Foreman

Foreman is a compelling 2017 sports documentary film that sheds light on the life and boxing career of the legendary, George Foreman. This definitive biography enlisted the talents of George Foreman Jr. as executive producer and features an incredible narration by the well-respected sportscaster, Ralph Cooper. The film features footage and interviews with George Foreman, illuminating his intriguing journey from his humble beginnings to becoming a two-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, and then his successful transition into a successful businessman.

The film allows the audience to delve into the intense highs and debilitating lows of Foreman's life, showcasing his rise from a hard-knock beginning in Houston's rough Fifth Ward neighborhood to global recognition as a boxing heavyweight. We see Foreman's challenging early life, his subsequent discovery of boxing, and how he turned this passion into an extraordinary career.

The narrative begins in the late 1960s, presenting the audience with a young Foreman - raw, saucy, and ferocious - as he makes his mark in the boxing world. Then on the significant nights in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973, when Foreman snatched the heavyweight boxing title from Joe Frazier, the so-called 'Fight of the Century,' Foreman's meteoric rise to fame is profoundly documented.

However, the film does not shy away from the years of struggle that followed this victory. After suffering a surprising and dramatic loss to Muhammad Ali in the historic 'Rumble in the Jungle' in 1974, Foreman walks us through the ensuing years of self-doubt and the difficult process of self-analyzation and recovery.

A major focus is laid on his incredible comeback to boxing after a decade-long break. The storyline takes a dramatic turn when, at the impressive age of 45, Foreman regained the heavyweight championship, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history. The film highlights this phase of his life, with its resilience, perseverance, and unbeatable spirit.

The movie also closely follows Foreman's life outside the boxing ring. It beautifully depicts his transition from a feared athlete to a loved public figure, famed for his charisma and innate humor. His endeavor into various businesses, including his iconic Foreman grill venture, is minutely documented.

The film benefits greatly from having George Foreman Jr. as executive producer, which has helped access personal and previously unseen footage, giving a full picture of Foreman’s life beyond what was reported in the media. Numerous interviews with George Foreman himself help the audience to perceive his perspective on his life and career, as he imparts insight, wisdom, and reflection.

The narrator, Ralph Cooper, does an exceptional job weaving the elements of the movie together. His compelling narration and the pace he maintains keep the audience engaged and emotionally invested in Foreman's journey. He contextualizes Foreman's career within the broader social-political landscape of the era and frequently draws attention to the social significance of Foreman's success story - making the movie a thought-provoking watch.

Moreover, the sharp editing and cinematography make this film a visual delight. The movie smoothly integrates archive footage from Foreman's fights with personal home video footage, still photographs, and interviews, thus providing a multifaceted viewpoint of Foreman's life, his struggles, victories, and transformation.

Foreman successfully avoids becoming a mere glorification of Foreman's extraordinary career and paints an authentic, humanizing picture of its eponymous subject – a flawed but outstanding individual who overcame odds and never gave up on his dreams.

In essence, Foreman is a captivating film, not only for sports enthusiasts or boxing fans but for anyone interested in inspirational life stories. It is a story of tenacity, determination, loss, resurrection, and ultimate triumph, wrapped up in a portrait of an undeniably legendary figure in sports history. One does not need to be a fan of boxing to appreciate Foreman; it is a genuinely human story that will move and inspire viewers.