Ali

Incredible performance by John Voight as Howard Cosell. Will Smith and Jamie Fox made a dynamic duo. I remember well Mohamed Ali, then Cassius Clay when he first emerged on the boxing scene. A fascinating personality and man portrayed with respect and accuracy by Smith. A must watch for any sports fan or anyone who admires those that demand excellence in their art.

Some films are made great by their by action, others by being a great story, others by the soundtrack or special effects. This movie like a few others was made by one characterization. Will Smith IS Muhammad Ali, primarily because he has worked to make Ali's voice and inflections his own. It is an incredibly convincing performance, and to the reviewer who said that Smith could not capture Ali, I ask whom he would suggest instead? It is hard for me to disagree more with another Amazon[.com] colleague, and I would instead concur with another reviewer who noted this film shows the ability to have a single Oscar-caliber performance in a film which even the biggest fans acknowledge is not likely to be the best film of the year.I guess the real challenge accepted and dealt with admirably by Director Michael Mann comes with making a film about not just someone we all know, but THE most recognized person in the world.. How can this story be told in just two hours? As some of the detractors have made clear, this is a tough task. But Mann did a great job, in my opinion.Where to start this story; and where to end it? No mention of the young boy's going to learn to box after some neighborhood kids humiliate him by stealing his bicycle. No mention (rather surprisingly) of his Olympic gold medal and the even more significant return to the States where he threw his medal into a river in protest of racial mistreatment. And even once we get that issue resolved, where to end this saga? How about Summer, 1996 in Atlanta, with the Champ holding the Olympic torch (or even better, at a preliminary boxing match in those same Olympics when an incredibly bitter Joe Frazier was, when introduced, met by cheers of "Ali, Ali!"). This is by no means a criticism, because this one incredible life is far too large to capture in one movie.Those who lament the lack of great boxing misunderstand what the film and Ali were all about. He transcended his sport in a manner that no athlete has in the past fifty years (and perhaps ever). America in the 1960's, racism, and the draft were far larger issues and more formidable competitors for him than Liston, Frazier, Foreman could have been if he had to fight all three one after the other! If all he had done was fight and defeat them, he would have been just one more name in the record books. This leads to my only real substantive lament: While the "Rumble in the Jungle" was a singular and a true epic event, I think the three Frazier bouts were the greatest one-on-one competitions in the history of sport, and were among the defining moments of their respective careers. For this reason, I would have like to have seen more time devoted to that relationship.Great supporting actors. Before seeing this, I could not imagine Jon Voight as Howard Cosell (just like Will Smith, Voight also made this role his own merely with the use of tonal inflection). Ditto the efforts of Jamie Foxx as Drew Bundini Brown. Mario Van Peebles would have been memorable as Malcolm X, but for the fact that we ALL know that he could never again be portrayed after the efforts of Denzel Washington.Just like the Man himself, some people liked him, and some people hated him. Not surprisingly, the reviews turned our correspondingly. It is, as noted a better than respectful telling of the life of a great figure in the history of America. For my money it was worthwhile, and I enjoyed it more the second and third time.

Will Smith gives his all in portraying the iconic boxer who electrified the sport of boxing with his trash talk and fancy footwork. Smith's energy gave the smack talk entertainment but his scenes defending his beliefs against the draft of Vietnam make it the most powerful. Ali was not perfect and Smith gives us that look at a man who lived in his hype and decisions but watching the fights done by Smith and interviews lets us relieve the moments that made Ali a legend including the 'The Rumble in the Jungle' fight. I'd watch this again and again just to see a healthy and vibrant Ali be king again.

An admirable performance by Will Smith. One of his best, imo and done well overall. Worth a watch!

My mom loves Will Smith, recommended to any fans of him, boxing, and overall good movies

Ali was Michael Mann’s biography of Mohammed Ali.The start places Ali within the larger context of African American history. Sam Cooke is performing at a concert. A young Ali sees the paper with a picture of a young Emmett Till’s face bashed in from his murder in Mississippi. Ali listens to a sermon by Malcolm X. That leads up to Ali as he fights Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title in 1964. Before and after the fight he’s visited by Malcolm X. Afterward Ali changed his name from Cassius Clay to Mohammed Ali as he became a Muslim in the Nation of Islam. The point of all this was that Ali was making history along with his times. This theme would continue throughout the movie. That was important. Mann could have just stuck with his boxing career, but Ali was always far more than that. Without including his role in politics and culture it would not have been a full picture of his life and impact. It’s also what makes this a must see.

Great movie

Best Muhammad Ali film ever directed. Right of the rip your gonna wanna put some time and noise to the side for this film , it's a long one and your gonna wanna follow every second of it. It's factual , and explosive. Full of action; with a blend of love, drama, comedy , and realism. It also digs deep in with the racism faced in the time eras. Staring will smith he runs his role so great you'd think he dedicated his life to it! You wouldn't want to be someone who hasn't watched this, it's pure enjoyment.

In a cynical world where we seem to delight in finding fault with our political leaders and role models, Ali stands out as a truly legendary example of man against the system. George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."This film shows that Ali was far from reasonable. He made exacting demands of himself, which on occasion he fails to meet. Will Smith portrays Ali the legend with dignity and sensitivity, giving us an insight to the man, his motives, loves and hates. In an Oscar winning role, Will Smith becomes Ali and exudes the trademark charisma, strength and power that Ali was so famous for.The film is touching showing our hero flaws and all: the difficult relationship with his father; the rise to early stardom; the fall from grace at the hands of the American Senate; and his remarkable come back to defeat the powerhouse George Foreman in the sensational Rumble in the Jungle.The film, unlike many Hollywood productions, makes no attempt to romanticise the life of the greatest heavyweight champion the world has ever seen. Will Smith portrays a womanising Ali who appears to struggle with his Muslim beliefs, and yet is mindful of the Nation of Islam's hypocrisy that comes across in the film. There is also a hint of things to come when Ali confronts Don King following another successful defence of his heavyweight title.Neither a love of boxing, Will Smith, or Ali are prerequisites for owning this film. It is a touching, inspirational and entertaining film that strives to remain historically accurate, whilst condensing some of Ali's brightest moments into the available viewing time. Funny, thrilling and emotionally engaging, the film is a must buy and an essential addition to any DVD collection.

Michael Manns telling of the period between Ali winning the title from Liston in 1964 and regaining the title from Foreman in 1974. I think you need some prior knowledge of Ali to fully appreciate the film and understand how many years this film covers. The fight scenes are put together brilliantly, especially the rumble in the jungle at the films climax. Will smiths performance as the great man is spot on, he nails the walk, the talk, the attitude, everything!My only negative feeling about this film is that some of the dialogue is really really quiet, but this is almost a feature in Michael Mann films.

An absolutely brilliant film although it is not for everyone. The film is slow and slightly moody but Will Smith truly gives an Oscar winning performance as the legendary Mohammed Ali (who also took part in the making of the film, the fighting scenes are great and were made with great realism, and the song by R. Kelly - the world's greatest all adds to a wonderful biopic. There should be something for action fans, although not immensely as the film concentrates more on Ali's life as a boxer rather than life in the ring. Also, a tip to anyone who hasn't seen the film but wants to: you need to make sure you're in the mood to watch this film, otherwise you won't enjoy it as much as you should. So, please give it a go and see for yourself. But as i said, this will not suit everyone's taste in film (this relates particularly to will smith fans seeing as all his other films have loads of action such as men in black, enemy of the state, bad boys etc.)So dont expect the same.Overall, Will Smith's charismatic performance, some funny humour and wonderful directing from a great director - Michael Mann lift this film way above average. And dont judge this film in terms of entertainment but greatness...enjoy!

Great portrayal of boxing legend Muhammad Ali by Will Smith, begings with Ali winning the title from Sonny Liston and featuring his ban from boxing and run in with the law after refusal to fight in Vietnam and his fights with Frazier and Foreman, recommendation for any boxing fan

A good yarn though being old enough to ha witnessed the real Ali. I guess this was always going to come up short for me.