George Tillman Jr.’s sports biographical drama Big George Foreman is probably my most surprising movie of the year (so far) because it was really good. I had little idea about the movie. But the name sounded familiar.
It wasn’t until several minutes into the movie, when a young Khris Davis, who plays George Foreman, becomes a professional boxer that it hit me: this was the guy I used to watch as a kid on informercials selling a griller.
But I was already hooked even before that moment. Right from the get-go, the early years of George Foreman’s life were laden with struggles, anger and, to some degree, injustice. The scenes are gripping and emotionally charged.
In a lot of ways, his (and his family’s) life is pretty much like what most Filipinos struggle with. His aspirations are the same with those we’ve seen in real life and on TV and movies. His hopes were similar to what many of us cling on to.
George was a hungry, poor kid. That scene at school where he sits at the lunch table with nothing to eat and then gets berated and humiliated by a classmate is gut-wrenching. It sets up the entire tone of the movie—and if you’ve previously seen biopics, you know that this will be long.
The good thing is, despite its 133-minute runtime, Big George Foreman doesn’t bore. Not one second.
It’s one of the good things about the movie. The storytelling is evenly paced no stage in Foreman’s life was depicted as too dragging or rushed—which is very important for an audience who may not be too familiar with this boxing legend’s story.
Co-written by director Tillman along with Frank Baldwin, the movie painted an entire picture of what it means to start from nothing and then rise to success and fame—and what it takes to plummet down to failure and then stage a miraculous comeback.
I loved how the movie didn’t cast A-listers (except for Forest Whitaker who played Doc Broadus) and instead got actors who can kill it.
It allowed us to focus on the story and be enamored by the characters they portray. Khris Davis, who plays Foreman, is incredibly compelling. He was effortless in showing us the different temperaments and took us on a journey most people can only dream of for themselves.
In case you are still unfamiliar with George: he is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Perhaps he’s the Michael Jordan of boxing. Growing up poor, he made good use of his innate ability and strength and trained to become a professional boxer. At a young age he triumphed and won an Olympic gold. He soon became a world heavyweight champion.
He experienced a religious epiphany after losing to Jimmy Young in 1977. Since then he dedicated his life to being a minister and helping young kids by building a community center.
A financial disaster prompted him to step back into the ring to raise money—and sell the now iconic griller—and then went on to reclaim his throne and became history’s oldest world heavyweight champion (at 46) after a divine vision was revealed to his wife, Mary Joan (Jasmine Matthews).
This biographical sports drama is probably one of the most inspiring stories told in cinema. Well-crafted and gripping, it is an engaging portrait of a charismatic man who showed how challenges can be overcome with courage, determination and faith.
Davis delivered a knock-out punch performance—providing a nice balance of physicality and personality.
Big George Foreman is now showing exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas.
