Solid biopic of the famed boxing promoter; the screenplay never really delves into King the man, but it does do a successful job of contextualising King's motivations and actions against a vivid evocation of 60s/70s America. Rhames gives an extraordinarily charismatic performance, and the supporting cast (especially Curtis Hall as his right hand man, and McCrary's touching Ali) all fare very well. Falters a little towards the end with awkward shoe-horning in of then-topical Tyson controversy.

Refrains from psychoanalyzing or sentimentalizing its subject, presentifyin' an electrifyin', stupendifyin', almightily magnificentifyin' portrait of a man who bent reality to his will as much as any American of his time. So, a comedy, but a dark and truthful one, anchored by Rhames' inspired, tireless performance and dialogue rich with irony and history. "Chuck [Wepner]'s gonna be MY great white motherfuckin' hope." If I see a better scene this year, I'll be lying: https://tinyurl.com/r9ane2ha