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The highest-rated and most acclaimed movie about legendary boxerMuhammad Aliis Michael Mann’s 2001 filmAli, starring Will Smith. It is currently sitting at 65% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. While the film was met with mixed reviews, the praise for Will Smith’s portrayal of the icon was almost unanimously positive. However, Will Smith was not the first to play Muhammad Ali; that honor goes to Ali, who appeared in the 1977 movieThe Greatest.
We will look at the movie, which too many exist as a curiosity, and see what it was like to see Ali step into the role of playing himself. We will also discuss whetherThe Greatestis worth watching and where to find it.
The Greatest Plot and Cast
The Greatestfollows Muhammad Ali’s life from winning a gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics under the name Cassius Clay to his famous “Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman, where he won the Heavyweight title. The movie also explores the racial tension that Ali faced throughout his career, his embrace of Islam through his friendship with Malcolm X, and the legal hardships he faced in deciding to refuse to be drafted into the armyto fight in Vietnam. The movie is based on Ali’s autobiographical novel, “The Greatest: My Own Story.”
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The Greatestwas directed by Tom Gries and Monte Hellman, both of whom would have productive but unremarkable careers; Tom Grie’s best-known work comes via the 1967 WesternWill Penny. The biopic was aided by a strong supporting cast, including veteran actors like Ernest Borgnine, John Marley, Robert Duvall, and James Earl Jones, having minor roles. Chip McAllister played a young Muhammad Ali and is his only performance of note, while the charming Annazette Chase, ofTruck TurnerandThe Mackfame, as Ali’s romantic interest. However,the biggest name and greatest draw of The Greatest was Muhammad Ali playing himself.
The Greatestwould not mark the first or last time that Muhammad Ali would act in a movie, having a bit part in the 1962 filmRequiem for a Heavyweightand a starring role in the 1979 made-for-TV movieFreedom Roadalongsidescreen and music icon Kris Kristofferson. However, playing himself inThe Greatestis his most notable role on screen for several reasons. Notably, Ali playing himself in the biopic allowed him to bring his lived experience onto the screen in a dramatic capacity. He is also one of the few to do such, with only a few notable films taking the same approach:
Moreover,The Greatestoffered a unique window into the life of one of sports' great champions, embracing his loud and cocksure personality; the famous “Louisville Lip” was certainly on display and gave the masses a more personable view of Ali. Ever a showman, Ali stepping into the role may have been met with a mixed reception, and he never really spoke expressively about his acting roles or aspirations. Still, taking that step into something new and getting his voice out there was, undeniably, on-brand for the type of person Ali was.
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Should I Watch The Greatest, and Where Can I Stream It?
Muhammad Ali is an icon. His personal life story is a wonderful mix of showmanship, athletic prowess, and willful defiance against the status quo. Notably, the movie does a sensational job of capturing the racial inequality and hypocrisy of the era. This boxer’s legacy and seeing him as the one to tell his story makesThe Greatestworth watching, especially whenbacked by a strong supporting cast.
However,Ali’s natural charisma and the gift of gab do not work as well on the screen, and the movie adds little to Ali’s legacy (cited by those giving it a negative review,The Greatestoffers a “hagiographical account” of Ali’s various exploits). Moreover, the movie uses archival footage for fights, which is largely ineffective in telling the story of Ali from an engaging cinematic perspective.
The novel on which the movie is based, “The Greatest: My Own Story,” offers a clearer timeline and insight into how Ali saw himself during the period than the movie; you can still buy a physical copy or an audiobook of the autobiography on Amazon.Still,The Greatestis certainly unique in casting an actual athlete to play himself in a biopic, and fans of Muhammad Ali will appreciate seeing the icon in a different light as an actor.The Greatestis available to rent on Apple TV, Prime, or YouTube. Those wanting to check outthe Will Smith-ledbiopic of Muhammad Alican streamAlion Hulu or MGM+.
