Directed by : Michael Mann.

Story by : Gregory Allen Howard.

Starring : Will Smith,Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, and Mykelti Williamson.

Running Time : 157 Minutes.

Release date : December 25, 2001.

In 1964, a brash new pro boxer, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, explodes on to the scene, Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self confidence with his unapologetic belief that he is the greatest boxer of all time. To his credit, he sets out to prove that with his highly agile and forceful style soon making him a formidable boxer who soon claims the heavyweight championship. His personal life is no less noteworthy with his allegiance to the Nation of Islam, his friendship with the controversial Malcolm X and his abandonment of his slave name in favor of Muhammad Ali stirring up controversy. Yet, at the top of his game, both Ali's personal and professional lives face the ultimate test with the military draft rules are changed, making him eligible for military induction during the Vietnam War. Despite the fact that he could easily agree to a sweetheart deal that would have meant an easy tour of duty for himself, Ali refuses to submit on principle to cooperate in an unjust war for a racist nation that treated his people so poorly. The cost of that stand is high as he finds himself unable to legally box in his own country while his case is contested in court. What follows is a battle for a man who would sacrifice so much for what he believes in and a comeback that would cement his legend as one of the great sports figures of all time. 

As a famous black man, Cassius Clay is often associated with the black Muslim movement leader, Malcolm X. And Clay does not deny this. That's why, in the press conference before the match against Sonny Liston, a reporter asked, “Mr. Clay, are you a black moeslem?” However, before Clay had time to answer, the coach Angelo Dundee immediately answered the question that religion is a private matter, it should not be asked in such a situation. Cassius Clay is indeed friends with Malcolm X. In fact, before changing his name to Muhammad Ali, he asked to be called by the name Cassius X, as a respect for Malcolm X.

 

The name Muhammad Ali himself was given by Elijah Muhammad, the founder of the Black Moeslim (Nation of Islam) movement in America. It was only after being given the name Muhammad Ali that Clay told his family that he was now a Muslim, and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. His father, Cassius Clay Sr., was furious to hear that Clay had converted and changed his name. Even so, Clay's stance didn't waver in the slightest. Until Cassius Clay Sr realized that he would not be able to change his son's stance, and slowly understood even though he himself did not convert.

Ali's professional career was first under the management of Herbert Muhammad, the person appointed by Elijah Muhammad to be Muhammad Ali's manager. It was from here that Ali got acquainted with Sonji Roi, one of Herbert's employees. The two knew each other and were attracted to each other, and decided to get married, after previously Ali asked Sonji Roi to convert to Islam. However, Ali's first household did not last long. The reason is that Ali doesn't like Sonji Roi's behavior, who is often dressed sexy. This is something that they both often argue about.

The climax was when Ali reprimanded his wife after his second fight against Sonny Liston (which Ali won). Sonji Roi also decided to leave Ali's life, and Ali, who followed Herbert Muhammad's advice, finally officially divorced Sonji Roi. The divorce hit Ali after he previously lost his best friend Malcolm X who was shot by an unknown person while giving a lecture, February 1965.

Ali officially introduced the name Muhammad Ali to the American public in a talk show hosted by his friend journalist, Howard Cossel. At that time, Cossel called him "Cassius". Ali then cut him off and said “My name isn't Cassius Clay. Cassius Clay is a slave name and I'm a free man. I am Muhammad Ali." Cossel then apologized to Ali and announced to the public watching the live broadcast that Cassius Clay's name is now Muhammad Ali while adding that Ali has the right to be called by any name he wants.

In 1966, the United States government was busy campaigning for war against Vietnam. Millions of young Americans were drafted into the military, including Ali. But Ali refused the call for military service. His decision to refuse military service meant that Ali could face imprisonment and his title revoked. In a military summons scene, Ali refuses to answer and comes forward when a military officer repeatedly calls him Cassius Clay. Ali was arrested, although he was later released on bail.

The period from 1966 to 1970 was a period in which Ali was busy facing trial for his defiance. During that time, Ali practically never fought boxing. Ali's team of lawyers used various methods to obtain a boxing permit. Finally, Ali gets permission to compete against Ernie Terrel. In a scene where Ali is being tried over his request for permission to box against Terrel, Ali is asked by the panel of judges to apologize for his unpatriotic attitude by refusing military service. But Ali refused.

After the trial, Ali was chased by journalists. One of them asked, “Are you refusing military service?” Ali replied with his famous quote: ”I ain’t draft dodging. I ain’t burning no flag. I ain’t running to Canada. I’m staying right here. You want to send me to jail? Fine, you go right ahead. I’ve been in jail for 400 years. I could be there for 4 or 5 more, but I ain’t going no 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I want to die, I’ll die right here, right now, fightin’ you, if I want to die. You my enemy, not no Chinese, no Vietcong, no Japanese. You my opposer when I want freedom. You my opposer when I want justice. You my opposer when I want equality. Want me to go somewhere and fight for you? You won’t even stand up for me right here in America, for my rights and my religious beliefs. You won’t even stand up for my rights here at home.”

Ali was also inflamed when during the pre-match weigh-in, Ernie Terrel called him 'Clay'. Ali asks Terrel to correct his words, but Terrel refuses. Ali also promised that he would beat Terrell out in the match, and Ali proved it.

After the match against Terrel, Ali was practically unemployed because almost all states refused to give him a license to compete. That's when Ali met Belinda Boyd, a former schoolmate. From this second marriage, Ali was blessed with four children. After his marriage to Belinda, Ali's financial condition worsened. Even Ali was suspended from Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Natioan Of Islam who said Ali had no more place in the Black Moeslem community. This situation led Belinda Ali to give advice that if Ali would ever enter the ring again, Ali should replace all of his management, previously held by Herbert Muhammad, Elijah Muhammad's right hand man.

During those 4 years that Ali did not compete, many heavyweight boxing champions emerged, one of which was Joe Frazier. Ali who saw the opportunity to compete, then planned a big match against Joe Frazier. In this match Ali was eaten by his own big mouth. Ali lost by unanimous points by Joe Frazier. Later on, many people thought that Ali had actually succumbed to Joe Frazier. The proof is that Ali was able to win by knockout against Frazier in a rematch three years later.

This public prejudice is well illustrated by director Michael Mann in a scene when Ali visits Philadelphia to meet Joe Frazier before their first match. In a conversation in Frazier's car, Ali asked Frazier to be willing to compete with him. Frazier objected, arguing that Ali did not have a license to compete and he had all of them. Frazier also said that if he won, he would gain nothing, but if he lost, he would lose everything.

Ali then provokes Frazier that he has not yet tasted a true champion (if not beat Ali?) Finally Frazier agrees to compete with Ali and says that he will beat Ali, to which Ali is greeted with a nod repeatedly. His loss to Joe Frazier was Ali's first.

As time passed, many new heavyweight boxers emerged. The highlight was George Foreman, who knocked out Joe Frazier and became the new heavyweight world champion. Foreman himself under the management of Don King. Until then Don King also planned a grand match titled "Rumble Of The Jungle" which was held in Kinshasha, Zaire. Perhaps, this is the biggest boxing match of the century. It was held in a football stadium, and almost the entire stands of the stadium were full of spectators. This match also marked Ali's brilliant comeback. And because of this match, the seeds of Ali's household rift with Belinda began to emerge.

Before the match, Ali met Veronica Porsche, a model and actress who later became Ali's third wife after his divorce from Belinda. To Veronica, Ali reveals his weakness, that in fact he is a Muslim who failed because he was weak towards women. Ali is too easy to fall in love with women.

The match against George Foreman is the climax of this nearly two and a half hour film.

                What I may not like about this film are that in the middle of the film, Michael Mann seems to lose his passion and makes this film feel boring. The cinematography of the boxing match scene is also not very smooth, so the audience feels a little boring and confuse due to the poor cinematography.