Review of Ali (2001) by Justin M — 28 May 2008
A great biopic and boxing picture. Will Smith gives his best performance ever as The Champ, completely disappearing beneath a transformed body, posture, and voice. He captures Ali's larger-than-life persona, his charisma, his wicked humor, and his undeniable appeal.
Co-writer/director Michael Mann chose to cover the most eventful decade of Ali's life, and the film has the feel of a documentary caught on the fly. He doesn't play up the more dramatic moments in Ali's life, nor does he play down small, persnoal moments.
He doesn't spoon feed the facts--everything feels as if it happened in real life. The supporting cast is magnificent as well. Jaime Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Jeffery Wright, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Nona Gaye, all are terrific in their roles with Foxx and Voight standing out the most in vivid turns.
By the end of the film Ali is still somewhat of a mystery, but it seems even those who knew him well could never fully figure him out neither. But we've seen, through great acting and filmmaking, just what shaped the man into what he truly was and is--the greatest of all time.
Fantastic.
This review of Ali (2001) was written by Justin M on 28 May 2008.
Ali has generally received positive reviews.
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