Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Muhammad Ali | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
Gene Kilroy | ... | Self | |
Rahman Ali | ... | Self (as Rahaman Ali) | |
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Odessa Clay | ... | Self (archive footage) |
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Cassius Clay Sr. | ... | Self (archive footage) |
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Joe Martin | ... | Self (archive footage) |
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Garry Jawish | ... | Self (archive footage) |
Angelo Dundee | ... | Self | |
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Henry Cooper | ... | Self (archive footage) |
Maryum Ali | ... | Self | |
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Belinda Boyd | ... | Self (archive footage) |
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Ken Jones | ... | Self |
Sonny Liston | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
Jim Brown | ... | Self | |
Ed Herlihy | ... | Newsreel narrator (voice) (archive footage) |
An intimate and heart-warming look at the man behind the legend - as we've never seen Ali before. Told through exclusive, unprecedented access to Ali's personal archive of 'audio journals' combined with touching interviews and testimonials from his inner circle of family and friends, including his daughters, son, brother and former wife, plus legends of the boxing community including Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Gene Kilroy. Written by Anonymous
Muhammed Ali is still a divisive figure in the USA. Lot less so in other parts of the world. In 1999 he was voted the greatest sportsman of the 20th Century by a BBC sports review programme. Ali got more votes than the rest of the top 10 sports personalities combined.
We now live in a day when sportsmen thank their business managers, accountants and stand up for something only when it has been first approved by their publicist.
It were different days back then and Ali divided America and rest of the world by changing his name, religion and refusing to be drafted into the US army and go fight in Vietnam.
There is nothing new here but it is a good documentary if you know little of Ali and wanted to understand and know more of the man.
Ali does not appear apart from old film footage. However there is an emphasis on his personal and family life by way of various audio recordings he made which he gave to one of his daughter's which is new. You also get to see the usual stuff like his exploits in the ring, his politics, religious conversion etc.
The film does show us a little of this complex even contradictory man. Veronica Porsche confirms that she was seeing Ali while he was still married. He had children from many women but wanted his kids to know each other and seems to have maintained good relationships with his ex wives.
There is good use of soul music, it is good to hear from members of his family, past and present as well as other celebrities. It is not ground breaking but a good introduction of Ali.