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With good reviews on the film festival circuit, the boxing documentary “Facing Ali” begins a theatrical run today in New York and Los Angeles.

Muhammad Ali, the three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist who electrified the world with his unorthodox style and charismatic ways, is paid tribute by ten of his acclaimed rivals.

Incorporating an arsenal that includes a cutting-edge camera picking up the rich reds and browns of boxing gyms and arenas, illuminating graphics and insightful archival footage, boxing greats such as George Foreman, Ken Norton and Joe Frazier among others talk about their experiences against Ali. The film takes a look at how these fighters went in and came away from their bouts with Ali as well as their earlier experiences, some as his sparring partner. Canadian heavyweight George Chuvalo is particularly informative and insighftul during his interview, especially with matters outside the ring.

What’s on display is not only Ali’s astounding physical talents and a gift for showmanship, but also a master strategist who was quite effective at mind games as well. Assembled within the social context of a turbulent era that involves Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement and the Nation of Islam, “Facing Ali”, in letting the boxers tell their own experiences connected to Ali, offers a compelling format to a well-chronicled story of an iconic figure.

The SandC Interview: Pete McCormack  

Director – “Facing Ali”

How did this project come about and why did you feel it would make an engaging film?

It came from a book of the same title – “Facing Ali” by Canadian sports journalist Steve Brunt. My producer Derik Murray, who was a professional photographer, got the rights. He knew I had done some documentaries before, but before I accepted it was important for him to know how I wanted to approach it as more of a social history- as “Studs Terkel” as possible. No narration and just get their story.

Muhammad Ali by definition is charismatic and at the core, like the book, I felt the most compelling element was to see how they affected each other’s lives – Ali and his opponents.

I wanted to do this film because Muhammad Ali transcended sports.

Did you study any films in prepping your story?

Many, many films and thanks to You Tube you can see anything. It has amazing archival material. There are Ali fanatics online who post so much footage.

Of course “When We Were Kings” was something I studied. There were other documentaries that gave pieces of him that one couldn’t find elsewhere.

“Muhammad Ali Through the Eyes of the World” is an example. In 1964 there was “The Greatest” a documentary (not to be confused with Ali’s theatrical performance of the same title in the late 70s). 

Tell us about the production process, how did you go about conducting the interviews?

We had a small core team. Derik, being a photographer, really pushed for a beautiful look so we used something called the Red Camera, a digital state-of-the-art high resolution camera.

Mostly we used three cameras for the interviews which were great for editing.

The key to the interviews was my affection for these fighters that led me to conduct extensive research to the point where they knew I did my homework and surprised them when I asked them some things they thought very few people knew about. It helped reduce clichéd responses.

I tend to like both sides of a story- good and bad. The result was some candid responses to some very personal questions.

What were the biggest challenges to completing this picture?

Being able to get it done within a certain timeframe. Getting Frazier and Foreman took a lot simply because of their schedules and we got them after we started editing the others, so they came late.

Archival footage was difficult. We couldn’t get what we wanted through Don King initially so that took time.

Stylistically-speaking, why did you decide on no narrator?

I thought it would better illuminate the varied personalities on display without a narrator. It would give us a better sense of who they are as people. This represents the golden era of heavyweight boxing and I thought this would be the most unique and interesting way to tell the Ali story again. I felt these boxers deserved to have their own voice tell the story. I wanted to show how humorous, charming, articulate and compassionate they can be. I needed to find a way to make ten boxers not look like one boxer but as really distinct people.

How fortunate were you with Chuvalo and his articulate knowledge of the fight game? Did you know going in about the extent of his expertise?

I did know and his expertise was very important. The key for me with Chuvalo was not only his two fights with Ali both before and after the exile, but George really knew the personal changes of Ali over that time. A great resource indeed.

Chuvalo had the depth of knowledge and articulative ability to help me tell the story beyond the ring as well- Nation of Islam, Vietnam , civil rights movement- without resorting to a narrator.

He is vital to the film.

What was the process for determining who to interview? Why 10? Any consideration for using old soundbites from Liston or Floyd Patterson for example?

That is interesting. Had Sonny Liston not OD in 1970, he’d be in the film. Some others that could be there but due to the incredible brutality of the sport include Jimmy Ellis (suffers presently from dementia), Jerry Quarry(dies from pugilistic dementia), Jimmy Young (almost beat Ali late 70s and sent George Foreman into retirement), Oscar Bonavena was killed in 1975. Patterson’s two fights were not pivotal ones against Ali.

I think we picked the right ten. We couldn’t just get anyone Ali fought. Had to be someone that affected him on his journey and vice versa. Brunt’s book is so good because it talks about Ali affected these guy’s lives but also how they affected his. Eight of ten in our film are in Steve’s book. Ernie Terrell and Leon Spinks were the exceptions and I knew we needed them.

Which interview surprised you the most? Why?

Leon Spinks was a wonderful surprise because he was so enthusiastic. We didn’t know how articulate he would be, but he was despite what appear to be motor skill problems. The subtitles we used showed the effects of boxing no doubt, but we also did it because every word they said was important to me. All were remarkably honest as it was something I pushed quite hard. Joe Frazier’s compassion was a surprise for what we know about him and the abuse he took from Ali.

Despite his battle with Parkinson’s Disease any thought to trying to get Ali to speak on camera on one of his “good days”?

I haven’t seen the good days for a while on film. It did occur to us but we also felt unsure what his appearance could add to what we captured. I think Ron Lyle’s words were right when he said,  ’he can’t speak for himself, but we can speak for him’.

It was just so clean to do the ten guys and Ali’s archival all the way through and no narration. These constraints pose limitations on a director but also give one great structure. 

What do you hope audiences come away with from seeing “Facing Ali”?

That was clear from the beginning for me. What I wanted audiences to see is that a boxer is not a thug. A boxer is a result of his physical nature and his socio-economic setting. It is clear here they were – racially and/or economically disenfranchised. I want people to come away with a sense that these are people not just figures who boxed and why they did.

Some people come to me and say boxing should be banned. I answer by saying ‘if you want to ban boxing, ban poverty’.

“Tyson”, “When We Were Kings” and the countless terrific studio pictures, what makes boxing in general such a compelling backdrop for storytelling in movies be it documentaries or features?

That is a great question. I think it is because it is so visceral and is the essence of the heroic journey- you are on your own. It is very primal. It is very compelling aggression that reminds us of our vulnerability and mortality when we see it.

Last question, what are your Top 5 sports movies of all-time?

When We Were Kings
Rocky
Rudy
Raging Bull
Hoop Dreams