Watch I Am Ali

I Am Ali, a documentary film released in 2014, takes a unique approach to telling the life story of one of the most iconic figures in sports history, Muhammad Ali. Rather than relying on the traditional talking head interviews and historical footage, the film uses a series of audio recordings made by Ali over the course of his life, offering an intimate and personal perspective on his experience in the ring and his life outside of it.

The film is structured around a series of conversations Ali had with family members, friends, and boxing associates, all of whom take turns sharing their recollections and insights on the boxer's life. From his childhood in Louisville, Kentucky, to his earliest days in the boxing gym, to his rise to fame as a three-time world heavyweight champion, the film covers all of the major events of Ali's life and the controversies that defined him.

Throughout the film, we see Ali as a complex and multifaceted person, not merely a larger-than-life sports hero. We see him as a father, a husband, a Muslim convert, an anti-war activist, a philanthropist, and a man struggling with Parkinson's disease in his later years. We also hear from various people in his life, including his ex-wife Khalilah Ali, his brother Rahman Ali, and longtime friend and confidant Gene Kilroy. These interviews offer unique insights into Ali's character and the impact he had on the people around him.

One of the main themes of the film is Ali's deep faith and his commitment to social justice. We hear Ali in his own words talking about his religious conversion to Islam and his decision to refuse to serve in the Vietnam War. We see archival footage of his famous protest against the war, in which he declared, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong." We also hear from Kilroy, who recounts his experiences traveling with Ali to various countries, where the boxer met with political leaders and used his platform to advocate for peace and equality.

Another major theme of the film is Ali's relationships with the people in his life. We see him interacting with his young children, goofing around and playing with them in ways that seem both sweet and poignant in light of his later struggles with Parkinson's. We also see him interacting with his boxing mentor, Angelo Dundee, and his sparring partner, Drew Bundini Brown. Both men play key roles in Ali's life and career, and their reminiscences help to flesh out the portrait of the boxer as a person.

At times the film can be emotionally wrenching, particularly when it deals with Ali's struggles with Parkinson's disease. We see footage of Ali in old age, his once-powerful physique now shrunken and stiffened. We hear him struggle to speak, his once-booming voice reduced to a whisper. But even in the midst of his physical decline, Ali remains a symbol of strength and resilience. We see him engaging in playful banter with his children, joking around with fans, and even doing magic tricks for visitors to his home.

Overall, I Am Ali is a moving and insightful portrait of one of the most important figures in sports history. By using Ali's own words to tell his story, the film succeeds in capturing the boxer's distinctive voice and perspective, while also shedding light on the complexities and contradictions of his life. For anyone interested in Ali or the history of boxing more broadly, this documentary offers a wealth of fascinating insights and never-before-seen footage.

I Am Ali is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 55.