Ali

Starring: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Mykelti Williamson
Directed by: Michael Mann
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Box Office: $58,203,105
2001

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Follows the life of Muhammad Ali (Will Smith) from his early days as Cassius Clay to his fight in Zaire with George Foreman.

Review:

Tim: Will Smith gives one of the greatest performances of his life in this Oscar-nominated role. I wholeheartedly agree with the Academy on this one. I think he definitely deserved a nomination- not a win- but definitely a nomination. The success of this film depends solely on Smith's performance. With so many fans of Ali still around and surely going to see this movie, his performance had to be dead-on. It was.

The movie itself is entertaining and intelligently done. It will give the true story of Muhammad Ali- the good and the bad. Smith moved away from his typical big summer blockbuster role. This was a smart career choice, because he was still able to provide some action (a few excellent boxing scenes) but far more of the movie is focused on the drama... and the acting of Will Smith.

I really like this movie, because I am a huge fan of Muhammad Ali. He really was the greatest. There is something about him that still captivates audiences. Maybe it was his presence in the ring, or his famous lines (who doesn't know, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee), or maybe it was his cockiness and arrogance that drove us to love him. My favorite line in the film is, "If you ever dream about beating me, you better wake up and apologize!"

This is a good dramatic look at Ali's life, and it gives Smith an opportunity to really show his acting ability. If you haven't seen this film, stop delaying and check it out.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Rocky, Independence Day, Men in Black, Training Day