Ali 2001

type: Movie

language: English

duration: 157 min

genre: drama

theme: sports

director: Michael Mann

Score: 6 / 10

Ali is a 2001 American biographical sports drama film co-written, produced and directed by Michael Mann. The film focuses on ten years in the life of the boxer Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith, from 1964 to 1974, featuring his capture of the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, and banishment from boxing, his return to fight Joe Frazier in 1971, and, finally, his reclaiming the title from George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle fight of 1974. It also touches on the great social and political upheaval in the United States following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

Plot

The film begins with Cassius Clay Jr. before his championship debut against then-heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Clay taunts Liston, then dominates the early rounds of the match. Halfway through, he complains of a burning feeling in his eyes (implying that Liston has tried to cheat) and says he is unable to continue. However, his trainer/manager Angelo Dundee gets him to keep fighting. Once Clay is able to see again, he dominates the fight and Liston quits before round seven, making Clay the second-youngest heavyweight champion at the time after Floyd Patterson.

Cast

More details

author	Christopher Wilkinson Eric Roth Gregory Allen Howard Michael Mann Stephen J. Rivele
contentLocation	Miami Miami metropolitan area New York City
director	Michael Mann
editor	Lynzee Klingman Stephen E. Rivkin Stuart Waks William Goldenberg
events	Muhammad Ali
genre	drama political social
keywords	america angelo dundee belinda boyd box burn cassius clay jr. clay v. united states conviction is overturned does not abide sex segregation elijah muhammad fight fight of the century floyd patterson george foreman heavyweight champion islam and gender segregation jerry quarry joe frazier khalilah ali later assassinated list of heavyweight boxing champions malcolm x muslim nation of islam playboy bunny read rumble in the jungle sonny liston the rumble in the jungle united states veronica porché veronica porché ali vietnam war
musicBy	Lisa Gerrard Pieter Bourke
nomination	Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
producer	A. Kitman Ho James Lassiter Jon Peters Michael Mann Paul Ardaji
productionCompany	Columbia Pictures Forward Pass Initial Entertainment Group Overbrook Films Peters Entertainment
publisher	GK Films Sony Pictures Releasing
theme	biographical drama race and ethnicity sports