When We Were Kings

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source: When We Were Kings

To anyone born after Muhammad Ali's heyday as a boxer, it would be difficult to describe the impact he had on American life and culture. Sure, one can read about it and watch other documentaries, but there's something to be said about experiencing it in real time with Ali's name in the headlines, proclaiming himself to be The Greatest both in and out of the ring. "When We Were Kings" is probably an inappropriate title for this film, it plays more like "When Ali Was King", even though he wasn't World Champ at the time, having been stripped of the title for refusing the military draft. The picture does a credible job of presenting the behind the scenes machinations to bring the 'Rumble in the Jungle' to fruition, even with a six week delay due to a training injury suffered by Foreman. Thinking back to those days, I had never considered the implications of making the fight a black political statement, though in hindsight I would question allowing the involvement of a dictator like Mobutu Sese Seko putting up the money for the event. As described by Norman Mailer, one of the writers interviewed for the film, Mobutu was a closet sadist who rounded up a thousand criminals and put them in detention pens underneath the fight stadium to remove the threat of criminal activity while the eyes of the world were on his country. Don't expect to see a lot of the eight round fight in this documentary. What you need to know is capably explained by Mailer and fellow sportswriter George Plimpton laying out Ali's strategy and how he approached the fight. Mailer's analysis in particular is helpful in detailing how Ali's right hand leads so enraged Foreman that he used up a lot of his power and energy in trying to destroy him. Quite honestly though, I don't know quite what to make of the 'succubus' story that Plimpton seemed to be so fascinated with. Perhaps the most significant take away I had from the picture was hearing Spike Lee's comments that had nothing to do with the fight. He was speaking of black youth, but I would ascribe his remarks to all colors of a young generation today that remain completely unaware of history, and even worse, are disinterested in learning about it. Most certainly, Muhammad Ali would have something to say about that.

Leon Gast created the best documentary of 1997. Of course, he had the greatest fighter of all time as his subject, so it wasn't too difficult. I could not watch this film without significant reminiscing. I was in the seminary in 1964 when Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston. I vividly remember all of us gathered around to listen to the fight. Of course, those in the know predicted a Liston victory. No one knew what to make of the brash young fighter that said what he felt and refused to bow to the establishment. I was in Vietnam when he was in jail. I did not feel one bit of animosity towards him. I was doing what I felt was expected of me, and he was doing what he believed was right. If he had been anyone else, he would not have lost five of the best years of his life. I can only admire him for having the courage to stand tall in the face of hatred. After Vietnam in the years leading up to the "Rumble in the Jungle," I was very much into boxing. I was living in Tampa at the time and would catch the fights at the National Guard Armory, both amateur and closed-circuit. I would also be there to see acts like James Brown. By the time he was ready to retake his crown, I was out of the country again; this time in a remote section of Iceland. I was overjoyed to see him on top again. It was something of a vindication of his decision. He was always a classy individual and was concerned about those who were not leading lives that were in their best interests. He gave back more than he ever got from his country. After he retired, I lost interest in boxing. Those who followed him as Heavyweight Champions did not have the class he had and it was hard to get excited about them. Mohammed Ali stands alone in the sports world. Sure there were greats like Babe Ruth and Willie Mays, and I remember great pitchers like Warren Spahn, Don Drysdale, and Whitey Ford, but the were replaced by even better players. I played basketball for a while, so I watched Bob Cousy, The Bird, and Abdul Kareem Jabbar, but they were replaced by Michael Jordon and others who were better. We forget Nicklaus and Palmer as we now have Tiger Woods. It is the same in any sport except boxing. I was there from the beginning to end of the career of the greatest boxer of all time, and there is no need to look at anyone ever again. He was The Greatest, and i am grateful to Leon Gast for bringing this story to the screen and giving me another opportunity to see him, as well as relive the music of the late James Brown.

The Oscar winning documentary following the 1974 'rumble in the jungle' fight between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman in Zaire. The documentary footage follows the build-up to the fight, the concert that surrounded it and the fight itself. This is a wonderful capturing of the time by Leon Gast that will be of interest to both boxing fans and those who think it's all over hyped and a barbaric sport. The producer, David Sonenberg had the idea of hanging the footage on a series of interviews with Norman Mailer, George Plimpton and Spike Lee. Lee's contribution are mainly the effect of Ali on the black community at the time - being a positive role model and also showing a different image of Africa than Hollywood does. His opinions are interesting but you can't help feel like he's seeing the impact with hindsight. However both Mailer and Plimpton were at the fight and have many different perspectives and stories to put the bones on the story. This really gives you a good impression of what it was like and how everything happened. This includes the history of the fighters, background of the dictatorship of Zaire and a walk through of the fight itself. The film doesn't totally have a focus as it tries to look at every element of the proceedings - Ali, Don King, the chaos around the fight etc. However this isn't a complaint. The film is only 90 minutes long but it absolutely flies by, there isn't a dull moment in it. Many documents only appeal to groups with an interest in the subject matter, however this is so very good that I can imagine that anyone could watch this and enjoy it. A well put together documentary that mixes excellent, detailed footage with recent contributions to produce a film that deservedly won an Oscar.

To focus only on Ali (like or dislike), or just the significance of the boxing match alone, would be missing the point of this movie. Tell your friends that it's not just a sports movie! It is a Documentary that focuses not only on the fight, but on the black culture in the U.S. and Zaire. That's culture as defined by its people, music, athletes, politics, business and other innumerable parts, as observed by several different people, inside and outside.The insights offered by George Plimpton and Norman Mailer are priceless. It's history and entertainment together, and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. It would be simplistic and unjust to reject the Documentary because of personal prejudices or disagreement with Ali's politics. It is also a mistake to isolate and criticize colourful comments, chants and poetry (!)that were uttered purely to entertain and "psych" the opponent. Not only was Ali a great boxer and a great entertainer, he is an intelligent and articulate man. He uses his high profile to deliver messages of racial pride, heritage, hope and peace. The fact that Parkinson's Disease has physically afflicted and almost silenced this man is a tragedy. We have been deprived of hearing what the 26 years of life experience since 1974 may have done to Ali's outlook and beliefs. Writing this has inspired me to go to the library; maybe he hasn't been silenced totally, and someone is talking for him. Like this film, it's a subject worth investigating!

The so called "Rumble In The Jungle" ,now called "When We Were Kings" is a shifty documentary that highlights Muhammad Ali aka Cassius Clay's victory over a young George Foreman in Zaire Africa.Now I am like many who thought Clay would lose back in 74,but this film ironically shows the sleaziness of Don King and Clay. Instead of having the fight in Las Vegas or London Clay and King hold it in Zaire,a terrible country riddled by murder and repression.This is a place Ali takes to heart as he piously denounces black Americans who strive for a better life as acting white.Ali is looked upon as a god here and a native, being interviewed,says his people respected Ali for standing up to America for not going to Vietnam.This man thought ,unbelieveably,that George Foreman,not having seen him before was white. The nation of Zaire clearly wants Ali to win as it shouts ALI KILL HIM in their native language.Foreman has some in Zaire shout the same for him,except he shies away from the idea of a black man maiming another man while Ali does not.The gullible liberal press go goo goo ga ga over Ali and his poetry and his slick jive talk.In one scene in the film,Ali denotes the differences between musical appreciation of Blacks,Whites,and Asians in a way that makes what Reggie White said(which was true by the way)seem very very tame. George Plimpton goes overboard with the story Ali went to Zaire's Hitler Nobutu's witchdoctor to hex Foreman.The idea made it seem that it did work,Foreman did lose after all,but the intense African heat had more to do with that than any voodoo. For some people who don't know or will never try to research it,Cassius Clay was a golden child who fought injustice and was the people's champ.The thing is he won many of his battles over many of his own people with good black men(in the ring) and with black women(he has been married four times).He is one of the top cartoons for white people who enjoy his clownish antics ,while being able to remember he is just another loudmouth athlete. Of course we have the likes of Spike Lee telling us how today's generation doen't even know who Muhammad Ali is.The truth is they will never find out through this movie.It has some fuuny moments,some redeeming moments,not all of When We Were Kings is bad.But it is not good enough.Foreman is almost forgotten and the movie becomes onsided,for Ali and Don King,another deplorable character to forget.One day we will learn about the real Ali/CLAY in a book that tries to explain him as he really was."Ali Without Tears",harsh to explain but necessary.

I recall attending a closed circuit telecast of the Ali-Foreman fight in Miami in 1974, and when "The Greatest" actually pulled it off - regaining HIS title after the enforced exile - most of the audience went nuts. Rarely have I been in an environment of such absolute joy. This first class documentary leaves me wishing I had been in Zaire to experience that emotion "live". This is terrific film making about one of the most complicated and extraordinary heroes of the twentieth century and is richly deserving of the Academy Award which it received.

Great film. I'm not sure what it was about. It felt like one of those wildlife documentaries, except with a boxing match and a concert spliced in between. They don't show enough Mobutu Seso Seko though. Whatever happened to that nice man.

If such an event as the Foreman/Ali fight occurred today, this film would probably not be such a big deal. That is because we would have pretty much round the clock cable coverage of the event courtesy ESPN. However, given that this fight occurred in 1974, this is the closest thing you are going to get to the kind of coverage you would see if that event was held today. In spite of the reversal of fortune that this fight gave to both Foreman and Ali's careers, this film really does not focus on either one of these individual fighters that much. Instead, it gives you a real feel for the excitement surrounding the fight overall, with significant commentary by George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, who were both there to cover the event. Of course there are segments on Foreman and Ali, and at the end, after the segment on the fight itself, there is basically a tribute to Ali both through his words and then through a series of still shots showing highlights of his life and career. However, I also learned quite a bit about Don King, the guy who made the fight happen, and how this event helped him "break out of the pack" when it came to managing fights and fighters. However, there is no romanticizing of the man. They mention both his strong points - his incredible intellect and that he always seemed to have a quotation from Shakespeare for ever occasion - and his weaknesses, mainly that he was "amoral in his handling of the individual fighters' careers". These are the film's words, not mine. Interviews and footage of the fighters and their staff preparing both physically and mentally for the big "rumble in the jungle" are skillfully interspersed with footage of the sportswriters of the 70's marking up copy and working old-fashioned teletypes back in the age before computers were common, along with film of the inhabitants of Zaire going about their daily life often balancing huge baskets on their heads, and also shots of the live entertainment going on including some great footage of B.B. King and James Brown. Also included is a little bit of explanation as to why the people of Zaire found Ali so endearing versus George Foreman. They said they found Ali to come across as "a real person". Apparently the fact that Foreman was so monosyllabic most of the time did not help his image overseas. The footage of the fight itself is very good considering it was shot in 1974. Mailer and Plimpton do a great job of explaining everything that is going on at each phase of the fight, including trying to get inside Ali's head as to what he might have been thinking as he employed first one strategy and then another against his mountain of an opponent. The film does mention that losing to Ali threw Foreman into a two year depression, and when he emerged he reinvented himself to the point that, as Norman Mailer says in the film, "you would be hard pressed to find someone more affable than George Foreman is today." The postscript on Ali is interesting too. Mailer mentions that after this fight, Ali went on to fight 22 times, and all of these additional fights ruined his health. Mailer mentions that it is often said that you wind up destroying the thing you love, but in Ali's case it was the thing he loved that ultimately destroyed him, or at least his physical health. This is a very good and complete portrait of a unique sports event and the very interesting people involved. You don't have to be a boxing fan to enjoy it. If you enjoy a good tale about the triumph of an underdog, the intersection of two very different cultures, and anecdotes about some of the more interesting sports figures of the 20th century, you'll like this film. I highly recommend it.