TRIBUTES AND RETROSPECTIVES

Sport and cinema

Ali

Michael Mann
2001 - United States - 2h37

Screenings : monday 22 - 10:00 am - Pathé - 2

A period in the life of American boxer Mohamed Ali, from his historic victory over world champion Sonny Liston in 1964 to the famous Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman in 1974 in Kinshasa. Alongside his sporting achievements, Ali explores the commitment of the man who changed his name from Cassius Clay to Mohamed Ali alongside the Nation of Islam movement and his relationship with the civil rights activist Malcolm X.

Similar to previous Michael Mann characters, Mohamed Ali is constantly reflecting on his place in the world. He changes his name to win his freedom, refuses to go to Vietnam and gradually begins to fall out with those who try to straight-jacket him (be it in his family, religion or career). His existential quest embraces the flow of history and inversely, as if he began by fighting a battle alone but with his stubborn and light-tongued flair he carried along with him to oppressed and the righteous of this world. This headiness is always mingled with social unrest (the riots that raged at the time) and his personal torment (Ali almost destroys everything he symbolises). Michael Mann was fascinated by Ali's destiny and had pledged to put it on the screen. The mimetic performance of Will Smith, in his greatest role, confirms the rule whereby boxing films always mark the actors involved in them.

CAST AND CREW

Cast : Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, Mykelti Williamson, Jada Pinkett Smith
Screenplay : Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, Eric Roth, Michael Mann
Cinematography : Emmanuel Lubezki
Editing : William Goldenberg, Lynzee Klingman, Stephen E. Rivkin
Music : Pieter Bourke, Lisa Gerrard

Production : Columbia Pictures, Forward Pass, Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), Moonlighting Films, Overbrook Entertainment

French distributor : Tamasa Distribution