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Ali

(11,411)IMDb 6.82 h 36 min2001X-RayR

Will Smith puts on the gloves and steps between the ropes as "Ali," arguably the most facinating personality in sports history in this biopic from Academy Award nominated director Michael Mann.

Directors: Michael Mann

Starring: Will Smith Mario Van Peebles Jamie Foxx

Genres: Drama

Subtitles: English [CC]

Audio languages: English

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Supporting actors: Jon Voight Jada Pinkett-Smith

Producers: Michael Mann A. Kitman Ho Jon Peters

Studio: Columbia Pictures

Rating: R (Restricted)

Content advisory: Drug usefoul languagesexual contentviolence

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5 star		72%
4 star		13%
3 star		8%
2 star		2%
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Tigerlilly

Prepare to be Underwhelmed

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2020

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Pros:
Will Smith did a much better job portraying Ali than I thought he would given that he looks nothing like him and weighs so much less, (even with the weight he added for the role).

Cons:
Short on dialogue and looong on music that had no bearing on, or relationship to, the story other than it was in the same time period.
Continually jumped periods of time with no warning or explanation, (I ended up stopping the film several times to Google things so I'd know what year we were in.) which left holes in the story. (At one point Howard Cosell says "You know I'd do anything for you". Really? I hadn't gotten that from the film at all.).
Slow moving, and not that engaging.
Some of the worst sound I've ever experienced. I could barely distinguish a word of the film without it being turned up full volume. And, of course, the music was very loud.

Of the 6 Michael Mann movies I have seen, this is by far the weakest (with the possible exception of Miami Vice. You could make an argument for either being the worst for different reasons.) and far below "Collateral", "Heat", and "Last of the Mohicans".

Was this a stream of consciousness experiment? I don't know, but I actually ended up liking Mohammed Ali less after seeing this film. I guess the flip side of being a charming, confident champion is being arrogant, pig-headed, and feeling like you have a monopoly on the truth/what's right. Seeing some of his interactions with Malcolm X, his wives, and his manager left me shaking my head. For someone with such a fragile ego, he showed zero sensitivity to the feelings of other people.

Overall:
See it for Will Smith's acting if you must. Otherwise, prepare to be underwhelmed.

4 people found this helpful

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Ali was a history maker in a time when history was being made by African Americans

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2020

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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.

3 people found this helpful

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Richard A. Cole

Awsome

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2020

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A great movie about one of the greatest athlete and human being this country has known. Ali played so well by Will Smith do credit to him and Muhamad Ali.
I remember growing up and watching all that was happening to Ali about the draft and so on. I have family that fought in WW-II, Viet Nam, and I in Iraq and Kuwait; None of my family had an issue with what he did or how he did it. They also believed he was treated wrongly too. Being an American does NOT mean you must fight in a war; It means you have the right not to is your beliefs dictate it. One can "serve" your country in many ways. Too bad it took 10 years or more to see he was right.
I was struck by how the "Nation of Islam" threw Ali away-Under-the-bus when it suited them And "Forgave him" when that "Nation" could gain money off his name. Not too mention the people who sucked away his money when he needed support, and they took his money. So sad, and telling about those who say they care, but only care about money and power...…. I digress.
A great movie, well done in all areas. Wish it showed more about his life and how he became the icon that he is. Bravo

2 people found this helpful

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Silvia

Very slow

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020

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The topic is excellent it would make a wonderful movie, especially with the political aspects included, but the director did a poor job at the rhythm of the film. The acting is excellent, but the entire film has long songs and long shots that over-dramatize the film and they slow it down considerably.

4 people found this helpful

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joseph

Great acting, great visuals, and a compelling story

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2019

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Almost a 5 star movie, but the story rambles a little and I think Mann didn't quite know how to wrap all his themes together in the end. Will Smith gives one of his best ever performance as a believable Muhammad Ali. Tons of great character actors giving great supporting performances. Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Esposito, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jon Voight, Ron Silver, Nona Gaye, Mykelti Williams as Don King and Mario Van Peoples as Malcolm X stand out.

4 people found this helpful

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Daniel Thomas

"I'm the greatest."

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2018

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All right sports biopic. Will Smith is very good as Ali but the film rarely shows what motivates its characters. Why did his first marriage break up. for instance. It was something about the way she was supposed to dress. That seems kind of shallow or incomplete Jon Voight's oscar nomination for this is another mystery.

4 people found this helpful

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C. G. Sanders

I forgot I was watching Will!

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020

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Ali did a great job showing the professional trials of Muhammad Ali and summing up his home and emotional life. And I forgot I was watching Will Smith and actually believed I was watching Ali. That’s an actor. O, and I got to mention... Jamie Fox is his excellent usual self in this. Jamie and Will in a movie in the year 2001? Now that’s bound to be magic.

One person found this helpful

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Ben

Somewhat disjointed and difficult to follow

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020

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This is probably my least favorite Michael Mann movie. Somehow--between the extended periods of soul music, long scenes of Ali staring at something (or making love to someone), and the poor sound quality--the plot was murdered. It would have been insightful if the audience had been clued-in to Ali's background, the motivations for his loud-mouth antics and his religious leanings and infidelities. Instead, we got "it-is-what-it-is" without much insight into his psyche. The movie was a disappointment because you watched a short, disjointed chunk of Ali's life... but for your effort, ended up not knowing him any better.

One person found this helpful

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Mr Neil J Tostevin

Rumble young man rumble!!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2015

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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.

Lee Hendricks

THE GREATEST

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2005

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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.

14 people found this helpful

Joe Hunt

Legendary boxer and person

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2018

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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

Mr Trevor Selvey

N/A.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2020

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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.

Christian clennell

It's the greatest

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2020

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Great movie with excellent performances from everyone but the best are will Smith as Ali and John Voight

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