Ali

Rating:
Summary: Life of The Lip
Review: Armed with the knowledge that the critical consensus says "Ali" is a flawed film, I wasn't expecting much going in. Coming out, I would agree that on some fundamentally important levels, it is a flawed film. But it also does some things remarkably well. Most notably, it allows those of us too young to have seen it for ourselves the chance to experience the roller coaster ride that was Muhammad Ali in his prime.

"Ali" begins, quizzically, with an announcer introducing Sam Cooke as he takes the stage to sing. But once the music gets going, and the film intercuts scenes of a young Ali running the streets and reliving memories, we are well aware of the world we are about to enter. It's a stunning opening, mixing athletics, entertainment, and politics as effectively as Ali himself did. It positions Ali as the seminal sporting figure of the 1960's, just as the first 60 pages of Don DeLillo's book "Underworld" did for Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard Round the World" in the 1950's. I don't make that comparison lightly.

Seeing as how this is a biopic about a boxer, it is unavoidable that I talk about the effectiveness of the fight scenes. I thought they were tremendous, full of kinetic energy, confusion, power, and glory. Director Michael Mann's pet camera trick, i.e. shooting over the protagonist's shoulder, was used to great effect here (as it was in the rest of the movie). It allowed the audience to feel what it would be like inside the ring with Sonny Liston, or how well the Rope-a-Dope was working on George Foreman, or the beat down that Ali received in the first of his Pyrrhic bouts with Smokin' Joe Frazier. And Mann doesn't only use his camera to convey important information, he uses sound as well. In the Zaire fight scenes, listen to Foreman's breathing. It gets perceptibly, but subtly, heavier as the rounds go on. Brilliant!

Will Smith, who's never had to sustain a role of this size for this long, does an excellent job. Physically transformed, you believe that he could hold his own in the ring. His acting is stunning, capturing not only Ali's louder moments (which shouldn't have been a stretch for him) but also his quieter, contemplative, anxious moments. We get to see just how much of an act the public Ali persona was, in that it could crumble instantly the moment trouble reared its ugly head, only to re-emerge from the ashes again when needed. While Smith will never make you forget the titanic charisma of the real thing, but he does come out of the film without a mark on his face ("...so I must be the Greatest!").

The supporting cast is uniformly excellent, only some of the performances were obviously left on the cutting room floor. Ali had such a vast array of colourful characters in his entourage, that the less flamboyant ones (read: Paul Rodriguez as Dr. Ferdie Pacheco) get nary a line. Standouts include: Jamie Foxx as 'Bundini' Brown, a mystical motivator with manic depressive tendencies; Jeffrey Wright as an underwritten Howard Bingham, freelance photographer and spouter of periodic pearls of wisdom; and Ron Silver, as trainer Angelo Dundee. Although I would have liked to have seen how this motley crew was assembled, just hanging out with them was enough fun. Special notice should be given to Jon Voight, who's Howard Cosell equals Smith's Ali in that neither is an impersonation, but an impression of their respective real life figures. Voight captures the twinkle in Cosell's eye whenever Ali is around. The two form a fine mutual amusement society. But Cosell off camera is a different beast, looking out for Ali as a father figure. Smith and Voight have great chemistry in every scene they have together.

As for those flaws, I've identified two. Paradoxically, the film is too long *and* not long enough.

The film is too long, in that some scenes, while beautiful and relevant, felt over-extended. The visceral moment when Ali realizes what he means to the people of Zaire is preceded by an endless and repetitive montage of him running through the streets. Many of the film's best moments would have been better with a bit of trimming, which would have helped the overall flow.

The film is not long enough, in that the more naive of its audience members will be in the dark without some crucial information. The magnitude of the first Liston bout is impalpable. The film tries to tell us that Liston is unstoppable, but it never shows us. And the extended time in Africa, which is essential to show why it was so important for Ali to win, is glossed over in places. For more information on the Liston fight, and peeks into Clay's childhood, read David Remnick's book "King of the World" (on page 195, you'll even find out why Clay went blind for a round). For more insight into the Zaire fight, see Leon Gast's documentary "When We Were Kings".

Armed with this background information, "Ali" is a less confusing bit of nostalgia. It allows you into Ali's life, behind the scenes with probably the most important athlete of the 20th century, while never glossing over his human flaws. It's a fine film.

Rating:
Summary: Ali
Review: Will Smith's performance was excellent. But I do regret wasting my money on a movie about a man who refuse to serve his country because of his religious beliefs. Especially at this time with the events of the past months. I find it ironic that he refused to enlist because of his beliefs but yet in his personal life he seemed to live it as he saw fit. Being a member in today's military forces I truely regret every seeing this movie and hope that others will not make the same mistake.

Rating:
Summary: Wanted to walk out
Review: If I had know my husband was as bored with this movie as I was, we would have walked out. Something I have never actually done, but have wanted to.
I did think the acting by Will Smith and Jon Voight were outstanding, and they both deserve awards. I also thought this movie was dragged out. There are so many unanswered questions for me with this film.
I would think coming out of a biographic film that one would have knowledge about the subject. I learned a few things, like how Ali had avoided the draft, and that he knew Malcom X, but the greatest listen learned was that I should've saved that $8.75 and seen "Ocean's Eleven" twice.
I fell asleep twice in this movie as it just wasn't keeping me interested and it was my bedtime after all.
This movie did nothing for me, nor my husband. If you are a HUGE fan of Will Smith, you will appreciate it for his acting. If you are a HUGE Ali fan, you might appreciate. I was just the average film goer, taking a chance. I do like Will Smith alot, and thought he was amazing in this. Hard to believe this is the same guy who rapped about his parents not understanding and playing "the fresh prince of bel air". He has come a long way...

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies !
Review: For a brief moment I forgot that its Wills Smith and not Ali. I don't think any more justice could have been done. A fabulous movie with great photography and music. Need to see to believe it !

Rating:
Summary: Not that impressive.
Review: Aside from a few wonderful performances by supporting players (that warranted the 2 star rating), namely John Voight, Jamie Foxx and Mario Van Peebles, this is a very boring flick. The film is too long and the cuts are way too quick in a lot of instances. But, isn't that the case of the movies nowadays. Everything is filmed and edited like a music video these days. Just cause that kind of thing works on television doesn't mean an audience wants to sit though that much assault on the senses. Plus Will Smith was the same variation on almost every character he plays except with a bad Ali impersonation.

Rating:
Summary: Drama built around lengthy excellent fight scenes?
Review: The essence and story of Muhammad Ali is undoubtedly captivating and sells itself. The Ali story is a strong framework for any filmmaker. It leaves the ball in the filmmaker's court to grasp an opportunity for achievements and accolades that can rank with those of a movie like "Ghandi". I naturally love the Ali story and that made me like the movie "Ali" no matter what. However, I felt disappointed of the notion that, after this collection of stars that perfectly and excellently fit into the roles of the various characters of the Muhammad Ali story, a chance to produce an exquisitely excellent Ali film seems to have gone to waste. The stars that played the characters were excellent, especially Will Smith as Ali. However, the great Ali story was lousily put together (or glaringly fragmented) by producers of the movie. This might be due to the notion that there might have been some sort of confusion and/or compromises about which aspects of the Ali story to include, and which ones to exclude in the film. Assuming I am from a different planet and do not know of Ali, I will want to see a movie that will depict the essence of Ali. This movie does that, but does not do it to a great and desirable extent.

For this movie to have the bold title "Ali", it is urgently inappropriate for the movie to end abruptly when Ali begins to celebrate his victory over George Foreman in the ring. We have to recognize that in defining Muhammad Ali, the occurrences after the George Foreman fight or even after his retirement (despite the unfortunate decline in his health) constitutes a major part of the legacy of Ali which continues to unfold. For example, Ali's care and visits to other boxers who had experienced undesirable aftermath of boxing, Ali's position/role as a spokesman for peace and the symbolic display of endurance and world peace as he carried the Olympic torch and lit the flame.
Let's even go back to the pre-Forman fight, during the 3 years and 8 months that his boxing license was revoked nationwide. Why should a minute or two be spent on a scene in the movie that indicates the assassination of Dr. King (no disrespect to Dr. King) which has relatively less relevance to the message that is supposed to be portrayed to the "Ali" audience? When his title was unjustly taken away from him, an important aspect of Ali was seen nationwide as he amazed, inspired and convinced masses of people of his principles, his dedication to anti-war approach and interesting of all, his proclamation of still being the heavyweight champion of the world by honoring many college and other public invitations to speak. And he showed that his mouth was not only as big as his fist, but also as sharp as his brain as many saw the emotionally thoughprovoking side of Ali. How could such important aspect be omitted in the movie? Other important elements could have been included and Michael Mann could still have come out with a shorter running time of the movie. That is simple - the overly stretched dramatic approach with which certain scenes are presented was somehow too much and could have been shortened. For example, the long Sam Cooke performance at the beginning and the overly depicted and stretched fight scenes. What was the use of the date at the beginning of the movie if the audience was no longer going to be kept abreast with the timing of events? If timing of events was unnecessary, what was so special about that night of jogging (at the beginning) that warranted a date?
However, I must admit that the Liston and Foreman fight scenes were extremely excellent. As someone who thinks the Ali-Foreman fight is a boxing textbook in its own right, and can also choreograph all the moves of both fighters in all 8 rounds, I had goose pimples when I watched the George Foreman knockout displayed EXACTLY the same in the movie. But the shortcoming of the movie lies in the fact that the audience is not presented with the reason why Ali's victory in both fights was so great and more important than just a winning of a heavyweight title belt. Ali gained the heavyweight title from Liston, but why was it the greatest upset in heavyweight history? Why was it a historical accomplishment? Let me put it this way - why is it so important that the audience have to watch a round by round bout of these fights in the movie? Why was Ali the underdog in both fights? When the audience is hinted with these points, it helps audience build their own form of suspense and interest. But rather non ardent boxing fans who only came to watch an Ali movie were treated to what seems like the actual lengthy fight that has been planted into the movie.

Will Smith, Jon Voight, Jaime Foxx etc. all looked like they were made to star in their roles in a Muhammad Ali movie. I wonder when again will we see such collection of talent at the same period to star in an Ali movie that can be exquisitely produced to be an outrightly great movie, just like the man and his story.

Out of 5 stars, I give it 3.9. It is surely better than a 3.5 star movie. But to see 4 stars attached to this movie would probably be an overrating, though it somehow deserves it.

Rating:
Summary: Ali IS the greatest
Review: this is a really great film! i expected much, and the film delivered. it was a bit slow at one or two small parts, but this movie is awesome! Will Smith is also great, as is the entire cast. SEE ALI!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing potential - ruined by poor editing
Review: Even something like Driven was better than this very badly edited account of the life of the "greatest".

I will warn right now that to explain this badly edited movie, I have to reveal many spoilers in my review, so be warned right now. However, it does not really matter, as most people already know the biography of Muhammad Ali anyway.

Truly astonishing. How a very interesting life turned into one of the most pretentious and awful movies I have ever seen still amazes me. Before watching this movie, I did not know much about Muhammad Ali besides the fact that he was one of the greatest boxers (if not the greatest) in the history of boxing. What I learned from this movie was not much more.

This is probably the most horribly edited movie I have ever seen. While it begins interesting, the story loses coherence as it jumps from one place in his life, to another. In fact, I did not even know the movie took place over a period of ten years until I read the biography afterwards, which helped fill in all the missing places in the movie, and was very interesting, whereas the movie was dull and boring. I did not know there was a 3 1/2 year gap between his arrest and the overturning of his conviction (the movie makes it almost seem like a couple months), they barely mentioned the restaurant chain in the movie, we never actually found out that it was a failed attempt, and most of all, the most confusing parts of the movie dealt with his love life. It was not known to any of us who were watching if the first woman, Sonji Roi played by Jada Pinkett Smith, actually ever married Ali. Because all they showed afterwards was her walking away from him, and then we see him dating someone else, we figured that they were never actually married, when in fact, they were, and the marriage was annulled. We also barely saw the marriage to Belinda the second woman, and then the third, Veronica is barely in the story anyway. We only find out at the very end that he divorced Belinda, to marry Veronica, and then apparently married another person, afterwards. (Are you counting? That's four wives.)

I thought this movie was supposed to convey the greatness of Muhammad Ali, and show why he was so beloved by so many fans. All I saw was a man with many troubles in his love life and who was way too cocky. Where is this greatness that everyone is talking about? Surely it exists in the real Ali, but I don't see any of that greatness in this movie.

The movie was not enough about the REAL Ali. Most of it was about his troubles with boxing, and the movie showed to us the face that he showed to the press and the outside world. But we do not get any of the real stuff we should be knowing; his dreams, hopes, real troubles...Perhaps it would have been better if they started earlier in his life too. Starting from 1964 when he became the World Heavyweight Champion was not a good choice, as there really is no goal for him from then on except to defend his title - I mean, he already became the World Champion, so the rest of the movie loses its meaning, as all he wants to do is regain it (Remember, 2nd time around is always not as thrilling). Also, if they recounted earlier aspects of his life, we would have more background knowledge of him, and perhaps understand the character a bit more. It would also have been wise to go past where they did stop, and continue through to his struggles with Parkinson's Disease, which would have also been interesting.

Another problem I had was the incredibly long parts that should have been cut out. There was a scene several minutes long where he was just walking along and thinking. While a minute of this would have been nice, as it also gives the audience the feeling that he is thinking, and gives us a little insight into his character, several minutes worth of this is rather tiring and pointless.

Still, there were some good points. The point where he refused to be drafted, and the recounting of that was very interesting, if not because of the actual movie, but because of the real events. The problem with the movie at this point was there was no struggle here. After he got arrested, a couple minutes later in the movie, the Supreme Court overrules it in his favour. We don't see the struggle, or his love for boxing here, as he struggled through those 3 1/2 years, and so we also don't appreciate the magnitude of the Supreme Court's ruling.

Jamie Foxx did a very nice job, small as it was, and I also thought Mario von Peebles who played Malcolm X did a great performance, although that role was tiny. Will Smith's performance was excellent, despite the overwhelming incoherence of the movie, which made it look horrible. After reading the biography, I understood his performance much more, and was that much more impressed.

Perhaps if it was edited well, this movie actually had the great potential to be one of the year's best. Instead, it is at the other extreme, as one of 2001's worst.

And so, I cannot recommend this movie, but rather have to recommend people to never watch this worthless and horrible film. Read the biography instead. It was indescribably much more entertaining, interesting, and moving.

Rating:
Summary: Where is Ali?
Review: Ok. We already know that Hollywood is great at making interesting life stories into beyond belief out of this world amazing stories. That's fine. This movie was well-filmed. But when are the Hollywood executives going to get their heads out of their tushes and start casting real talent to play important figures and parts. Will Smith may be great for a laugh or for Independence Day and Men in Black...but he's no Ali...nor is he talented enough to have pulled this off and somebody should have told him so. Keep working out with the weights and jump rope, Will. Your mama loves ya.

Rating:
Summary: Will is great
Review: Will Smith is absolutely wonderful as Ali, his best film to date.
A must see for all Smith's fans as well as for history buffs and boxing fans.