Michael Mann's ALI manages to be an informative look at the career of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and an entertaining and moving portrait of the man. The action begins with the brash young Cassius Clay's surprising victory over Sonny Liston. The film depicts Clay's conversion to Islam, his partnership with "Bundini" Brown (Jamie Foxx in a wonderfully complex turn), his friendship with Howard Cosell (a transformed Jon Voight), his principled refusal to serve in the military during Vietnam, and his subsequent problems with the law and the boxing commission. The film concludes with Ali's battle with George Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle."
Will Smith delivers a worthy performance, transforming his body, face, and voice to capture the spirit of the charismatic fighter. The work of the supporting cast is superb, including Smith's real-life wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Marvin Gaye's daughter, Nona Gaye, as the women in Ali's life. Mann brings the viewer in close to the boxing action, effectively depicting Ali's unique grace and quickness, and the violent frenzy of the sport. The film shows the familiar public figure of fights and press conferences, and also gives a glimpse of the quiet, thoughtful private life of Ali.
Theatrical Release: DECEMBER 25, 2001
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Director's Cut
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Featurette: Making Of
Audio Commentary: Michael Mann - Director
Story
Gregory Allen Howard: Screenwriter, REMEMBER THE TITANS
Director of Photography
Emmanuel Lubezki:
Review 1:
"...Smith gives a towering performance, defiantly funny and impassioned....Mann and Smith deliver this powerhouse with the urgency of a champ's left hook..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.56 01/17/2002
Review 2:
"...Smith is undeniably excellent in the role, capturing the essence of Ali's character....Other supporting performers are equally convincing..."
Source: Box Office
p.56 02/01/2002
Review 3:
"...Will Smith embodies the public Ali with supreme confidence, bringing the familiar routines to his life without falling back on mere impersonation..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.34=5 03/01/2002
Review 4:
"...Dazzling....As Ali, Will Smith undergoes the kind of astonishing self-transformation that makes you blink, then stare..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.44-5 01/04/2002
Review 5:
"...[The film] possesses an informed, intelligent perspective..."
Source: Variety
p.35-41 12/17/2001
Review 6:
"...ALI is a breakthrough for director Michael Mann....His overwhelming love of its subject will turn audiences into exuberant, thrilled fight crowds..."
Source: New York Times
p.E1 12/25/2001
Review 7:
"...Smith has nailed the voice, the charm, the body language -- he has, in short, become Ali as much as any actor possibly could..."
Source: Total Film
p.100 03/01/2002
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