Ali Boma Ye!

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2001)

The comment is the chant that boxing legend Muhammed Ali was receiving when he Ziare in 1974 for his boxing match against George Foreman (traslation: Ali, kill him!). This is the latest film from excellent director Michael Mann, who is one of the few directors working today who has a unique trademark, and the talent to go with it. ALI is is a film that will have viewers understand why Ali was such a extradonary boxer and a famous figure. Cassius Clay who later changed his name to fit his Muslim belief to the now famous Muhammed Ali (Will Smith) was the most popular and best boxing contender in the 1960's and 70's. He is nicknamed "the champ" because he would win every boxing match that he competed in. He is famous for his political beliefs as well as his boxing fights. Ali was good friends with Muslim activist Malcolm X (Mario Van Peebles), Malcolm would be by Ali's side whenever he was in trouble or in financial trouble. This would lead to the government seeing Ali as a negative figure. Such a loud mouth man in the 1960's who was African-American (sadly surrogation was still around at the time) and bad mouth the U.S. troops in Vietnam was the target of the U.S. government. Ali refused to go fight in Vietnam because he has "nothing against them Veitcong" was what Ali would say. This would lead to his arrest and his scandal just because he didn't want to fight in a war that he didn't believe in. Sadly, people today still spite Ali for his belief in the Vietnam War, yet we see political activist like Abby Hoffman as a hero when Hoffman only protested the war and didn't do anything else. The movie spans from the peak of Ali's career, from 1964 to 1974 (which is a wise move, since I don't want to see the tragic Ali-Hollyfield fight when Ali starting suffering from Parkinson's disease). I watched the excellent documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS about five years ago and was hooked on the life of Muhammed Ali. I was curious and entranced by how Ali would say cut downs in rhyme and be so hilarious at the same time. I was also amazed to see on how such a fantastic fighter Ali was. Ali would go up against the biggest and scariest looking fighters (Sonny Linston, "Smokin Joe" Fraizer, etc.) and no be afraid to fight at all. Ali was the first athlete to be a athlete and entertainer. Ali would entertain his audience when he was outside the ring with what he would say, and inside the ring by his punches. I thought ALI was a outstanding film, it does a great job on showing what makes Muhammed Ali one of the most important figures of the 20th century. Will Smith does a brilliant job playing "the champ" as he has the attitude and talk just like Ali does. It shows that when an actor does a lot of homework for the real life person that they are going to be playing, they do such a amazing job that you think it's the real person when you're watching the film (i.e. Jim Carrey in MAN ON THE MOON, Woody Harrelson in PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT). I am hoping that Smith gets at least a nomination for his role in this film (I would like to see him win, but since Ali is still a controversal figure, it wouldn't surprise me that if Smith gets overlooked). The other acting in this film, especially by Jon Voight as legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell is top rate. Mann does his usual skill and casts a wide range of stars to play in his films (like he did in HEAT and THE INSIDER), and with ALI, Mann casts another large cast of talented actors and actresses. I not only enjoyed Voight, but I also enjoyed Jamie Foxx who played Drew "Bundini" Brown, who is Ali's friend and co-trainer. Other acting performances by Ron Sliver, Mario Van Peebles, Jeffrey Wright, Mykelti Williamson, and Will Smith's wife Jand Pinkett Smith all give a great support in the film. As for Mann's directing, he does a great job as he has done before. He still can tell a epic story and making it exciting from start to finish. But unlike telling about a heist, or a whistle blower, this is about the career peak of person, and Mann uses his usual talent again. The slow-motion movement, the close up shots of the actors, the lighting, and music are the trademarks that Mann has used in his career and shows it again in this film. I didn't think ALI was as complex and intelligent as THE INSIDER or as brilliant as HEAT, but giving some time like fine wine, ALI will age gracefully to stand on it's own. And when it does, it will be for one man's viewpoint of the world, instead of several people's view like in INSIDER or HEAT. I would find ALI to be the most powerful and entertaining film of this year. Since there are excellent movies being released week after week this month, ALI has stood out above the rest with it's quality of storytelling and style. I would just hope that ALI would be remembered in Febuary for the Oscars, and maybe Mann might get the Oscar he should have gotten two years ago for INSIDER (yea, I still think Mann did a better job than Sam Mendes!) ALI is a film that similar to other films in the past tell about a person's life, and their view of the world. And like the other films, you get a better understanding on why the character acted the way they did (like Larry Flynt and Andy Kaufman). But that this is a story being told by Mann, the style with storytelling is what makes it unique and amazing. This is the best film of 2001 (until maybe next week), but still, don't miss it! ***** (out of five)