By Malice Intended
We view our icons through decidedly rose colored glasses. We exaggerate the good parts and willfully ignore their flaws. We quickly cry down those who would speak ill of our champions, fearing that such claims may have weight. This is unfortunate, as those who have opposed or faced our champions in one arena or another often have a much more balanced view of them. They know our icons more intimately then we ever will, to the extent that they have even been able to exploit the weakness that they find.
Facing Ali is documentary wholly comprised of interviews with ten men who have faced Muhammad Ali in the ring. They are among his most well known opponents, and their clashes with “The Greatest” have made for some of the most memorable matches in the history of the sport. Facing Ali is unique in that is not narrated by pundits, experts or outsiders; these are the testimonials of men who perhaps knew Ali as no one else did: as an opponent and in more extreme cases, as a sworn enemy.
The film not only talks about the matches themselves, but offers background on each fighter and a bit of historical perspective. We see how the political and social upheaval of decades past influenced what went on behind the scenes and even in the ring. These matches didn’t occur in a vacuum or a protective bubble. They often had a cathartic and unifying effect on the public. Facing Ali plays an interesting balancing act, showing them to be the larger than life events that they were, but never giving in to full on Hero worship.
George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes and Leon Spinks are among those profiled. We are given lucid analysis and testimony from George Chuvalo and Ron Lyle. Their accounts of facing the champ are objective though not void of emotion. We learn about the hardships that befell both men before and after their bouts with Ali. These men all have lives that exist outside of the ring, and Facing Ali makes us fully aware of that fact.
There are also some surprising revelations. George Chuvalo talks about the mob tactics that preceded his fight. George Foreman admits to fearing Frazier initially. By contrast, his over confidence before fighting Ali contributed just as much to his loss as anything that happened in the ring. Frazier shows a surprising level of restraint.
Director Pete McCormack makes the very wise decision to not weigh the film down with stylistic flourishes. He simply lets boxers tell the story. The camera mostly remains stationary, while the low lighting creates an atmosphere of one on one intimacy with each boxer. The jazz score employs muted trumpet, piano, and drums to regulate the adrenaline flow. The pace of the music perfectly scores the intensity of what we see. The effect is consistent and seamless.
Special mention should be made of Jesse James Miller’s editing, which keeps the film basic yet substantial. There is no extraneous material or anything that obscures the focus of the piece. Something of a story arch develops as we see Ali’s skills deteriorate over time, and his rivalries with certain opponents take on more serious connotations. Fight footage and news footage are interspersed throughout at the appropriate moments to flesh out the narrative. The construction of the piece exemplifies the physical condition of these men at their prime: lean and mean.
The presentation of the information is helped by the candid nature of the interviews. None of the people profiled appear to go out of their way to bad mouth Ali, though some make their negative opinions known. It is this balance that keeps the film on an even keel. All of the fighters profiled have some level of respect for this man, a respect that comes through even in their criticisms.
Facing Ali is a joy to behold. For boxing fans it provides an insightful and heartfelt trip down memory lane. For newcomers, it will be a compelling analysis of a brutal contact sport and the most recognizable personality that sport has ever produced. Facing Ali gives a reverent yet balanced portrait of its subject, filtered through the most unlikely of perspectives.
Out of 5
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This movie was unbelievable! I am not a boxing fan, but seeing this film, made me one. Learning the struggles these boxers went through, the pressures, the pain, and eventually the redemption, was incredible. These 10 boxers told their story and their story about their fights with Mohammed Ali and in doing so, they told Ali’s story from a fresh, new perspective. I learned so much about Ali, about these boxers, and about the history of these incredible times. I highly recommend it to anyone!