Review of:Ali (2001)
Director:Michael Mann
Rating:R for some language and brief violence
Starring:Will Smith, Giancarlo Esposito, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jon Voight
Powerful, Poetry, Muslim, Champion are all some of the words used to describe Muhammad Ali aka Cassius Clay Jr. With the recent events in the United States this film brings a heightened sense of awareness of islam (or any religion that we have little understanding about) film is right on time, showing a different or the correct aspect of the religion by one of the greatest ambassadors to islam.
The movie features Will Smith playing as Ali possibly the greatest heavyweight of all time, and most likely the most fluent speaker of his profession.
Michael Mann directs this visually appeasing film with some great intense looking fight scenes, and some documentary shots that give the film a authenticity to it. There are times when you feel that you are actually in the ring with the champ or that you are just sitting in the room listing to the heavyweight champion.
Also starring in Ali are Jamie Foxx as Drew "Bundini" Brown, and John Voight as Howard Cosell. Both actors do an excellent job with John Voight doing a superb job as the late broadcaster.
We start off with Ali as he is about to take on Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship. No one gave Cassius Clay a chance because of the raw power of Sonny Liston. Flamboyant even in the beginning Ali is talking the talk, and walking the walk from the onset of the film. Becoming and staying the heavyweight champion is a task as the United States enters the Vietnam War, and the champ refuses to fight on moral grounds. Stripped of the title, and unable to fight outside of the United States the ex-champ is effectively put out of business.
Through circumstances not entirely explained in the film he gets his boxing license back, and is on the road to greatness again.
Compared to the documentary When we were kings this film lacks the detailed look people are lookiing for about a man that has been in the public eye for a long time. His political viewpoints should have been examined and understood a lot more. The most interesting parts of the film are Ali's exchanges with Howard Cosell. They both seemed to have a real affection for one another that would have been nice to see more of. You will not gleam any new information out of the film if you are an Ali fan, but if you just have a casual acquaintance with the great one it can possibly open your eyes to one of the most controversial figures in boxing.
