character study. In a committed performance, Cosmo Jarvis (Lady Macbeth) plays a brooding and internalized loner with a troubled past who seeks closure while visiting a rural property he inherited. But his visit is interrupted by a tragic accident that intersects his guilt with that of a grieving teenager (Rhys Mannion) who challenges the outsider to confront his repressed emotions. Backed by stylish visuals, the uneven screenplay by rookie director Antonia Campbell-Hughes perceptively taps into the challenges of letting go, accepting happiness, and finding a sense of community. (Not rated, 92 minutes).

Santosh

It’s a compelling procedural on the surface, but this Indian drama stands out as an incisive glimpse into antiquated traditions, socioeconomic class, and contemporary gender roles. After the death of her husband, grieving Santosh (Shahana Goswani) reluctantly inherits his job as a small-town police constable, trying to make the best of the assignment mostly for financial reasons. However, she’s paired with a hard-nosed veteran inspector (Sunita Rajwar) and assigned to a murder case involving a young woman in a well and suspicions of government corruption. The twisty screenplay by rookie director Sandhya Suri thoughtfully explores moral complexities through the eyes of its astute title character. (Rated R, 128 minutes).

2073

A defiant call to action first and foremost, this hybrid of documentary and science fiction from director Asif Kapadia (Amy) whips all of its anger and fear into a bleak and incoherent muddle. Using present-day cues, the film imagines the planet in 50 years as a dystopian wasteland due to the government corruption of totalitarian demagogues, climate-driven catastrophes, capitalist greed, and unchecked technology. Fictional snippets involve a woman (Samantha Morton) hiding from constant surveillance. Taking swipes at broad and familiar targets, the film makes some persuasive points that should stir righteous indignation, although it rarely digs beneath the surface for new insight. We’re all screwed. (Not rated, 83 minutes).

Vermiglio

There’s a visual and narrative delicacy that belies the bleakness pervading this evocative Italian drama about the internal and external forces that threaten to tear apart a small mountain village during World War II. Specifically, it charts the considerable friction triggered when an injured soldier (Santiago Fondevila) returns home from battle. His Sicilian comrade (Giuseppe De Dominico) begins a romance with his sister (Martina Scrinzi), which gradually upends a routine that has been entrenched for decades. The deliberately paced screenplay by director Maura Delpero juggles too many subplots, but the approach is immersive and authentic in this richly textured look at spirituality and fractured family dynamics. (Not rated, 119 minutes).