BIG GEORGE FOREMAN

US, 2023, 129 minutes, Colour.

Khris Davis, Jasmine Matthews, Sullivan Jones, Lawrence Gilliard Jr, John Magaro, Sam Trammell, Sonja Sohn, Forest Whitaker, Austin David Jones, Kei.

Directed by George Tillman Jr.

At the time of the making of this film, the early 2020s, George Foreman was still alive, active and busy and acted as executive producer. The question is: how is George Foreman remembered?

For many he will be the Olympic champion. He will be the boxer who became world heavyweight champion with the defeat of Joe Frazier. And, especially, he will be remembered as being defeated by Mohammed Ali in Zaire, 1974, in the Rumble in the Jungle.

But, perhaps not so well known at all outside the United States, there was his conversion, discovery of Jesus, his becoming a preacher, managing his own church, doing good. And, defying all expectations, coming back to boxing and becoming world heavyweight champion again, after a gap of 20 years.

In many ways, this is a straightforward biography, George in his early years, bullied, worrying his mother, going to Jobcorps and making something of himself, his meeting with Dr Broadus who became his trainer, supporting him for the important years of his career, dismayed when he gave up boxing, but finally agreeing to help him with his comeback. Doc Broadus is played with great sympathy by veteran Forest Whitaker.

It is often exciting to watch the sequences with a 19-year-old George going to the Olympics in Mexico and, surprising everyone, wins Gold. Then there is the build up to his confrontation with Joe Frazier, and his extraordinary power with his fist and knock out. The scenes with Mohammed Ali are quite surprising, especially as Sullivan Jones does not seem to resemble Ali at all in appearance. He is, of course, very cocky, tantalising George, the Rumble and its consequences, but a later meeting, and an admiration between the two and a friendship.

Foreman has had five wives – and there is some suggestion in the screenplay of one of his marriages starting so well but his fame and his liaison with women. However, after his conversion, which is interestingly shown in this film, he encounters in church, the woman who was to be his wife for many decades.

For those not aware of Foreman’s conversion, this might be quite surprising as well as seeing him over the decades running his church, preaching, doing good for the young, getting financial support with his television commercials and his business which he sold in 1999, enough money to support his church from then on.

There is a dramatic crisis when he confronts a young man whose grandmother asks him to train him but he has given up boxing for God – and then the young man is arrested. Change of heart, eventual support from his wife, going back into training, losing weight, and the unexpected victory where he regained the world championship.

This film has been directed by George Tillman Jr, veteran of many films with African-American themes,, especially The Hate U Give.

1. The reputation of George Foreman? American appreciation of him? Knowledge of him outside the US, boxing, preacher, entrepreneur?
2. A biography in portrait, tracing through his life and career in linear fashion?
3. His origins in Texas, growing up in the neighbourhood in Huston, home, school, bullying, possibilities for crime, the invitation to the Jobcorps, his life and training, being introduced to boxing? The role of Doc Broadus?
4. Foreman and his boxing career, training, learning, initially cumbersome, the moods, the punches, his hard fist? Ambitions? His mother being wary? The other family members?
5. The Olympics of 1968, 19, unknown, his winning the gold medal? The consequences, continue training with Doc, the issue of world heavyweight champion, the status of Joe Frazier, 1973, the confrontation with Fraser, the commentators, the fights and choreography, his winning?
6. The Rumble in the Jungle, 1974, foreman and his reputation? Mohammed Ali, as portrayed in this film, rather more serious in tone than in real life? The buildup to the fight, is a year, Ali and his victory? The consequences for George Foreman?
7. The aftermath, the various fights, trying for combat, being knocked down, the support of Doc, the near death experience, the religious experience, the experience of Jesus? The consequences, conversion, baptism, the vision of the church, his becoming a preacher, his sermons, seeing him in action in the church? His power?
8. The reality of his five marriages, the film highlighting one, the interactions with his future wife, her strong mindedness, supporting him, children, his becoming a celebrity, the women throwing themselves at him, his infidelities, the separation?
9. The encounter with Mary Jane in the church, her spirituality, the later meeting her, the conversations, the attraction, the marriage, the children? The years passing?
10. The friendship with Desmond, and Job corps, promotion, bets, interesting his finances to him, belief in him, the glimpse of Desmond drinking, the bank, the news, the failures, George pursuing Desmond in the bar?
11. The episode of the grandmother bringing the boy, hoping that George would training in boxing, a week later in the news that he had been arrested for violence? The effect on George, setting up the club, refurbishing, training? But his refusal to go back to boxing?
12. The financial situation, the TV commercials – and the later emerging of George’s Grill and his career as an entrepreneur? The various charities, signing autographs…? Not enough money?
13. The decision to go back to boxing, Mary Jane and her opposition, later being disturbed in the night and accepting her vision that he should win? Going back to Doc, Doc as a character, training, staying with George, disappointed at his giving up boxing, urging George to lose weight, there are sequences of exercise, weight loss, returning to Doc?
14. The bid to be champion, the media’s response, the fight with Andy Holyfield, the many rounds, his loss?
15. Further determination, the bout with Michael Moore, knocking him out, commentators disbelief? His wife, family, mother? World champion at age 45?
16. The later information about George Foreman, continuing with church, selling his company and sufficient money to keep his centre going? His being executive producer of this film?