Welcome back to Movie Recap. Today I'm gonna show you a 2001 American biographical sports
drama film called, Ali. Spoiler’s ahead. Sit back, relax and enjoy the video.
The movie begins on February 24, 1964, where Cassius, reminisces his childhood and youth
memories as he trains for boxing. Then suddenly, a coach calls him to proceed with his training
using a jumping rope. As Cassius repetitively jumps on the rope, he thinks of Malcolm,
who's making himself an inspiration and motivator for Cassius's journey as a boxer.
After a while, Cassius aggressively arrives at the conference room and mocks his challenger, Sonny,
while the press takes pictures of them. After weighing Sonny's pounds, Cassius mocks him again
as he goes out of the room. Afterward, Cassius entertains the interrogators and tells them he
will knock out Sonny on their match. Then goes out of the room as he prepares himself for the game.
Later, Cassius places himself in the arena while the referee presents him and Sonny to
the audience. After that, the bell suddenly rings and begins the match. Cassius successfully stuns
Sonny in round one, winning the first round. Cassius magnificently beats up Sonny multiple
times in rounds two and three, whose eyes and left cheek are already bleeding. While Cassius, on the
other hand, has no marks of wounds or blood on his face. Then, Cassius suddenly feels something
in his eyes in the next round, giving Sonny a moment to punch him on the breaks. Unfortunately,
Cassius loses it in round five because he can't see Sonny correctly, but he finally gets himself
back in round six. The match isn't over yet, but the commentator suddenly announces that Sonny's
not coming out, making Cassius the winner and new heavyweight champion of the world.
After, Cassius celebrates his championship with his family at their house.
Later that night, Malcolm enters Cassius's room and invites him to go to Africa to
speak at Ibadan University in Nigeria. Then later talks about his experience in Birmingham Church,
where he witnesses four little girls who got bombed. Yet, the prohibitions of the Honorable
Elijah Muhammad prevent him from speaking his thoughts in actions because Elijah is part of
the civil rights struggle. Elijah is the one who begs for their place at the white man's table.
And because of that, Elijah suspends Malcolm as a minister in the Nation of Islam for doing nothing.
The following day, the fans mob Cassius on the street to congratulate him for winning the boxing.
Then suddenly, a man asks him if he can be a champ like Joe Louis,
but he answers that he's going to be a champ but not like him, and addresses his name as Cassius X,
for he doesn't want to use his name, Clay anymore. Cassius then meets Elijah Muhammad the next day.
Elijah gives Cassius a gift of recognition to be known as Muhammad Ali.
Later that afternoon, Cassius's grandfather madly asks about Cassius changing his family name,
then answers that he is not like his father, who's drinking and praying to blond-haired and
blue-eyed Jesus. And when his father replies, his grandmother suddenly calls them for dinner.
Meanwhile, Don King informs Malcolm about Elijah giving the Muslim name to Cassius and that he
will no longer go with him to Africa since Herbert Muhammad is now in charge of Cassius's training.
Don also adds that Elijah extends Malcolm's suspension indefinitely. To Malcolm's dismay,
he tells his wife about the sudden news. Later, Cassius arrives in Africa while
sitting in a driving car and waves at the people on the street waiting for his arrival.
Afterward, he talks to his Muslim brother outside the hotel. As his Muslim brother
talks about Elijah, Cassius says that he should not quarrel with Elijah Muhammad and walks out.
A while later, Cassius dances with Sonji Roi while the performer sings. He then entertains
her as they slow dance amid the crowd. Seconds later, Cassius takes Sonji into a room and
begins coupling. As they share kisses from each other, Sonji successfully wins Cassius's heart
as she says that even if she is not a Muslim, he will never be with any other but herself.
The following day, Cassius tells Herbert, Howard, and Drew that he wants to marry Sonji,
but they disagree. Herbert then takes out a paper on the table as Cassius signs it to make a deal.
A deal where Cassius will have a kosher cook, an arrangement for their marriage at Malcolm's
temple, then putting his brother on payroll, and a Fifty G a year just for driving and jiving.
After signing, Herbert still disagrees with Cassius marrying Sonji,
but Cassius tells him to fix it up, for she will be a Muslim after their wedding.
Inside Cassius' unit, Sonji aggressively complains about changing her outfit as she walks out of her
room. Sonji says that she's only being submissive to Cassius, but not to Brother X's and Z's, who
ask questions about them all the time. So, Cassius grabs her arms and takes her back into the room.
To Cassius's surprise, they both end up coupling in the bed. Afterward,
Cassius drives his way out of the drive-in. At Ibadan's University, Malcolm finally
gives his speech. But before he even starts, a man with a gun shoots him through his heart.
People then shout and begin panicking as they hear more gunshots inside the hall.
While Cassius drives on the street, a man suddenly walks his way, so he slows down
his car and listens to him. Cassius then hears about killing Malcolm. Distress is
shown on Cassius's face as he tries to absorb the sudden news like a bolt from the blue and cries.
The following day, Cassius's match begins. Cassius quickly knucks his contender as people shout
his name, winning his first match. Afterward, Sonji runs towards Cassius to congratulate him,
but Cassius throws offensive words at her instead of thanking her. So, Sonji walks out.
That night, Cassius asks about Sonji's whereabout to Herbert.
So, Herbert says he has had no contact with Sonji for 90 days. Then he orders Cassius
to make a public statement of divorce at the mosque to satisfy Islamic Law. Then suddenly,
Floyd enters the room and informs Cassius that his brother is taking his wife back to Chicago,
crying like a widow. Yet, Cassius speaks out of care after hearing his wife's condition.
Inside Cassius's room, he sees a garb of Sonji and smells it.
As the Asian Cosmetology makes up Cassius's face for the interview,
Cassius receives news about drafting him in the army. So, he calls Herbet to ask about it,
but he suddenly stops as the staff tells him about his queue for the show interview.
Cassius then speaks about it while on air, saying that using Cassius Clay's name on the
news is his slave name and that he is a free man now; he is Muhammad Ali. Cosell apologizes
and addresses Cassius as Muhammad. After the show, Cosell warns Cassius
that they're coming after him because they fear black militancy in the inner cities,
primarily because Cassius holds the title of a heavyweight champion of the world.
Upon Cassius's arrival at the building, he lines up with the rest of the new soldiers of the US.
Then Jerome informs Cassius that refusal to accept a lawful induction order constitutes a felony
under the Universal Military Training and Service Act, punishable by five years imprisonment and a
ten thousand dollars fine. Unfortunately, Cassius gets under arrest after refusing induction.
After, Cassius goes to his suite with Herbert and the rest of his mates. Then he quickly calls his
lawyer over the phone about his case. After the call, he defends himself after hearing Drew about
what Cassius says about the US war. Cassius then says that nobody else could tell him what he will
be, and he's not afraid of what he wants to be and think how he thinks. Everyone then remains silent.
At the parking lot, Bob says that the US will vacate Cassius from the crown if he's convicted
and that New York may revoke his boxing license. Inside the courtroom, the judge speaks about
Cassius's license to fight Terrell in Illinois, and Cassius says yes. Then the judge asks next
about his preparation to apologize for his unpatriotic remarks about the war, but Cassius
says no. So, the judge begins asking if he's the people's champion, and Cassius says yes,
and then says that he will not apologize to him. Cassius then walks out of the courtroom
as the press follows him and asks if Cassius will dodge the draft, but Cassius answers that
he will not draft-dodging, burning a flag, and run to Canada. He will stay in America to fight
for his rights and religious beliefs, and he will not help the US Army murder and kill other people.
Later, Cassius slaps Terrell at the conference as he calls him Clay.
In Cassius' next match, he aggressively punches Terell repetitively as he keeps asking him about
his name. Then Cassius hears the audience saying 'boo' at him as he wins the match.
The following day, the judge announces that the jury finds Cassius guilty of
refusing induction into the United States Armed Forces. Unfortunately,
the judge orders Cassius to surrender his passport as he will not benefit Cassius by fighting abroad.
While Cassius is waiting for his sentence to jail, he spends his time lurking around the city
and talking with Khalilah, his old schoolmate. Then, the next night, he meets up with Chauncey
as he receives news about them, going to be in front of the US Court of Appeals next month. But
then interrupts him and talks about Jimmy Ellis, yet Chauncey speaks about his license in boxing
to remind him of not getting into a fight abroad. The following month comes, Chauncey calls Cassius
to head to the Supreme Court as he will petition their religious belief on a conscientious
objection basis. Cassius then tells him to put it aside because he's running out of money.
Later that night, Cassius watches the fight of Joe on TV with Khalilah and Drew.
Then suddenly, Cassius calls Cosell during his interview with Joe.
Cassius keeps claiming himself as a champ and stops everybody from lying.
Meanwhile, Elijah gives his speech about Ali as he suspends him from practicing Islam
and may no longer appear in the mosque to pray or have any conversation with any Muslim.
On the other hand, Cassius depressively commutes on the train after hearing Drew that he sold his
champion belt. Afterward, he meets up with Cosell to help his fight. Surprisingly,
Cosell gives Cassius a chance to air and speaks up about his desire to fight against Joe.
The following day, Cassius gets in the car of a Family Photo Man as he tells him that he
will do a fight in Georgia, for there is no state boxing commission there. Cassius will do a prelim
against Jerry Quary, and once he whups Jerry, the Family Photo Man will give Cassius a title shot.
Luckily, the Family Photo Man man agrees and even offers Cassius money.
While Cassius is training, his bodyguard favors going to Georgia with him.
Cassius agrees. Fortunately, Cassius wins against Jerry and finally gets his promotion
with the help of the Family Photo Man. Meanwhile, Cassius receives news from
Herbert backstage that Elijah lifted his suspension and can be a Muslim again. Then,
Herbert tries convincing Cassius again to be on his management, but Cassius refuses.
While celebrating the win against Quary in Khalila's house, Cosell calls Cassius
and announces his eight-to-zero unanimous decision on the Supreme Court.
Meaning, Cassius is finally free.
Finally, Cassius takes his chance to fight against Joe. And as the match begins,
Joe suddenly knucks him out and loses the first round. Yet, Cassius still fights, but he loses the
game again against Joe. As Cassius's face starts bleeding, the commentator announces who wins,
and unfortunately, it is Joe who wins the match. The following day, Herbert informs Cassius
that he will have a rematch against Joe in about six months.
As they talk, they watch Joe loses against George on the television. They are announcing George as
the new heavyweight champion of the world. Later, Cassius discusses his fight against
the new heavyweight champion, George Foreman, in Kinshasa, Zaire.
As Cassius arrives at Kinshasa, people begin their chant repetitively.
Confusion shows on Ali's face so, he asks the meaning of their chant. Don then says it's 'Ali,
kill him.'. Afterward, Cassius enters the hall to tell that he's finally in Kinshasa. Then,
Cassius runs on the street to jog when suddenly many kids approach and cheer his name, and run
together with Cassius. As he runs, he sees the drawings on the walls about his journey in boxing.
Later that night, Cassius receives news about George's incident,
saying there will be a postponement until George recovers. Angelo then tells Don that
if George leaves, he will not be coming back since he doesn't like the place of Kinshasa.
So, Don orders Cassius to think of a way to make George stay because Don doesn't control George.
So, Cassius starts a conference and tells everyone to guard Zaire to prevent George from leaving.
And at the same time, exposing Don's scheme on their match.
The following day, Cassius meets Veronica Porche. Veronica compliments his speech at the conference
for making sure the fight stays in Zaire. Then Cassius confirms if George's killing
him is accurate, but Veronica remains silent. The awaiting match begins that night. Cassius
arrives at the arena and walks toward the boxing ring while people cheer his name.
No doubt, Cassius is indeed the people's champion. Afterward, Cassius prepares himself on the boxing
ring as George finally arrives and ready himself, too. While preparing, the commentator introduces
Cassius and George to the audience. Afterward, the referee gives instructions, yet Cassius
can't stop his mouth from mocking George. A minute later, the bell rings to begin
the match. George takes his first punch against Cassius while Cassius slips to avoid getting hit.
Then Cassius tries punching George, but George is tying-up so that Cassius cannot throw punches in
return. The first-round finishes after that, but Cassius already feels his legs weaken,
yet, he continues fighting. As the second round begins, George sticks and moves to corner Cassius.
Unfortunately, George traps Cassius and gives him an uppercut, making Cassius lose his balance.
But before he lays on the ground, Cassius quickly pulls his punches to prevent himself from knocking
down. Afterward, Cassius gets back on his base as Angelo scolds him for letting George beat him.
Then, the bell rings for round three. Cassius and George meet in mid-ring,
then Cassius punches first, but George swiftly counterpunch and pushes him against the ropes.
Herbert then shouts to Cassius to get off the ropes, but Cassius lays his back on the ropes
as he fights George's blows against the sides of his body. As the remaining rounds continue,
Cassius remains strong even though George pushes him against the ropes.
Little does George knows, Cassius's tactic is to drain him. And when Cassius senses George losing
his strength to punch, he finally hit George with a combination of punches to knock him down.
The movie ends win Cassius, AKA Muhammad Ali, winning the match against George
Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. George falls by a combination of blows from Cassius while
the people inside the arena are already screaming for Cassius's championship.
Fortuitously, Cassius regains the heavyweight crown taken unjustly from him ten years ago.