Ali

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest
Review: Let me make a suggestion to people who are about to go see Ali. When you come out of the theater ask yourself one question: Did you get the message? Because you might be asking yourself one of any number of questions about what you just saw. You might not be sure it was any good. Is this movie disjointed, sort of, is it hard to follow, in some places, does it skip around, absolutely. The reason you have to ask yourself if you got the message is because if you did then you probably thought it was a good film.

The film basically covers the years between when Ali, then know as Cassus Clay, won the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston to when he won it again from George Foreman, about a ten year span. And this span is when Ali was at the height of his fame. The details are not as important as how they are presented in this film. Since it is a docudrama everyone already knows what happened, but seen from the perspective of Ali, some of his choices seem to have been made for different reasons then were originally perceived. Again there is no reason to go into them, but it makes this film much more interesting then if they had played it safe. The movie is engaging from start to finish.

The best part about this movie is (to my surprise) Will Smith. He did it. I was totally cinvinced from the first scene in this film, he is Ali. The swagger, the jive, the sincerity, he even looked like a prize fighter, he did it all. The supporting players in this film, with a big high five to Jon Voight, are quite exceptional, despite slipping into the backround at many points in the film. The look of the film was fantastic, and the boxing scenes were extremely well done.

Taking on a docudrama on a figure like Ali is one of the most difficult tasks a filmmaker can tackle. This is because Ali is a living legend, and one of the most prominent sports figures in the twentith century. His story is way too large for a movie so Michael Mann had an important issue confronting him. What should this film be about? His answer is not what the average person, and certainly not the average filmmaker might think. He decided it should not be about anything, but capturing the essence of this almost mythical figure. Did he do it? I think so. Because I think I got the message. Ali was a man heavily pushed and pulled out during a time of great turmoil in this country, but through it all he never compromised himself or his beliefs no matter what the consiquence. I got that and that made this movie worth seeing to me.

Rating:
Summary: The World's Greatest...
Review: It only amazes me that this movie is based on an actual man, and not a fictional character. When watching this movie it made me feel more proud to be an African-American than ever before. The performance by Will Smith was indeed excellent...not to mention the performances of the supporting cast. I find it typical that some critics would give this movie low ratings...could it be that this is typical of films that show African-Americans in a positive "hero-istic" light? Could be, but I know for sure that this is a movie that everyone should see. If you could sit through "Titanic" then by all means, this should be much easier. Don't get me wrong, I loved "Titanic", but the fight scenes in Ali are riveting and the director deserves a standing ovation and a much needed pat on the back. So often we forget that there are heroes right here on earth...not to mention one that is still living!!!

Rating:
Summary: Rumble Young Man Rumble
Review: Let me begin by saying I love Muhammad Ali. I know the man's career backwards and forwards while asleep. I have read many a book and seen many a film clip. My standards for authenticity in film and in life are high. In short, I was watching this film with my keen eye and fine tooth comb at the ready. My Opinion?

They nailed this baby! Will Smith gives the performance of a lifetime with his own brand of charisma, while not equalling Ali sized proportions, is enough to carry the day and then some in this film. The hairs on my body occasionally stood on in.(My personal litmus test)

His preparation, exhaustive(35 pounds, A nuerologist, speech therapist, Hundreds of rounds boxing, 10 months in training to transform his body and mind, countless dinners and phone calls with insiders) and the benefit and blessings of actual participants assistance and pertinent information(He once had Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee actually tape his hands for a scene, Boxing with Sugar Ray Leonard), Mr. Smith delivers and is worthy of nominations.

Providing the perfect curriculum for success, Director Michael Mann, with keen and artistic decision making,(great locations, real in-fighting(no stunt doubles),fight choreography from the actual bouts,) provides cohesive support along with credible performances {and incredible, John Voight as Howard Cosell} by nearly every actor involved, helping to make this film thoroughly enjoyable to every facet of emotion.

Mr. Smith, go pick out a tuxedo. You're going to need one for the Oscars.

Rating:
Summary: Bee sting no so bad
Review: Kudos for the attention to detail and the hard work Will Smith put into it, but the story just isn't that exciting. It's hard to get excited about a self inflated, draft dodger, no matter how good a fighter he was.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST FILM OF 2OO1!
Review: Watching Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Parents Don't Understand" video,you'd never think that that skinny kid named Will Smith
would play Muhammed Ali a millinuiem later.
Well,he does,but he does a damn good job at it.
"Ali"-directed by Micheal Mannn-is simply the best film of the year.Never has a biopic touches you more than the actual story
like "Ali"(Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" came close).Will Smith,an
actor I don't usually take seriously,does such a good job protraying THe Champ,there was times I forgot that wasn't
the real Ali I was watching on the movie screen.
Jada Pinkett-Smith,Nona Gaye,and Micheal Michelle all do an extrodinary job as one of Ali's wives and Jamie Foxx's role
as Ali's trainer nearly brought tears to my eyes.What a powerful movie!
I will be very upset if the Oscars don't at least nomiate "ALI"
as Best Picture.This film more than deserves it!

Rating:
Summary: Thumbs up to ALI
Review: I was extremly dissapointed in the direction of this movie but Will more than mad up for it. I can think of a half dozen better directors who would not have made the movie look and feel like an eposode of Miami Vice. It think the music was a bit over bearing and the diologue was weak. But Will's dedication to hitting the mark was evident. In fact I think he should receive at least an Academy Award nomination for his effort. Bravo Will... Thumbs down for Michael... Thumbs up in spite of all to ALI!

Rating:
Summary: Ali
Review: Will Smith is excellent. Beyond excellent. He was the champ. A great story. the guy that plays Malcolm X, though, is no Mr. Washington, and is rather unconvincing. Which is the biggest flaw of the movie. That role had to be convincing to elevate this movie to the top. But this is without a doubt the best boxing movie ever, and the fact that the boxing was real is the difference between this ... and say, Raging Bull. But all in all, Ali is still an engima, and that is both good and bad. This movie tries to get beyond that, but it fails, ultimately, as no two hour movie could ever penetrate the myth. And of course, this movie doesn't deal with his current illness and his immense courage at facing that. All I can say is Ali was the greatest, and we all have something to learn from his story. But the best movie ever made about him is and probably always will be "When We Were Kings," the basis for the whole finale of this movie. The loveable Foreman (creator of the Foreman grill) began as a cold-blooded killing machine, intent on killing Ali ... until The Rumble In the Jungle and the fabled "rope-a-dope." Ali was the greatest!

Rating:
Summary: "The Greatest" Movie? Decide for yourself...
Review: "Ali" - the current theatrical release which features Will Smith in the title role, is convincing enough in some spots to grab the viewer's interest, while in other areas, leaves a bit to be desired, as far as the film's realistic merits are concerned. Yes, the latter match with Ali vs. Foreman displays a lot of that ol' in your face, grit and determination these two put into every punch thrown. The first match vs. Sonny Liston lacks that very fire, heart and gusto present in the George Foreman bout. Due to the fact the Ali-Liston fight featured in the film is simulated, doesn't win any popularity contests with many who view(ed) this feature (myself included). Nevertheless, it was an effect that had to be included to heighten the realism of the movie. The Foreman bout, although simulated to a degree as well, looked as if Will Smith and the other actor had to train to withstand those punches. This particular fight comes across well on the big screen, and is dramatic, no doubt. Now, on to Muhammad Ali's life, as portrayed by Smith in the film. Overall, Smith does a good job in capturing the essence of Ali's character, in that he hardly misses a step in quantifying a trait the real Ali was famous for - that being his arrogance and confidence inside (as well as outside) the boxing ring. As far as Ali's religious affiliation (as noted in the film) is concerned, it is surprising to note that Ali was expelled from the Muslim religion, for reasons poorly conveyed in the film. Therefore, the viewer is not given any explanation as for the cause of Muhammad Ali's expulsion from Islam. Ali is later reinstated in the Muslim religion, for reasons unknown according to the film. The character of Howard Cosell, as portrayed by Jon Voight, lacks two main characteristics - one, Voight fails to capture the physical essence of Cosell in both profile and voice, the latter of which is only 50 to 75% accurate. Two, Cosell's putdowns of Ali come across as raw and somewhat uninspiring here. It is also surprising that Ali and Cosell became good friends off camera (were they really?), and not so surprising these two were adversaries on the proverbial TV screen. Again, it is quite possible that Hollywood used the friendship scenario to draw the viewer into the movie. As far as this picture being fact-based is concerned, there is a rather distinct possibility that it may very well be, but I, for one, am not quite sold on that premise. So, in order to weigh the pros and cons of "Ali", you'll just have to see it and decide for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Almost The Greatest!
Review: He defeated Sonny Liston in 1964 for the heavyweight title, and shortly thereafter converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali; was stripped of the title a few years later; reclaimed the heavyweight title by defeating George Foreman in 1974. He was Cassius Marcellus Clay. He is "The Greatest".

But is "Ali" the greatest?

To begin, "Ali" shows that there is more to Ali's life than boxing, that the fiery charisma he radiates extends beyond the ring. His conversion to Islam and his proud defiance in refusing to be inducted into the U.S. army are as dynamic as his in-ring demeanors. In addition, he is also surrounded by some interesting personalities:
Angelo Dundee (Ron Silver) - Ali's faithful trainer
Howard Cosell (Jon Voight) - sportscaster whose on-camera tussles with Ali, in which Cosell takes all the comedic beatings, masks a deep friendship between the two
'Bundini' Brown (Jamie Foxx) - Ali's moral supporter who has disappointed him in more ways than one

Malcolm X (Mario van Peebles) - influential speaker for the nation of Islam, the catalyst of Ali's Islam conversion, and with whom Ali forged a mutual respect and social beliefs
Cassius Sr.(Giancarlo Esposito) - an artist, and Ali's father though not a very good one in his opinion
Elijah Muhammad (Albert Hall) - the conservative head of the Nation of Islam, and the one responsible for giving Ali his current name
Herbert Muhammad (Barry Shabaka Henley) - son of Elijah, and Ali's not-so-dependable manager
Don King (Mykelti Williamson) - boxing promoter whose flamboyance is rivaled only by his love of making money
Howard Bingham (Jeffrey Wright) - Ali's no-nonsense agent and best friend
Chauncey Eskridge (Joe Morton) - Ali's reliable attorney

And he is also a ladies' man. Who can forget his bevy of wives which he has captured in suave but poetic fashion - the first Sonji Roi (Jada Pinkett Smith), the second Belinda Boyd (Nona M. Gaye), and the third Veronica Porsche (Michael Michele) whom he met in Zaire prior to the Ali-Foreman bout but did not marry onscreen. Plus, the closing lines stated that he took one more wife. Let's not forget his longsuffering mother Odessa (Candy Ann Brown).

The screenplay covering Ali's prominent moments of his professional career does not deviate from historical facts. They are presented in three parts: the beginning part details his entry into fame with the Ali-Liston fight, his conversion and name change, and his associations with Macolm X; the middle part focuses on his trials, vindication and the Ali-Frazier fight; the final part culminates on the Ali-Foreman fights. Director Michael Mann does a terrific job in keeping these three parts distinct. However, he spotlights almost exclusively on Ali's public life in the final part. He also included some scenes that are better left out, as they are more unimportant than informative. Chief among them being cameos by LeVar Burton as Martin Luther King in only one scene - the assassination scene - and Malick Bowens as despotic Zairian president Mobutu dining in his palace. So we know these two political figures exist, but what purpose do their scenes serve? Another distraction is the excessive coverage of Malcolm X, which includes his assassination shown in gratuitous gore. Even with the coverage minimized, his liasons with Ali would still be effectively presented, instead of taking up nearly the entire beginning part.

As the Champ, Will Smith is The Greatest. He captures the iconic personality perfectly, which Mann successfully translates to film with adept close-up shots while zooming out appropriately to capture Ali's flamboyant speeches. His boxing sequences are riveting, thanks largely to Michael Bentt, James Toney and Charles Shufford, who play Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman respectively. They are interspersed with slow motion sequences to heighten the hair-raising tension of getting clobbered by a devastating uppercut. Although the actual fights themselves are far less dramatic than Mann's version. Foxx is surprisingly impressive in a non-comedy role, even adding some comedy routines of his own without disrupting the drama. Another great performance of mention is Voight being almost unrecognizable as Cosell with his conspicuous toupee and his stiff but somewhat goofy portrayal. Now we know he can do comedy.

"Ali" concludes immediately after Ali's victory over Foreman, which seems abrupt. The tensions between the Champ and Belinda was neither fully played out nor resolved. I was half-expecting it to continue with Ali divorcing her and moving on to marry his third. Indeed, "Ali" certainly floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee, but is overshadowed by Will Smith and the larger-than-life icon that he portrays. Don't be disappointed if Muhammad Ali himself does not appear at all.

Rating:
Summary: A Must See
Review: If you consider yourself to be a true movie buff, Mohammed Ali, or Will Smith fan, you will truly enjoy this movie. Will Smith did an outstanding job in assimilating himself to Mohammed Ali' personna. It is a great work, and a must have for a home collection!