“City of Ali” – Not just the derby [MOVIE REVIEW]
Muhammad Ali’s (Cassius Clay) boyhood home in Louisville, KY. Photo courtesy of Abramorama. “City of Ali” directed by Graham Shelby takes us on an exploration of Muhammad Ali’s home town of Louisville and its significance in his vast history. Recognizing that so much of Ali’s life has been already told, the director and his team have attempted to carve out new territory in a field that has already been covered thoroughly and, in many cases, brilliantly. Foremost among a large filmography about his career is the Oscar winning “Once Were Kings” (1996), the Emmy winning “What’s My Name | Muhammad Ali” (2019), as well as the excellent ”Thrilla in Manilla” (2008), “AKA Cassius Clay” (1970), “The Trials of Muhammad Ali,” (2013) and the biographical film “Ali” (2001) starring Will Smith. Muhammad Ali has been a never-ending source of material. By focusing on the symbiotic relationship between Louisville and its most famous citizen, Shelby found a new, somewhat untapped perspective. From interviews with former neighbors we learn that he came from a middle class environment with very good schools, albeit in a thoroughly segregated city. His pathway to future fame was set by a white…
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