Facing Ali

The life, legend, and career of Muhammad Ali are revisited here through the remembrances and perspectives of 10 men who fought him in the ring, from Sir Henry Cooper, the Brit who lost to the young boxer when he was still Cassius Clay; to Larry Holmes, who fought the champ after he emerged from retirement for one last bout in 1980. Ali is represented solely in archival footage (both on the ring and on the mike, where his words are as effective a weapon as his fists), but a dynamic portrayal of the athlete and icon emerges through the combination of recollections, reflections, and memorable quotes from the man who called himself “The Greatest.” Along the way, viewers also witness portraits in miniature of the contenders who faced off with Ali (besides Cooper and Holmes, the others are George Chuvalo, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, and Ernie Terrell). Although it never received an official theatrical release, this engaging documentary was popular on the film festival circuit and landed a spot as one of the 15 films on the Academy Awards shortlist of 2009 Best Documentary nominees. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)