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Will Smith, Jamie Foxx. The life of Muhammad Ali from 1965 through 1974 takes new form in Michael Mann's excellent biopic about The Greatest." 2001/color/157 min/R/widescreen.
Ali is a rush of charm, violence, and well-crafted mythmaking sure to enthrall. From the unforgettable surge of the opening--a 10-minute montage of sheer brilliance where formative scenes from the early life of Cassius Clay float along on the rapture of a live performance by Sam Cooke in a Harlem nightclub--through to Muhammad Ali's departure for Zaire to fight George Foreman, Michael Mann's homage is mostly crisp and fleet-footed. As Clay/Ali, Will Smith acquits himself marvelously due in large part to his uncanny re-creation of Ali's most famous weapon, his mesmerizing voice. Indeed, the best scenes throughout showcase Ali's verbal rather than pugilistic spar! ring; whether with his entourage (notably Jamie Foxx), Howard Cosell (Jon Voight), or Don King (Mykelti Williamson), Michael Mann's Ali has the same authoritative wit and ability to surprise that so disarmed the public. The news conferences and behind-the-scenes banter are exquisitely re-created; not so Ali's flaws. Mann's attempt to depict Ali's womanizing, his dubious affiliation with the Nation of Islam, and his insatiable need for the spotlight seems halfhearted and laborious in comparison to the film's enlivened adoration of its subject. As the sluggish second half of the film betrays,
Ali is at its impressionistic best when it's in awe rather than when it explains.
--Fionn Meade It's one thing when your fans will sing your praises, but you're at another level when former rivals will come to your defense. Directed by Pete McCormack (Uganda Rising), this documentary looks at the career of boxing legend Muhammad Ali from the perspective of his opponents, in! cluding George Foreman, Joe Drazier, and Larry Holmes.He rocke! d the sp ort, shook the world, and changed their lives. Now, several decades after they met in the ring, ten of the sport's finest fighters tell what it was like to battle Muhammad Ali, the man many consider the best boxer ever. This brutally honest documentary recounts Ali's incomparable journey as seen through the eyes of those who stepped through the ropes and into history. Join these respected fighters as they weigh in on "The Greatest" and pay tribute to a living legend in this powerful and unforgettable film.
Dramatization of the life of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: UN
Release Date: 1-MAY-2007
Media Type: DVD
Ali is a rush of charm, violence, and well-crafted mythmaking sure to enthrall. From the unforgettable surge of the opening--a 10-minute montage of sheer brilliance where formative scenes from the early life of Cassius Clay float along on the rapture of a live performance by Sam Cooke in a Harlem nightclub--through to Muhammad Ali's departure for Zaire to fight George Foreman, Michael Mann's homa! ge is mostly crisp and fleet-footed. As Clay/Ali, Will Smith a! cquits h imself marvelously due in large part to his uncanny re-creation of Ali's most famous weapon, his mesmerizing voice. Indeed, the best scenes throughout showcase Ali's verbal rather than pugilistic sparring; whether with his entourage (notably Jamie Foxx), Howard Cosell (Jon Voight), or Don King (Mykelti Williamson), Michael Mann's Ali has the same authoritative wit and ability to surprise that so disarmed the public. The news conferences and behind-the-scenes banter are exquisitely re-created; not so Ali's flaws. Mann's attempt to depict Ali's womanizing, his dubious affiliation with the Nation of Islam, and his insatiable need for the spotlight seems halfhearted and laborious in comparison to the film's enlivened adoration of its subject. As the sluggish second half of the film betrays,
Ali is at its impressionistic best when it's in awe rather than when it explains.
--Fionn Meade Muhammad Ali. He is known as the most thrilling athlete of all time... he is know! n as The Greatest. The remarkable story of how he became one of the most loved, hated, intriguing, and controversial figures in American history is brought to life in the 6-hour series,
Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story.
You will follow Muhammad Ali from his days as Cassius Clay growing up in Lousiville, Kentucky, to the pinnacle of his amateur career as the light-heavyweight gold medallist in the 1960 Rome Olympics. You will witness Ali's stunning victory over Sonny Liston to become the youngest Heavyweight Champion of the World and then experience his painful struggle to regain his title--a title taken from Ali because his religious beliefs precluded him from entering the Vietnam War. His is a story which fascinates both sports and non-sports lovers alike.
Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story contains 3 hours of exclusive footage of all Ali's greatest and most important fights. You will be ring-side for his famous battles with Ken Norton, "The Rumble in the Jungl! e" with George Foreman, and the "Thrilla in Manila" with Jor F! razier.. . it's a boxing fan's dream come true. This unique documentary chronicles the life of a man who, through his amazing athletic talent, brash and outspoken personality, courage, and personal convictions, not only changed the world of sports but the entire world around him. Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story will be one of the most talked about collector's series of all time.Academy Award-winning documentary chronicling 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle" bout that saw Muhammad Ali regain the heavyweight title from George Foreman. Along with exciting boxing footage, director Leon Gast captures the charismatic Ali at his jive-talking greatest, the fight's incredible hoopla and commentary by Norman Mailer, Spike Lee and George Plimpton. 94 min. Standard and Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: Spanish, French.Decades ago, documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" championship bout between boxers M! uhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Sundry complications, though, held up the project until its release in 1996. It was well worth the delay. From Gast's perspective of modern history, the six weeks Ali and Foreman were forced to spend waiting in Africa for their fight to take place now looks like an important moment in America's cultural understanding of African American roots. In a nutshell, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight champion title because his opposition to the Vietnam War-era draft had landed him in prison. Reigning champ Foreman agreed to a Don King-promoted match in Kinshasa, but after all parties got there the fight was put off. Gast captures the charismatic Ali, in the ensuing days and weeks, going out among the people and getting to know them while the more reclusive Foreman keeps to his own company. Meanwhile, King brings over black American artists such as James Brown and the Spinners to mix it up with African musicians. The sense of ! excitement and connection is thrilling, as is the boxing foota! ge of Fo reman and Ali finally taking swings at one another in a titanic duel. Writers George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, each of whom was covering the fight as journalists, are on hand to recollect the details. Whether you're a fight fan or not, this is a unique experience and a fascinating insight into America's sense of identity. --Tom Keogh
Growing up in a family of political journalistsâ€"and daughter of President Reagan’s White House social secretaryâ€"Ali Wentworth rebelled against her blue-blood upbringing, embracing Hollywood, motorcycles, even a few wildly inappropriate marriage proposals. Today she is an acclaimed comedic actress and writer, former Oprah regular, wife of political and media star George Stephanopoulos, and a mother who lets her two girls eat cotton candy before bed. Though she’s settled down, her rebellious nature thrives in her comedy and her view of her crazy world.
In this addictively funny and warm memoir, she takes us thr! ough the looking glass and into the wonderland of her life, from a childhood among Washington’s elite to a stint in the psych ward they called a New England prep school; days doing L.A. sketch comedy (with then-aspiring artists Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow) to a series of spectacularly failed loves (that eventually led her to Mr. Right). Constant throughout is her mother, Muffieâ€"a flawlessly elegant yet firm, no-nonsense force of nature and pure WASP convictions.
As charming and off-the-wall as Ali herself, Ali in Wonderland is an entertaining look at life that is both intimate and hilarious.
A Q&A with Ali Wentworth and her mother, Muffie Cabot Ali: Were you nervous when I first gave you the book to read?
Muffie: YES! I was! Because everyone has a view of their childhood that is very different from the parent’s view of their childhood and I didn’t know what to expect…
Ali: ! Anything you would change?
Muffie: Not ! a thing (clears her throat), but I believe in the old Japanese tale of Rashomon, in which everyone’s view of an incident is different.
Ali: Not sure what you’re talking about, but okay.
Muffie: It’s an old, wise, Japanese…
Ali: (interrupting) Anything surprised you?
Muffie: Well yes, quite a bit. Of course, everything is laced with humor. I don’t remember things the way you do.
Ali: No? Like what?
Muffie: I didn’t know about some of the babysitter’s behavior.
Ali: Like the one who sold heroin out of our house?
Muffie: Yes, like that one.
Ali: Or the one who stole your only son’s virginity?
Muffie: Is this what we’re talking about today?
Ali: You’re right. Let’s move on. Mom, your favorite part?
Muffie: There’s so much I love.
Ali: Mom, go ahe! ad, you can be honest.
Muffie: I love all the chapters about when you were a little girl. Before you went off to boarding school.
Ali: You mean when you shipped me off to boarding school?
Muffie: Not against your will…
Ali: The guy who assembled the straight jacket would beg to differ.
Muffie: Don’t print that; people will think it’s true.
Ali: I want them to.
Muffie: You learned a lot in boarding school.
Ali: It was women’s prison and I barely made it out alive.
Muffie: (Silence)
Ali: What other parts did you like?
Muffie: Well, I wasn’t around as much when you were older…
Ali: And tried drugs?
Muffie: (Silence)
Ali: Just once, Mom.
(Muffie is clearly uncomfortable)
Ali: Did the book seem accurate to you! ?
Muffie: Yes, but you’re a writer and you ! make eve nts come to life that are your reality.
Ali: Meaning… it’s all BS?
Muffie: Just YOUR reality!
Ali: You had some comments after you read it?
Muffie: Yes, I did. I thought you needed to tone down the pee and fart references.
Ali: But that’s just human nature and happened during certain points in my life.
Muffie: Well…
Ali: I get your point. Less is more.
Muffie: I also was protective of you and wanted you to make the ex-boyfriends less identifiable.
Ali: So they wouldn’t kill me?
Muffie: Well, that would be unfortunate.
Ali: Want me to write another book?
Muffie: Do you have to?
Ali: If I did, any ideas?
Muffie: When the muse strikes you!
Ali: I don’t understand that either. Do you think my siblings will like the ! book?
Muffie: They will laugh. Roll their eyes. Recognize you on every page.
Ali: Of your four kids, who’s your favorite?
Muffie: Do you actually think I’m going to answer that?
Ali: Do you want a percentage of sales, or not?
Smokin Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali fought three times, but it was their third and final epic encounter in the searing heat of the Philippines on October 1, 1975, that cemented their rivalry and ended so dramatically that it continues to provoke controversy. Combined with electrifying archival footage and exclusive interviews, Thrilla in Manila is Joe Frazier�s story�an absorbing, sad account of bitterness, religion, politics and racism, conveying both the depths of their rivalry as well as the explosive racial politics in America at the time. The pair had once been friends, with Frazier supporting Ali when he was stripped of his boxing license for refusing to fig! ht in Vietnam. But once Ali was back in the ring, their friend! ship soo n turned into a vicious feud: Ali accused Frazier of being a traitor to his people and went from an anti-war and civil rights leader to an opportunist and narcissist willing to do anything to promote himself in the spotlight. Run Time: 85 mins. + 25 mins. of extras
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