Complete credited cast: | |||
Muhammad Ali | ... | Self | |
George Foreman | ... | Self | |
Don King | ... | Self | |
James Brown | ... | Self | |
B.B. King | ... | Self | |
Mobutu Sese Seko | ... | Self (President of Zaire) | |
Spike Lee | ... | Self | |
Norman Mailer | ... | Self - Writer | |
George Plimpton | ... | Self - Writer | |
Thomas Hauser | ... | Self | |
Malick Bowens | ... | Self - Artist (as Malik Bowens) | |
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Lloyd Price | ... | Self - Concert Promoter |
The Spinners | ... | Themselves | |
Miriam Makeba | ... | Self | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Drew Bundini Brown | ... | Self - Ali's Ass't Trainer (as Drew 'Bundini' Brown) |
It's 1974, Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the Heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a backer in Mobutu Sese Seko, the dictator of Zaire and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set. A musical festival, featuring the America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King, is also planned. Written by Gary Dickerson <slug@mail.utexas.edu>
I watched this movie last night on CBC, my third viewing. It keeps getting better. As fascinating a story as one would ever hope to see in any movie. In case anyone does not know why Muhammed Ali was widely named as the athlete of the century by many in 1999. This film will explain.
Ironically, the long delay in finishing and releasing this film may have improved the finished product. The increased perspective of more than a decade may have sharpened the editing choices. Not a method I would recommend as it is rather hard on the artist, but we benefit in this case.
It is important to recognize that whatever this film started out as, it became a study of Ali. And what a subject for study. What an athlete, what a man.