X
- 1996
- PG
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 28 m
- 1996
- PG
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 28 m
Summary An unforgettable account of the "Rumble in the Jungle," this Oscar-winning film captures all the magic of Muhammad Ali at the peak of his triumphant career. (Universal)
- 1996
- PG
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 28 m
- 1996
- PG
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 28 m
When We Were Kings
8.1
Summary An unforgettable account of the "Rumble in the Jungle," this Oscar-winning film captures all the magic of Muhammad Ali at the peak of his triumphant career. (Universal)
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 21 Critic Reviews
83
95% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
5% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 21 Critic Reviews
83
95% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
5% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It took director-producer Leon Gast 22 years to edit and finance When We Were Kings, his thrilling documentary about the legendary 1974 heavyweight-championship fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire. But the lag time has only deepened the impact of this thrilling documentary: All sad thoughts of Ali as a wounded warrior fall away in the glow of seeing the champ at his best.
On a deeper level -- and this is where When We Were Kings exceeds its expectations and becomes a great film -- Gast examines African American pride.
For those who want to relive Ali's glory days, and for those who think Ali was nothing but a prizefighter, this movie, which took the struggling Gast 20 years to get financed, is required viewing.
Gast does a nice job of building the suspense leading up to the fight, fleshing out the story with some good color commentary by a handful of people (filmed by director Taylor Hackford, who wisely convinced Gast that these reminiscences and remarks would fill in some historical gaps).
Fascinating footage goes beyond the boxing ring to document Ali's brilliance as a public personality.
The resulting film does have a makeshift quality to it, with the new footage, old newsreel shots, circa 1974 interviews, film of the fight and the concerts stitched together in a kind of cinematic crazy quilt. But because a classic heavyweight championship fight, especially with these protagonists, epitomizes the drama inherent in sport, When We Were Kings always compels our interest.
The film's title ought to be When We Were King's Pawns. Don King maximized the media circus aspects from the start, as the razzle-dazzle directing of Leon Gast, helped in the editing by Taylor Hackford and others, makes electrically clear.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 16 User Ratings
8.1
88% Positive
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
13% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 16 User Ratings
8.1
88% Positive
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
13% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Production Company
Das Films,
David Sonenberg Production,
Polygram Filmed Entertainment
Release Date Oct 25, 1996
Duration 1 h 28 m
Rating PG
Genres
Tagline The untold story of the Rumble in the Jungle
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 4 Wins & 4 Nominations
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations