BBD Comments:
I am going to forgo my usually robust commentary this week and just say that with this Selection, Nubs has cemented his reputation as our Best SELECTOR. ‘When We Were Kings’ was about as pitch perfect a pick as we have ever had, and it sure was fun to share the magnificent night with everyone.
Well Done Nubs, as far as the Stucco goes, you’re the Greatest of All Time.
Brandon Comments:
We have officially, and terrifically, broken our run of ill-fated romantic films with Nubs’ selection ‘When We Were Kings.’
I really enjoyed this pick because A) I had never seen it before, and B) I had seen clips of the big fight between Foreman and Ali but I never knew who actually won, and C) this film is just a perfect example of documentary filmmaking. As well, the documentary fully delves into how the fight came to be, the history of both fighters, the problems involved with hosting a boxing match in Zaire, and just how far Don King would go to bring this boxing match to fruition. But the greatest part about this documentary is the set-up of the two champions: Ali, an aging boxer a shade past his prime, with a loud mouth and boisterous confidence—the fallen champ, now the challenger; and his opponent George Foreman, the young, quiet champion with arms like tree trunks and an uppercut as powerful as a shotgun blast. This was ‘Rocky’ before there was ‘Rocky.’ Actually, this was ‘Rocky 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6’ before there was ‘Rocky.’
After researching the film the next day, I realized how hard it was to put this documentary together, and why it took 20-some years to actually see the footage. And the footage of the proud but ruthless leader, Mobuto, gallivanting around the arena was just too precious. But the true climax of the film is its end, where we are treated to the actual fight between Foreman and Ali, and we see just how intelligent an athlete Ali really is. The Rope-a-Dope technique not only won him the match, but it created a whole slew of plots and climaxes for boxing movies to come (to steal Nub’s line before he publishes it--“Brandon” comes before “Zack” in the reviews).
Buffy Comments:
What a great pick. I’ve seen this doc three times now (first time was at the Sundance Film Fest in 1996), and each time it’s been a new experience, something Nubs said he found to be true for himself as well. I won’t bore you with the infinite intersecting situations of my life for which this film’s Wednesday showing was yet another fulcrum. I will say, it’s a rare film (in particular a rare doc) that fires on this many levels and speaks to so much of experience, and remains fresh over such a long period of time. It’s an epic story of an epic battle in every sense of the word, with James Brown and BB King and a bunch of African medicine people providing the soundtrack, hells yes…I can’t even believe this movie exists—and it’s a credit to the director that he fought for so many years to get this footage released and realize the project at last (not unlike everyone hanging out in Zaire for those six weeks, waiting for the fight to finally happen).
Ali in this film epitomized the brave warrior in service of something greater than himself, ignoring the nay-sayers and tirelessly training and focusing his mind, body, and soul to let his own greatness come out, in order to make a great thing happen for the benefit of yes, himself, but primarily his people and thereby the world. I think I might be alone in this perspective, but on this particular viewing I didn’t see any fear in Ali; or rather, saw whatever little fear there was instantly devoured by his larger confidence in his purpose, and in his god to deliver that purpose. And lo, did he manifest or what? Very Queen Bitch of him (“If she says she can do it, she can do it/she don’t give false claims”). I love how he looks like JF-fuckin’-K coming off that plane, with his beautiful wife all dressed in blue. You can call it what you want, but there’s no question but that Muhammed Ali at the very least triumphed over the (primarily oppressed black and white) imaginations of what was considered possible and what was not, which is no small victory for mankind. Seriously, what kind of force is at work when Don King and James Brown come off as solid and righteous human beings? Gotta say, Ali sure as hell served Howard Cosell a steaming plate of crow. Heh.
The way he demonstrated his strength at that time is, to me, equally beautiful to how he has no embarrassment about his frailty now, and does not appear to feel diminished at all by the physical challenges. I’ve always felt there’s great strength in vulnerability, and to see Ali all these years later to see still being exactly who he is, and trusting that being so fulfills his purpose, is truly awesome (less surfer awesome, more shock and awe-some).
Movienighters, you all have the champion inside you (as you know) and I thank you for developing that greatness, that kindness and decency, and sharing it on the outside for the betterment of all. All these goddamned synchronicities that just won’t quit since I was permitted to gaze upon the hallowed Stucco tell me that you’re attuned with the forces of nature and allowing them to work through you for some higher purpose. You can call it god, you can call it the movies, you can call it the moon (oh, that unofficial selection moon!!!); it’s something that needs to happen and continue to evolve, perhaps for purposes yet unseen.
then i awoke and dug/that if i dreamed natural dreams/of being a natural woman/doing what a woman does/when she’s natural/i would have a revolution
--Nikki Giovanni
SELECTOR Comments:
I actually saw my selection, ‘When We Were Kings,’ for the first time two weeks ago. A few months back I was at Tooda’s watching “Ali Rap” on ESPN and I realized what an appropriately important and entertaining figure Ali was. I thought if the time arose we should honor him in our center ring, Movienight. Well, my February 28th pick couldn’t be more ideal. Not only was it the last day of Black History month, but it was my birthday pick and I love, live, and spew sports more than most. Also apropos to my cause John Amaechi had just come out as the first gay player known to have been in the NBA, and furthermore the only athlete to stand for something more than money in decades. Plus there were plenty of other factors that when you add them up equal the #23 which means either a good pick or kill for Satan, I’m not sure which. I knew of the Oscar winning, ‘When We Were Kings,’ but had never seen it. When I finally screened it late one night to appease By-Law #6D (“the Eisenberg rule”) I knew instantly it was worthy of the Stucco. Though I was hoping for a little more history about Ali’s political stance and sacrifices, when B.B. King’s solo wailed for an exuberant amount of screen time I realized it was the perfect choice not only for the 23 aforementioned reasons, but because it honored Movienight and it’s trippy, musical roots. I also figured everyone would appreciate the Succubus and the gratuitous tit shot.
My Movienight selecting strategy now told, it still all comes down to execution. Though I can’t take credit for the brilliant play, I was quite proud of the team’s performance. Ali is the obvious MVP, but his supporting cast deserves their due praise. George Plimpton and Norman Mailer really allow this legend to shine. The two are like old men sitting around telling tall tales and I could soak it up forever. The movie’s brilliance is just like Ali’s: they talk loud but can back up every word. Norman Mailer’s powerful description of Foreman hitting the heavy bag till there is a dent left the size of half a watermelon sounds like a fun embellishment till we see the real bag and dent. Other memorable moments include the African’s artists’ retelling of the two fighter’s local support marked by complete opposite footage of their airport arrivals, Plimpton’s seeming exageration of Ali’s “rope-a-dope” is accented with some beautiful still shots and complemented by Mailer’s retelling of Ali’s whispering insults in Foreman’s ear. The interview accounts are backed up by historic footage which serves as a model for all documentaries.
Furthermore, the fight itself serves as a model for a great deal of sport-genre movies. The plot of Stallone’s Oscar winning, ‘Rocky,’ is based on Ali (obviously Apollo Creed) and a real promotion he held for an unknown to compete where young Stallone was in attendance. In addition, you can also see where Stallone and a generation of writers looked to the actual “outsmarting” or “rope-a-dope” strategy Ali used in this fight to plot their sports movies. I don’t know how many Sports genre movies there were before Ali’s era, but they definitely got better after this. I was born the year of this event and want to thank the fighters for inspiring a generation of movies that taught me no matter how small I was or how unlikely the odds if I just was smart and believed - I would be victorious. Actually, maybe I’d like to punch all of them for taking my money and giving me false hope, Bastards!
I do have to point out the movie does have a couple of flaws. Obviously, that terribly tagged music video which seems like the end montage, but is really just an inserted music video. It stands out abominably in an otherwise perfect film. We have seen this before with some great movies that try to generate some box office with a popular song or group for the time. I understand why its done, I wish they would take it out before re-releasing years later. The other flaw I mentioned earlier in that the film skims over some fascinatingly, relevant Ali history. The story of this fight is so much more important when you know, or hammer home, that Ali sacrificed the few peak years of a fighter’s career to make a stand for peace and civil rights. Davis makes the good argument that this point is manifest in the native African’s love and respect for Ali. I see that, but being a sports buff I guess I want more stats, records, and numbers. I appreciate that it is not a biography. However, if it is to be a powerful “celebration” of a hero, then the opportunity and footage is available to balance out the abundance of footage we see of Ali the clown.
Well, just like the natives in the jungle in 1974, the crew in the backyard was electrifyied. Ali, Bumbaye! Buffy said she was almost moved to tears many a time, and, beer aside, I felt my heart swell up often. This legendary tale and lots of alcohol fueled us all to take that brisk 47 degree cold front pull it close and whisper, “you disappoint me. I thought you hit much harder.” It is why I chose it, to share the power of sports and the power of reality.
I was looking back at my review for ‘F for Fake’ and was taken aback by how harsh I was to Netti and his bold pick. I owe you an apology, Mr. Netti and Mr. Davis for my reviews of your documentary trailblazers. Though I hadn’t seen it at the time, I must have really wanted this movie to be the pioneer of the form on our precious Stucco. Netti, who was too sick to attend, told us this was on his list of future picks. Well, Netti, I am Muhammad Ali, you are Muhammad Ali, Davis is Muhammad Ali, Movienight is Muhammad Ali.
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