There are several unexpected twists here. The sordid future reputations of some main players could not affect the main events, however, which included a massive concert series as prelude to the match. The lineup features a fistful of vibrant live performers at or near the height of their powers. Still, it was the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, who commanded the universe in concert, as he always did in those days. The bottomless audience appreciation for his dynamics has to be heard with awe.
New music composed for the soundtrack wins two out of three rounds.
For the title song, Brian McKnight and Diana King deliver a carefully retro Afro-soul duet with more bite than the Babyface fare that dominates pop radio now. It's also a howling shame that none of the 20 African acts that traipsed across the stage in the original concerts make an appearance, though the inclusion of several of Ali's politically incorrect, rhyming one-liners was smart. Milo Miles Milo Miles is a regular contributor to Salon.