Trailer
Plot summary
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 favour 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.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Ali (2001)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Every boxer in the film was a former or current world heavyweight championship-caliber fighter. The only limitation was placed on Charles Shufford, who plays George Foreman: he was permitted to hit Smith as hard as he could, so long as he did not actually knock the actor out.
- Spike Lee had been in negotiations to direct the film, feeling that only a black man could do justice to Ali's story. Smith preferred Mann, who turned down the opportunity to direct early versions of The Aviator, Shooter and Savages to commit to Ali.
- Because of its high production and marketing costs, the film ended up losing Columbia Pictures as much as $100 million. Its failure was partly due to its competition with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
- When Ali died on June 3, 2016, Smith was chosen to be one of Ali's pallbearers for the memorial service in Louisville.
