Muhammad Ali: A Life

Muhammad Ali: A Life (2016)

*** (out of 4)

This 52-minute documentary, made just after the death of Ali, has interviews with sports reporters as well as Ali fans, as they discuss his career and legacy.

at such a short running time it's impossible to get to all of Ali's highlights and lowlights but for the most part the film does a good job playing a greatest hits like package. We hear about his loud mouth, we hear about his battle against the Vietnam and we hear about three or four of the biggest fights in his career.

Just about every single thing heard in this documentary is something we've heard in countless other documentaries on Ali so in many ways there's nothing new or fresh here but then again, Ali is such a fascinating subject that these stories never really get old. There are some fun stories told throughout the running time and the majority of the running time is devoted to the speakers themselves.

There are a few clips from the boxing matches that are discussed but the main focus is always on the ones telling their story. I thought this was an interesting approach and it let the viewer get a better connection to the one talking and giving us a chance to see that person's excitement in telling the story and recalling their original emotions of the event.