Watch City of Ali

City of Ali is a new 2021 documentary film directed by Graham Elliott, about the life and legacy of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. The film focuses on the period of his life when he was training in Miami in the 1960s. The film is more than just a boxing documentary. It paints a portrait of a man who was both an athlete and a civil rights activist, directly affected by the racial politics of his time.

Through the use of rare archival footage and interviews with those who knew him best, the viewer is offered an intimate look into the life of Muhammad Ali. In contrast to many other documentaries about the boxer, City of Ali has a focus on the lesser-known but just as important part of his life and career, when he was training at the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach. During this time, Ali was in the prime of his career, undertaking some of his most iconic fights, but also at the mercy of the divided and turbulent society of the 1960s United States.

The film features interviews with the boxer's family, including his wife Lonnie and his younger brother Rahman, who offer candid insights into the feelings and thoughts of the boxing champion. The interviews go beyond the usual admiration of the star athlete and present a more nuanced portrayal of the man behind the legends. It shows his flaws and contradictions, from his love of fast cars and flamboyant lifestyle, to his devotion to Islam and civil rights activism.

The film also showcases the high-level training regimen that Ali and his fellow fighters endured at the Fifth Street Gym. The gritty atmosphere of the gym is captured in its raw, frenetic energy, as young boxers pushed themselves to their limits under the tutelage of Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee. The film looks in-depth at Ali’s friendship with Dundee, a crucial turning point in his boxing career as Dundee encouraged Ali to become not just a skilled boxer but an entertainer.

The documentary spends significant time exploring the political and social context of the 1960s, and how that environment shaped Ali’s decision-making, such as his opposition to the Vietnam War and his conversion to Islam. By presenting interviews with historians and observers that lived through that era, viewers are able to get a better grasp and understanding of what lead Ali to develop strong political views and how his actions were received by the rest of the country.

Another noteworthy aspect of the film is the use of archival footage, some of which has never been seen before. The footage ranges from Ali's early fights as a teenager, to his ascension to stardom, to his fights against opponents Joe Frazier and George Foreman. In addition to capturing the intimacy of Ali’s life, the high-quality footage highlights the sense of time and place of the era where Ali was at its peak.

Although City of Ali is filled with plenty of boxing scenes, it does not merely celebrate the sport itself. Rather, the emphasis is on the cultural and social impact of Ali and the role he played in shaping American society. The documentary presents Ali as a powerful figure that was both a sports icon and a humanitarian leader of its time, who challenged norms and broke boundaries for the greater good.

City of Ali is definitely a must-watch documentary, as it explores the complex personal and professional life of one of the most influential people of the 20th century. It is a successful exploration of the life of an incredibly multifaceted figure, and the film takes viewers on a journey through Ali's triumphs and struggles. It is an intimate portrayal of an iconic figure that will ultimately leave viewers with a deep appreciation of the man behind the legend.

City of Ali is a 2021 documentary.