Fil review - Ali (From Western Telegraph)

Fil review - Ali

Ali Directed by Michael Mann Starring, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Mario Van Peebles, Jeffrey Wright, Mykelti Williamson. (Cert. 15, Dur. 159 mins)

This is my first report direct from LA, ringside. Appropriately enough, its Oscar season, and the star of this weeks film is nominated for glory.

A newcomer to the hunt for the golden statue, Will Smith is better know of course for the kind of popcorn munching fare that appeals to a blockbuster number of 13 year-olds, rather than the kind of role that gets the academy and their fellow audience interested. Smith started off as the skinny grinning rapper who found his niche as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He made the move to Hollywood movie star seem easy but only in the likes of Independence Day, Men In Black and Wild, Wild West playing a kind of Fresh Prince - post High School. Now however he has broken that mould, but very cleverly. He hasnt leapt into playing a role that strays farther from his gift for comedy than he needs to. He plays a character who has become a figurehead of modern times for his own gift for humour as much as for his supreme talent in the ring. Whether youre boxing fan, a Will Smith fan, or just a film fan you really have to see Ali.

Michael Mann has directed a couple of really good films in the last few years. And Mann has chosen one of the greatest challenges by choosing to recreate the life of a living hero. Cassius Clay, who later became Muhammad Ali, has to be one of the most famous men on the planet. His bravery in his fight against brain disease after becoming famous in his youth as perhaps the most powerful physical presence in the world, has made him a kind of world ambassador. So turning these events and the people who took part in them into a drama is a difficult task. Who could do justice to the real thing when the real thing is so clear in our minds?

Ali tells the story of the main events of Muhammad Alis life between the years of 1965 and 1975. This concentration on one decade of his life is the saving grace of Ali the film. Weve all seen the 'whole life' attempts at biopics. You can just imagine how Smith would age from the teenager to the old man shaking as he lights the Olympic flame, a comic insult to the brave reality. Praise be! Mann has better taste and focuses the film on his two great career and life peaks. As Cassius Clay he wins the heavyweight championship of the world. He then gets embroiled in the civil rights movement with Malcolm X. He changes religion to become a Muslim and his name to Muhammad Ali, he dodges the draft for Vietnam and is stripped of his title belts, eventually to return with the rumble in the jungle where he conquers the world again.

Manns story is probably not the brilliant and intriguing one that Ali lived. We do not see as much of the mystery around Alis relationships as we should. I wasnt as interested as I should have been in the break up of his first marriage after his conversion to Islam. The story feels rather as though the corners have been shaved off. But in the end that doesnt really detract from the film that does create certain amazing on-screen relationships, notably that of Ali and newscaster Howard Cossel, played brilliantly by John Voight (under a ton of make up).

The historical period is recreated technically and emotionally with a fantastic vivid atmosphere. And of course on top of that is the boxing. Im no expert but this is neither as ludicrous as Rocky, nor as harrowing and gross as Raging Bull. Instead it is only slightly more dramatic than the reality, but then anyone who has seen the tapes of his real fights will know that his fights were usually dramatic enough.

Lastly there is time to discuss Will Smith. The media have made much of his physical change to become a heavyweight and he does look impressively as much like Ali as he could, but to be honest thats still not very like him. Here I must say that I would never have wanted to see this film. And while Smiths performance, as an acting piece, is worthy of every praise I feel that the mimicry gets in the way of the whole film. If youve seen the documentary When We Were Kings you may feel that this piece is unnecessary.

Having said all that, Smith is a huge talent and I dont know any star that could have done this better. A lot of the time I managed to forget the real-life and enjoy what is a remarkable story.